The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-15
First Alleges the Fact of the Beat
ing and Second of the Attempt
ed Criminal Assault.
EARLY TRIAL DEMANDED
Counsel for Defense VIII Move
Immediate Hearing at the Ar
raignment on Thursday.
NEW SUSPECT IN SIGHT
Police Are Tracing the Movements
of George Ernllart, an Alleged
Detective from Cromwell.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
BEDFORD Ind, March 14.-The Law
renee county grand jury formally indicted
James Mcdonald to-day as the murderer
of Sarah c. Schafer
The jurors did not report the result of
their deliberations until o'clock. The in
dictment is embraced in two counts, neither
of which designates the character of the
weapon Mcdonald is supposed to have used
in committing the crime.
The first count alleges that Mcdonald
"feloniously, maliciously. and with premed-
itated malice, did beat strike and wound
Sarah c. Schafer on the head with some
blunt instrument, to the grand jurors un-
known"
The second count alleges that in an at
tempt to criminally assault Sarah c..
Schafer, Mcdonald beat and wounded her
on the head. with some blunt instrument,
from which wound she died.
Judge r. n. Palmer, senior counsel for
Mcdonald. gave notice that he would on
Thursday morning present a motion for an
immediate trial of his client, who will be
arralgned at the time. He charges
that the report of the grand jury has been
purposely delayed, so TO preclude the
possibility of a trial al the present term of
court.
Prosecutor Miller announced that the
State was ready and Judge Wilson in
formed counsel he would take the matter
under consideration until Thursday morn
ing, when he would decide whether the case
of Mcdonald would be tried this term or
passed until May. Attorney Palmer said
the defense would require only two days.
and if the court can possibly find sufficient
time Mcdonald will be tried this term.
The matter rests entirely with Judge Will
son, who shows no inclination to postpone
the trial, but realizes that difficulty will be
experienced in securing jury in this
county.
George Ernhart. the alleged detective
who insists he is working on the Schafer
case and who was arrested Saturday night
by the local police, has been identified by
Charles +. Grimes, proprietor of the Park
Hotel, as the mysterious stranger who reg
istered at his hotel the night of the muir
der as g. V. Leach, of Polo, ILL.,, and dis
appeared early the next morning. Suspi-
cion is now directed towards Ernhart and
local officials are tracing his movements.
Since his sojourn in Bedford Ernhart daily
visits the scene of the murder and secured
board at the home of Mrs. Martha John
son, where Miss Schafer boarded.
Officials will tomorrow search the bag
gage of Ernhart for some evidence that
will disclose his identity. He alleges his
residence is at Cromwell. few miles from
Elkhart, Miss Schafer's home.
The mutiated body of Sarah Catherine
Schafer for whose murder James Mcdonald
must stand trial before the Lawrence coun-
ty Circuit Court, was discovered the morn
ing of January % in the cab shed of Cap
tain William Cook in alley off Lincoln
street between Thirteenth and Fourteenth
streets. The discovery was made by Cook,
who visited the shed at o'clock that morn
ing.
1t was an hour before the body was posi-
lively identified that of Miss Schafer.
The identification was made by S. B. Lowe,
president of the School Board. and Profes-
sor Louder, an associate in the high school
faculty.
The city was thrown into state of in
tense excitement and half dozen persons,
many of whom were members of Bedford S
prominent families, were viewed with sus-
picion in connection with the murder and il
was nearly three weeks after the investiga-
tion into the crime was begun that James
McDonalds name was first brought before
the board.
Mcdonald mentioned to his wife and to a
brother-in-law that he had passed the alley
at about the time the crime was supposed
to have been committed and had seen two
suspicious characters loafing at the corner
of Fourteenth and Lincoln streets. He
Dragged to members of his family that he
could throw some light on the murder.
There existed some feeling between Nc.
Donald and his brother-in-law and the lat
ter first brought the story to the ears of
members of the investigating board. News
paper men interviewed Mcdonald for the
investigating board and the detectives de-
cided the evidence was strong enough to
hold him for the crime, though they
thought him innocent. His arrest was made
late at night and he was spirited away to
Jeffersonville before 100 of the citizens OF
the city knew he was suspected of the