The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-25
He Is Alleged 10 Have Attempted
TO Embrace and Kiss Miss
Schafer.
MAKES POSITIVE DENIAL
SAYS He Never Called on Dead
Girl, and Has No Knowledge
of the Case.
MARSHAL AT LOUISVILLE
Goes i'll Response to Mysterious
Letter Sheriff Investigates
Paoli Suspect.
stan corre.ponaenes Of the Journal

STAN Correspondence of the Journal
BEDFORD, Ind, Jan. 2i.-Joseph Heitger.
a member of one of Bedford's most prom
inent families, a senior at Indiana Univer-
sity. and well known socially in this little
city. is the man sent from Miss Schafer's
room after he had forced his attentions upon
her. as related in the Chicago letter. Heitger
is the man who attempted to embrace and
kiss Miss Schafer. according 20 the stories
of Eva Love and Mrs. A. V Smith, who
were told of the incident by the girl the
morning following. He has been closeted
with Detective Halpin and the officers have
searched his room for clothes showing the
slightest trace of blood. but no evidence
room. They rummaged through every
drawer of the dresser in his room,
examined minutely every bit of cloth
ing and made a general inspection OF the
Heitger home. The detectives made no pre-
tense to disguise the fact that his exam
ination was in connection with the murder
of Sarah Schafer and this they told him.
He denies absolutely any completely i'm the
murder. For one solid hour the young ath-
lete sat before the detectives subjected TO a
most rigid questioning. He met the queries
with satisfactory answers, ii is understood.
although those in charge of the investiga-
ton are most secretive.
1IETrc.ED,S E-xDr AN NA1-rnN
On the night of the murder young Heit-
ger explains his whereabouts follows:
He left the home of his father, Joseph C.
Heitger, at e:45 O'Clock. He declares he
arrived at the old library building on Four
teenth. between j and X streets, before
any of the basketball players whom he
was there few minutes after o'clock.
None of the players is positive at what
minute after they arrived. Heitger de-
clares he left the building some time near
o'clock. coming to his home at once aud
changing his clothes TO keep an evening
engagement. His story further is that he
dllSnuCO q ACdP-StdA pdiA a. az
Bedford.
Heitger left Bedford to-day for Bloom
ington. 1t is not known whether or not
he is under surveillance.
Heitger. Miss Love. Miss Schafers ROOM
mate, and Mrs. Smith say, is the man
whom the young school teacher accused Of
insulting her. -.- =
MISS LOVES STATEMENT.
Miss Love told her story TO Journal
representative at Seymour to-day. II was
corroborated by nrs. Smith. 1t was this
incident the night IIeitser called that Miss
Sohafer referred to in her letter TO Chi
cago. The. letter was written to Mrs.
Frank Cross. her sister. and the answer
was the one that mentioned the crack
and said: II wish you had the strength to
hurl him down." Ii was signed Edna"
Miss Love to-day said that the next morn
ing her roommate told her of Heitger's ac-
tions. Mrs. Smith, with whom Miss Scha-
fer roomed told tonight. for the first time.
the story of the visit Mrs. Smith returned
this afternoon from Seymour where she
visited Miss Love. Sarah told me the
story OF the young man the next morning.
said Mrs Smith "She said: Mrs Smith.
don't you know that he tried to kiss me-
last night, and when l told him to stop OF
1 would scream he simply laughed?
She also said Mrs Smith. what will
people in Bedford think OF me IL he tells
the story? ! begged him just as he left to
say nothing. but he was angry. Anyway.
you need never fix a fire for him 70 call
again. told him once II he did not leave
l would call you. -
Not more than twenty people in Bed
ford know that Heitgers name has been
mentioned in connection with the crime.
The general question here Is, who was the
man who called on Miss schafer at the
Smith home. The witnesses before the
court Of inquiry have been instructed rot
to repeat a word OF their testimony Hcit-
ger arrived in the city from Bloomington
Saturday night aud was met at the station
by detectives. lie went at once before
Mayor Smith and told his story and was
questioned A eau was made at the Heitger
home tonight. The father was perfectly
willing 10 talk and made a frank state
ment lis first intimation that his son
was connected with the case was when the
officials called him before them. Mr. Heit-
ser sai.:
FATHER MAKES STATEMENT.
Il know ms son had no love affair with
Miss schafcr. althoIsh / know he called
at the Smith home lie says. however. he
went there al Miss Loves request lie
is not the kind OF a boy TO push himself
on any slg aad just a word 10 show blm
hss cos.soany Was not desiras,e vvouia have
been sufficient Wh,n I hnt harnsd that
his name was saeatipaed '-i;h tle ease I
called him home from 8locaang;on ai once.
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