The Indianapolis journal., 1903-07-12
statement Made that Rufus CantreII.
Convicted GhouI, Knows Some
thing Of the Matter
PRISONER IN A LONELY HUT
1T Is SAID A HAMILTON COUNTY MAN
KILLED THE WOMAN,
Cantreu Denies that He Has Made
Any Statement Concerning the Case
MIR. seIvage's Statement.

Rufus Cantrell. the notorious grave rob-
Der. who is under sentence for his many
crimes. may. it is said. do much towards
clearing up many OF the mysterious cases
OF disappearance that for several years
have baffied all efforts of the police and
detective departments OF this city. In
March, 1900. Miss Carrie Selvage, suddenly
and mysteriously disappeared from the
Union State Hospital. where she had been
confined as an invalid for some time. and
up TO the present day no trace Of her
whereabouts has been found although the
efforts OF the police and detective depart
ments and the cunning of a number OF sx-
pert detectives were utilized IN the effort
10 find at least a clew TO the whereabouts
OF the unfortunate woman.
AT the time OF her disappearance she was
clad only IN blue wrapper and slippers,
and the incident is still mystery to both
the police and the relatives of the woman.
For months searching parties secured the
country and the rivers and creeks for miles
around were dragged with no results. It.
was stated yesterday that the story given
the detectives by Cantrell was that he
knew of the disappearance Of Miss Selvage
and would tell 1t before being returned to
Jeffersonville. He said, IT is claimed, that
Miss Selvage was kept a prisoner by a
Hamilton county man in a log cabin on a
farm several miles from the city for sew
eral weeks. Later, 1t is said, he killed her
and buried the BODY in cemetery about
fourteen miles north of this city The HAM
ilton county man is said to be person who
was at different times connected with Can
trell and others in grave robbing expedi-
tions. but the body of the murdered woman
was never sent to a medical college, it is
claimed, because of fear of detection.
DENIED BY CANTRELL
When asked If he had told the detectives
such story Cantrell denied ever speaking
OF the Selvage case to them. He said the
tale originated in the brain of some reporter
and was intended to turn public opinion
against him. He said he had a few things
to tell which would be of benefit to the de-
tectives, but his information had nothing
whatever TO do with the disappearance of
Miss Selvage. He denied that he knew
anything about the case, and stated that
the story was published with the idea OF
giving him bad name.
When asked last night If the story of the
revelations made by Cantrell were true De-
tectives ASch and Manning said that Rufus
Cantrell never told them one word about
the Selvage case They said the first inti-
nation they had of the supposed in
by them in the newspapers. They admitted,
however, that they had secured other in
formation that was equally important, and.
Detective Asch stated that if Sam Martin
CantrelIs compaion, could be induced to
talk there was no doubt that much infor-
nation of great Importance would be had,
as he is supposed by the police to have
been implicated in many of the darkest
crimes ever executed in the city OF Indi-
auepolis. But Martin refuses to offer an
explanation of the many crimes he is sup
posed to have committed, and, outside or
backing up Cantrell in anything he may
say. maintains stolid silence.
MR.. SELvAGE'S STATEMENT.
Joseph w. Selvage, when seen yesterday.
% said that he took but little stock in the
story OF CantrelTs alleged story, but wanted
to have the clews, if any. in the hands of
the detectives followed until the facts
could be established. He said that several
months ago he spoke TO Detectives Asch
and Manning and asked them to learn If
possible whether Cantren knew anything
about the strange disappearance of his sis
ter, but at that time he says Cantrell
claimed to be in total ignorance of the af-
fair.
Elmer A. German, special agent for the
Indiana Reformatory, where Cantrel un-
til the last few days has been confined,
stated yesterday that he had been present
at all interviews with CantreH by the de-
tectives both here and in Noblesville,
where CantreIl and Martin have been test-
fying in the Hampton West grave robolng
case during the last day or so and at no
time to his knowledge has the negro talked
of the Selvage case.
II was also alleged that Cantren was TO
make certain disclosures about the dlsap-
pearance of Kenneth Lawrence In lyOO ana
the death of Isaac Rosengarten, the Mer-
chant policeman who was found with Dul-
let through his head. But the king OF the
Chouls'' stoutly denies any knowledge OF
either case He says he knows certain
things which he will be glad to tell when
the right time comes, but refused TO state
anything further until he had consulted MS
attorney.