The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-29
PALMER WILL Be GIVEN
CHANCE TO MAKE GOOD"
IN THE SCHAFER MURDER
Judge Wilson Will Appoint Him a
Deputy Prosecutor and Give Him
Time and a Grand Jury.
REWARD FOR MURDERER
Bedford Banks and Postmaster
Offer 81 ,ooo-People Satisfied
with Mcdonald Verdict.
peciaI to the IndIanapolls journal.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
BEDFORD, Ind, May %-"Who muir
dered Sarah Schafer?" The question is
one that seems likely never to be satis-
factorily answered. Yet as an incentive
rewards amounting to 5000, in addition to
the $3.50 standing from the day of the
crime. were offered to-day. The Bedford
National Bank. the Citizens National
Bank and Postmaster V " Williams
make their offer of 81. 600 good till May 2S.
1So5- Judge Wilson announced to-day that
he will give Attorney R. N Palmer a
chance to solve the mystery.
Interest in the murder has not waned
with the acqutal of James Mcdonald, in
Circuit Court Friday a charge of hav-
ing committed the murder. On the con-
trary, the interest seems more intense
than since the morning the body was found
and the announcement was made that the
murdered woman was Miss Sarah
Schafer.
Since the evidence of the state was SUBJ
mitted wherever two or three persons
have been congregated. the one subject
that never failed to be broached was the
trial and the probable guilt or innocence
of the accused. Since the verdict there
has been little general talk on any other
subject.
Whether Mcdonald is guilty or innocent
the generally expressed opinion is that the
verdict of the jury was the only one pos
sibe according to the evidence. Said
one OF the leading men of the county
Friday evening: II would have remained
there until doomsday IL / had been on
that jury before 1 would have returned
any other verdict than was returned, and
| am satisfied that fully 30 per cent. of
way
Judge Wilson said this afternoon that
he would confer with Prosecutor Miller. in
regard to calling special grand jury
together next Tuesday for the purpose of
further investigating the Schafer murder.
Il purpose to use all the legal machinery
of Lawrence county and exhaust every
effort to completely sift and search out
every possible clew in this terrible affair"
said Judge Wilson. Attorney Robert y.
Palmer stated In his speech to the jury:
Il have in my breast testimony pointing to
the guilt of another, which, If placed
alongside the evidence against McDon-
aid, would appear as a mountain to a mole
hill. Give me grand jury and three
weeks time and I'll show you who muir
dered Sarah Schafer.' Mr.. Palmer will be
appointed Il deputy prosecuting attorney,
will be allowed his full three weeks. and
will be given a chance to make good
do not intend To have ii said that a court
over which / presided failed to do its whole
duty in the matter.
Schnfer DiSsents from Verdict.
Special 20 the Indianapolis Journal
ELKHART. Ind. May 2-John c. Scha-
fer and his son, J. Milton Schafer. arrived
home from Bedford Friday night. They
had heard of the verdict at indianapolis.
The father to-day said that he was firmly
convinced by what he heard and saw at
Bedford that Mcdonald is the man who
killed his daughter. Mr.. Schafer says that
undoubtedly the thing that Influenced the
jury the greatest in making its verdict was
Attorney Palmer's assertion that he held
within his breast knowledge OF the real
murderer.