The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-18
MRS, MCDONALD ASKS AID
FOR HUSBANDS DEFENSE
Bedford Citizens Contributing Lib
erally-Wife and Son Visit
Prisoner at Bloomington.
DETECTIVE REEDS WORK

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal.
BEDFORD, Ind, Feb. 1Z.-Mrs. James Nc
Donald. wife of the Schafer murder sus-
pect, has started a subscription to defray
the expense of employing an attorney TO de-
fend her husband. She began her tour of
the city to-day tearfully approaching pc
destraips and accosting business men. APP
pealing for monetary assistance. She has
already realized quite a sum and entertalns
hopes that she will be enabled to secure
FUNDS sufficient for the employment OF good
legal talent. Several local attorneys have
stated they could not afford to take Nc
Donald's case under present circumstances
and that such action might be the means
of invoking public criticism. Many persons
who believe in McDonald's innocence are
contributors to the fund.
While adverse to acknowledging that the
Schafer murder mystery Is far from solu-
ton, the authorities virtually admitted this
fact when the Bedford City Council was
requested TO vote an additional appropria-
tlon OF 500 to continue the investigation and
search for the murderer. The appropria-
ton was made tonight. which Increases
the fund to $500. The amount of the reward
now offered is 81, 400.
Detective Reed spent another busy day on
the case and, following a two hours con
sultatiOn with Mrs. Mcdonald, wife of the
suspect now under arrest, boarded an east
bound southern Indiana passenger train at
Z O'Clock, the officers destination presum-
ably being Seymour. Detective Reed re-
turned TO Bedford at Z o'clock tonight.
The case grows more perplexing and
complicated" admitted a member of the
investigating committee tonight, land the
fact becomes more pertinent each hour
that we have a desperate man to appre-
bend. 1t will be a hard finish when he is
convicted, but We are more determined than
ever TO ferret out the mystery"
1t Is now admitted by every member
OF the committee in charge of the inves-
tigation that the piece of fire brick picked
up in the cab shed the morning Miss Scha-
fer's lifeless body was disco yered is not
the weapon used by her assailant. Instead
a more formidable implement was used by
her slayer, but the officials are evasive as
to its character, or whether il is now in
their possession. A prominent attorney is
quoted as having stated that the butt end
OF a revolver was used to crush the brain
of the victim. but no official connected with
the investigation will affirm or deny this
statement to be a fact. The arrest of Nc
Donald was in a large measure forced, and
1t was against the expressed advice of De-
tective Reed that he was taken into Gus
tody at the time he was arrested. This
move on the part of the local officials has
necessarily entailed an unusual amount of
delay an early solution of the mystery. De-
tective Reeds advice was to be absolutely
sure of their prey before making a move,
but as the situation now stands he will
invoke the aid of the grand jury on Thurs
day, having stated he would be prepared
on that day to submit some evidence.