The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-01-24
Death Of Miss Schaefer Caused
BY Revenge
CRIME IS A GREAT MYSTERY
Man Arrested Has Numerous Scratches
on Face and Wounds on Back
of Head Caued by Fral
instrument.

Bedford, Ind, January 2S.-The police
and detectives. together with Mayor Smith
and prosecutor Stephenson, are of the
belief that they have the murderer of
Miss Sarah Schaefer in the person of a
man arrested at Crothersville, whose
clothes are spotted with blood
His face bears numerous scratches and
upon the back of his head are several
wounds inflicted with some frail instru-
ment, probably an umbrella. In his pocket
was a letter so old that 1t is hardly legi-
BILE, but on the back is a picture resem-
bling those published of Miss schaefer.
The man, who gives his name as Fred
Branham, was arrested after attempting
to hold up saloon keeper at Crothers-
vile.
He asserts that his home Is in Column
bus, Ind, but he has been at Indianapolis
for several years
The testimony of Albert Deich during
the police investigation did much to
strengthen the opinion of the police that
the motive for the murder should be as
cribed to revenge. Deich AYERS that he
saw Miss Schaefer about o'clock Thurs
day evening in company with strange
man at the corner of Fourteenth and M.
streets, and that hot words were ex-
changed
Gave Perfect Description.
Deich gave perfect description of Miss
Schaefer and his description of the stran-
ger tailed with that of the man now
l.. IL r. ~ Aafd n
Owens asserts that he saw a man stand
ing at the corner of Fourteenth and L..
streets about this time. and his descrip-
tion of the stranger is identical with that
given by Deich.
Upon this evidence theipoIiceA have based
their theory that the strange man met
Miss Schaefer at the point where they
were seen by Deich, at which time quar-
rel is alleged to have occurred. 1t Is
thought that they retraced their steps to
the corner, and in passing the alley at
Cooks the man muffled his victim and
dragged her into the alley, and then into
the shed.
A letter received by Miss Schaefer a
few days previous to the tragedy Is now
in the hands of detectives and 1T is be-
lieved that the writer soon will be To-
Gated
SlQtCUCti q ECW flS6 tfH'o'
A few hairs found c1utched in the hands
of the dead girl and believed to have been
torn from the mustache of her murderer,
formed the only clue red mustached
man who looked as though he had been in
a struggle was arrested, but easily
proved his innocence and was released.
The hairs found in the dead girls hand
were from a white man.
A bloody fire brick found near the pouy'
was used to kill the girl.
The parents of the victim have arrived
here and will return to Elkhart with the
body. Three courts of inquiry are beins
held by Coroner Plummer. Justice fleteh-
er and Mayor Smith. All the suspicious
characters of Bedford have been appre-
hended and examined as to their wherea-
bouts on the night of the murder. Sher-
iff Morris of Floyd county has returned
home with his bloodhounds. They were
not able to follow the tracks or the muir
derer. The first witnesses before the
mayor's court Of the tragedy descrlped
the finding of the body.
The heavy dark brown hair was matted
in the dirt of the alleyway as she had
lain with her face exposed TO tne ram.
The body was in such a position as to lead
10 the belief that there had been no strus-
gle in the shed.
struggle IN AiiSy'
A struggle had taken place IN the alley
as she was borne down to the shed py her
assaiIant Miss Schoefer wore a Tam
O'Shanter hat, the hatpins OF Wnicn had
been lost in the struggle. Her dress was
torn open in front though the little jacket
she wore was not torn.
Five gashes and bruises were found on
the head. The skull was fractured In
three places, once over the left eye, once
at the base of the brain and one to the
right of this wound. The undertaking
was torn and the skirt of the dress Jerked
loose from the belt.
II was testified that Miss Schaefer left
her boarding house at Mrs Martha john
stems on L street, between Fourteenth
and Fifteenth streets, at $50 p. M, to go
10 her room at Thirteenth and M streets,
two squares away.
About half way she passed the mouth
of the alley where she was attacked. No
one heard screams till nearly o'clock.
when Mrs. w. d. Elliott, who lives at
Fourteenth and Elm streets, near where
the body was found. said she heard a
woman scream. She went to the door but
the scream was not repeated. The con-
clusion is taken from this that Miss
Schaefer might have been merely rem
dered unconscious by the first attack and
returned later when she was struck again
with the brick and killed. Blood splashes
found upon the cab in the shed indicate
that Miss Schaefer was struck in the she'd
and was In standing position when
struck.
Lived for Several Hours.
The condition of the body was such as
to justify the belief of the physicians
who held the autopsy that the girl lived
for several hours after she received the
blows. The police believe the wounds were
not all caused by blows with the brick.
Blood stains were found on 1t. but no
hair. No motive has been found for the
crime. Miss Schaefer was not robbed. She
was killed but not otherwise mistreated
She had fearful struggle With the as
sassin. No one heard an outcry at the
time the first attack is supposed to have
taken place, although there are houses
all aro1nd the place where the body was
found.
The accepted theory of the police is that
the murderer was known to his victim,
and approached her without creating any
suspicion in her mind and that he dealt
blow that rendered her unconscious.
Miss Schaefer received many letters,
all of which she destroyed after read
ing. A few days ago she received let
ter containing thirty-fve closely written