The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1904-02-11
ARREST
IS MADE
A Teamster Charged With Bed
ford Murder.
His Conflicting Statements and Some
Alleged Footprints Incrimi.
mating Evidence.
TAKEN TO JEFFERsoNvILLE

teacher was taken to the Jacksonville
Reformatory for safe keeping.
Mcdonald is twenty nine years old,
has blonde mustaohe, blue, CLASSY
looking eyes, and "a prominent nose.
He is to be given a preliminary hear
ing at Bedford, February 30.
Mcdonald did not appear excited.
He walked erect and looked straight
in front of him.
Sheriff ]. Frank Smith, of Bedford,
said: 1--WE believe we have the right
man. Suspicion was first directed to
Mcdonald by the contradictory state
ments he made before the investigat
ing board. He admits having been on
the ground where the death struggle
of the girl occurred, at the hour Of the
murder is supposed to have been CON-
mitted January 81, at p. m, but he
denies all knowledge Of the murder. :"
Mr.. Mcdonald is a teamster. He
has wife and has resided at Bedford
for the last ten years. IL is claimed
that he has travelled all over the coun-
try.
The motives alleged to have been
the cause of murder are those Of rob-
berry and criminal assault.
Mayor Hiokson Smith, of Bedford,
stated that Mcdonald bore . fairly
good reputation at Bedford.
Mcdonald is said to be man ad-
dicted to the regular drink habit, but
he is not a drunkard. On his way
down on the train this morning from
Bedford he swore to Sheriff Smith that
he knew nothing whatever Of the MUIR
der. II swear by all that's holy that
/ know nothing of this murder" he
said. in tragic tones to the Sheriff on
his way down. Sheriff Smith stated
that this was the only real outburst he
made on his way down. The rest OF
his conversation was void of all excite
ment.
Detective Reed, at whose instance
the arrest Of James Mcdonald was
made. said:
1--WE base McDonsld's arrest on his
own words before the court of inquiry
as to his whereabouts on the night Of
the murder. We have good evidence
or we would not have made the ar
rest. The motive was assault.
The two points urged against Nc
Donald during the secret investigation
preceding his arrest were that he re-
Trained from telling the board Of in
quiry what he claims to know about
the crime till . week ago, and when
testifying he confused J. ID. Alexan.
der, who last spoke with Miss Schaef-
er with Supt. WE. Alexander, Of the
Bedford schools, although he said he
knew both we'll. The detectives in
sist that they have evidence stronger
than suspicion against Mcdonald.
Mcdonald was examined by the Off
cials February 8. He said he saw Miss
Schaefer at $50 p. m, just before she
was killed. He saw a man and wo-
man talking at the mouth of the allev
where the crime was committed. He
heard no loud words.
The wife admits her own fear Of her
accused husband, and says he was not
at home on the night Of the murder
at the time Of the tragedy. She says
she saw no bloody clothing, and ap.
pears terrified and panic-stricken at
the turn the case has taken.
The officers went out to the house
and found Mcdonald in bed. He was
covered with A Colts and taken in
tow. He was forced to dress himself
and was then hustled to Mr.. loves
Office.
From the beginning the man, who is
an ex-convict, was so frightened he
could not speak. On the way to the
office, while being taken through an
alley to avoid the publicity of the
streets, he found his voice and begged
the officers to stop till he could catch
his breath. This was done, and he
never spoke again till the posse reached
the Lowe block, where he was shack
eled aud locked in back room of the
office with Detective Reed. He pro-
tested his innocence, but was unable,
it is said, TO show where he was on