The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-28
Mysterious Stranger and News
paper Also Considered Good
ClewS at Bedford.
WORK OF THE DETECTIVES
Who Are OF Opinion They Have at
Last Discovered Important
Evidence.
SIX NEGROES EXAMINED
Miss Schafer Probably Victim of
Attempted AsSault-SuSpect Ar
rested in Louisville.
STAFF Correspondence of the Journal.

Staff Correspondence Of the Journal.
BEDFORD, Ind, Jan. IA pair Of over
shoes, bit of suspender. newspaper and
a mysterious stranger who was seen leav-
ing Bedford the night Miss Sarah Schafer
was slain, are four clews that may lead to
the discovery of the pretty school teachers
cruel slayer.
What is regarded. however, as the most
important of these clews is the pair Of over
shoes which the detectives who are work.
ing on the murder mystery secured tonight.
They think these two overshoes may drag
the guilty man to face his crime. The
officers are reticent about the find, but
IT is learned they were taken from the mud
near the vacant lots at NJ and Fourteenth
streets. Every suspect. every character
brought in for examination. will be made
to try on the overshoes. The officers re-
gard them as the best clew yet unearthed.
They are of a medium quality but bear no
marks to show when they were purchased.
a great deal of time tomorrow will be
devoted TO work on this bit of a clew.
BIT OF SUsPENDERS.
What also may prove valuable clew was
found to-day when a portion OF a pair OF
mans suspenders was picked up in the Cook
cab shed. The officer who made the dis
covery showed the torn elastic to Sheriff
Smith and left on an afternoon train. 1t
was rumored that he suspects man now
said to be in hiding in nearby county,
and that the examina tion Of the suspect
will take place tomorrow.
A diigent search is being made for the
newspaper that was lying near Miss Scha-
fer's body when it was found. Captain Cook
saw II and so did Policeman Myers. While
the latter was assisting in removing the
body it disappeared. Where it has gone
nobody knows. Detective Halpin thinks
this paper would. beyond doubt. throw a
light upon the crime. Myers cannot remem-
ber whether it was Bedford paper or from
some other city.
The faces of Detectives Haipfn. Reed and
Smith beamed tonight for minute during
the examination of suspect. I'VE thought
we had our man dead to rights Halpin de-
clared after the session. On the clothes OF
a negro brought in by Policeman Myers
large spots of blood were found. The de-
nutely examined his body. His suspenders
were compared with the bit found by Myers.
The overshoes fitted exactly In addition. il
was found that the negro's wherea bouts the
night of the murder could be traced TO with
in two squares of the scene OF the crime.
His story that the blood came from hogs
which he butchered a week ago was verified
by his employer, a farmer near Bedford.
he hf. hut h.,
amined again.
Much attention is being paid to-day 10 the
mysterious stranger who left Bedford on
the Southern Railroad at o'clock on the
evening of the murder. He was tall. his
mustache was red and his complexion was
on the sandy" order Three men saw him
board the train. and Sheriff Smith is devot-
ing much attention in an endeavor TO trace
the passengers movements
TWO THEORIES ONLY.
1t is now believed Sarah Schafer was
struck down at the hand Of either a negro
fiend or a maddened white brute intent upon
assault, or was slain by a white man
of her own level out of a spirit OF revenge
or jealousy. These are the two theories.
and the only two. on which the investiga-
ton committee and its employed sleuths
hour adds strength to the former, although
the members of the committee. the city off,
cials. the detectives and the physicians are
divided among themselves.
However, within the last twenty-four
hours Bedford has come TO believe more
strongly that Sarah Schafer was the victim
of a man determined on criminal assault.
That every bit of evidence tends TO sup
fs cd he rff.
Into Bedford on an early train to-day
came two Pinkerton men. Assistant Super
intendent Edward S. Reed and Charles
Smith. OF Chicago, and 10 them Bedford
pins its faith I'm running down the murderer.
The two new sleuths worked tirelessly all
day becoming acquainted with the principal
points of the mystery. They are being paid
out of the $500 appropriation made at Mon
day nights Council meeting. This fact was
not known until to-day. Another appro-
priation will be made soon. The detectives
went into close conference with Mayor
Smith and Detective Halpin Immediately
upon arriving. They are helping in the ex-
animation of witnesses at the City Hall
All three doctors who conducted the au-
topsy are satisfied that criminal assault
was the motive of the man who murdered
Sarah Schafer. They point to- the condi-
ton of her clothes as evidence
VIEWS OF THE DOCTORS
To the Journal tonight DIR. Freeland said:
Il am satisfied Sarah Schafer died fighting
for her honor. On her waist were the
bloody prints of a mans hand and her
clothes were so disarranged 10 prove the
theory beyond a doubt. I do not believe
her murderer knew her. II il was a fend
bent on assault I cannot tell whether he
was a white or a black
Dr. Short, another member OF the autop-
sy board. tonight declared man bent on
a most horrible purpose attacked Sarah
Schafer at the mouth OF the L-street alley
THE condition OF the clothes proves my
theory beyond a doubt" he said.
DR. Emery, the third member, emphatical-
~ expressed his belief that a low brute was
responsible for the crime and corrOborated
the statements Of his fellow-practitioners.
AS evidence that the investigating COM
mittee is devoting the greater part OF its
time securing evidence supporting the first
theory the three doctors testified before IL
tonight They told practically the same
story as told the Journal. Also the clothes
were re-examined and the bloody finger