The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-27
OFFICIALS AT BEDFORD
CHANGE THEIR PLANS
IN THE MURDER INQUIRY
VIII Now Work on Theory that
the Crime Was Merely
Brutal Assault
DRAG-NET TO BE CAST
And All Suspicious Characters
Found in the City Are to BE
Closely Examined.
NEGRO NOW SUSPECTED
Hairs Sent to Louisville for Ex-
amination-Funeral of Miss
Schafer at Elkhart.
NEGRO NOW SUSPECTED


BEDFORD. Ind. Jan. 26-Thc officials
directing the Schafer murder inquiry de-
cded tonight upon an entire change OF
procedure. Henceforth they viii work
upon the theory that the crime was
brutal attempt At assault, probably by \
colored man and the drag net viii be cast
tomorrow for every suspicious character
in Bedford. The various theories OF re-
vcnge. infatuation and insanity have been
abandoned. Joseph Heitger and other
prominent young men have been eliminated
from the situation. Heitger's explanation
of his whereabouts on the night OF the
murder have been accepted as satisfactory.
From now on the search will be narrowed
TO such characters as may be considered
most likely to have been guilty OF Grim
inal assault.
The general belief among fhe members
of the court of inquiry who favor the new
plan of campaign is that black man is
the murderer. Particular attention will be
paid to such men as would be likely To have
carried horse hairs their clothing IL
such a man were the slayer OF Miss schafer
the presence of the red hairs in her cloth
ing would be explained. 1t is pointed out
that there is much evidence leading to the
conclusion that assault. and only assault.
was the motive for the heinous crime. The
use of a brick as a weapon indicates to
those directing the work that a low-grads
man was the criminal The brick used
could scarcely have been found i'm the alley.
1t probably was carried i'm the pocket Of
the murderer A bottle of cheap whisky
has been found near the scene OF the crime.
This is pointed out further evidence that
the fiend was a man of low habits
The brutality OF the murder was such
that no man of education would be likely
TO have committed. Despite evidence 20 the
contrary. it is asserted tonight that the
body showed unmistakabe evidence OF
| unsuccessful attempt al assault. The marks
of a bloody hand found tho torn
bodice. portion of the clothing was
/ found torn loose and lying on the holr.
With this evidence admitted. the officers
will begin the quest tomorrow with re-
/ newed igor.
NEGRO SUSPECTED.
! One negro in particular will he examined
tomorrow He was sent Tor tonight. but
could not be found. He is still in town.
however, and will be taken I'm tomorrow.
He is said to answer the description of the
man seen lurking near the scene of the
murder a few minutes before Miss Schafer
met her fate. Probably dozen men are
on the list for examination tomorrow and
there is much hope that the guilty man
| will soon be landed behind the bars
The committee named by the Council
| with Detective Halpin, worked the entire
afternoon tirelessly. Almost every saloon
keeper in the city was examined, and all
clews but the one of the whisky bottle were
! thrown aside. The whisky bottle was pur-
chased originally at Hall & Dorsey's sa-
loon. The proprietors, however. could not
| tell the detectives at what time the sale OF
the whisky was r@ade. They declared the
liquor in the bottle was not purchased at
their saloon. Not one fact that bears In
the slightest manner on the case is allowed
to escape, and the committe now. almost in
desperation, follows the faintest bit OF evi-
dence. Its members questioned the saloon
keepers closely on the sale OF whisky tbs
night of the murder. but no important evi-
dence secured.
However. carly tonight a man was
brought before the committee and the great-
est secrecy was attached 10 his examination.
He was a man known 10 have been in the
neighborhood of l. and Fourteenth streets
the night that Sarah Schafer met her death
"a man bearing the reputation of one VINO.
in different ways tries to attract the atten-
ton OF women OF the street. man who ale
ways dresses neatly and wears long overs
coat The red mustache. however. il MISS
ing He r. the operator of a planer ma
chine in OF the quarries near BEDFORD
and has been a foreman Of the quarry. The
man WIS put through rigid questioning by
Detective HalDin. but nothing vital 10 Inc
case was elected He lives within few
squares OF the scene OF the crime. The Of
ii,ials declare they have TO grounds 10 sus-
pect him.
MISTAKEN IDENTITY THEORY.
The mistaken identity theory forwarded
by Detective Hager. Of Louisville. gained
followers in Bedford to-day. but the Of
ficials believe they have exploded a. In
the family of Mrs. johnson. II whose home
Sarah Schafer boarded is a domestic ts.en-
ty-one years old and the mother OF two
children She Is divorced from her nus
band. a farmer at Robinson. III. securing
the decree three years ago. after hc had
made threats on her life. The reasoning OF
I a few IS. Could Il be possible that the
irate husband. stll harborng malice aud
hatred against the little woman who swors
against him on the witness stand. have
returned and lay IN wait FOR her outside the
house? That when Sarah Schaf-r. re-
sembling the wife oaly Ia height. left the
housc be followed her. attacking her from
behind before hc discovered his mistake.
Those forwarding this theory say that after
discovering his mistskc, knowing fun wei
that tho girl might identify him 10 caught
and swear away his life. he dragged her 10
the shed and there delivered the death
blows The whereabouts 81 shis man dur
ing the past week are being investigated.
but nothing positive has yet beeu icarn,d
The wife ridicucs the idea tha; the nus
band still retains a vengeful feeling. 5ut
shc has bcca examined by the detectives
The fact. however that she In bat one
particular-fhat OF height -resembed the
murdered woman. leads the officials TO scout
the theory
HAIRS TO BE EXAMINED.
The invest CATION hereafter Is 80 be
specific ard the general work h. 90 he
stopped. 4 proCinent Official Tonight sad
ths.t rntn IL was shown absolutely that the
: hairs found on the hand OF Miss Schafer
and the cum Of her waist were tora from