The Indianapolis journal., 1904-05-27
SENSATIONS FOLLOW FAST
IN THE SCHAFER MURDER
ARGUMENTS AT BEDFORD
Judge Palmer Arraigns the State
for Insincerity, and Declares 1t
Is Shielding a Criminal.
PROSECUTOR DENIES IT
He Denounces Mcdonald as the
Murderer, and Demands Inflic-
ton of Death Penalty.
NEW EVIDENCE SECURED
Woman Declares She Heard One
Dave Fisher Say He Saw Wom-
an Burn Murderer's Coat.
PROSECUTOR DENIES IT
NEW EVIDENCE SECURED
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

James Mcdonald. for the murder of Sarah
G. Schafer. is nearing the end. and II Is
possible that by tomorrow night McDon-
aid will know his fate. whether the jury
consider him guilty or innocent, or whether
1t Will be unable to agree. That the latter
will be the outcome is the most generally
expressed belief While there are many
who think he is guilty. few are 10 be found
who express the belief that the extreme
penalty will be imposed. To-day was spent
entirely in arguments, which were heard by
a large crowd, though the attendance is not
so large as earlier in the proceedings.
Prosecutor Robert G.. Miller in his argu-
ment as TO WHY he believes the state has
made clear case and why the jury should
bring a verdict of guilty and infiict the
death penalty said Mr.. Palmer. in his open
ing statement. endeavored to undermine
his case by advancing the theory that it
was another man and not James Mcdonald
who was guilty: that ne had locked in his
breast the identity OF the murderer of
Sarah c. Schafer. yet he was not permitted
TO divulge it because so prevented by
statute covering this class of cases. Gen
tlemen of the jury. no such law exists,
declared the prosecutor. He also spoke
of something being rotten in this case. 1
agree with Mr.. Palmer: there was some
thing rotten. and / will speak of it later"
Then he turned direct to Mr.. Palmer. 1T
was not the law OF the State of Indiana
that prevented you from showing this man
was not guilty" he said. 1T was the
cornerstone and the basis on which Mr..
Palmer rested his case he declared. ad-
ding: 'T do not know why he told you
this and then refused to introduce certain
evidence that MS client did not commit the
crime. 1 reiterate the statement that Sarah
c. Schafer was cruelty murdered or Jan.
q and James Mcdonald is the murderer"
When Mr.. Miller concluded there were
both applause and expressions of disap-
proval, which brought reprimand from
Judge Wilson.
Frank NJ. Vance this morning made the
opening argument for the defense. occupy
ing the greater part of the forenoon in an
argument that was strong from his side Of
the case.
PALMER ASSAILS STATE.
r. y. Palmer followed with the closing
argument for the defense. Mr.. Palmers
argument was sensational in the extreme.
Give me good grand jury. good bailiffs
and three weeks he declared "and l will
produce evidence that will show who muir
dered Sarah Schafer. 1 have testimony
locked In my breast that would pale that
given against James Mcdonald. The State
of Indiana in this is not in earnest 1t
has had opportunity to iet the light in on
this mystery. but every time it has blocked
the way by objections to the introduction
of the testimony. 1t does not want to know
who killed this girl
There was applause about the courtroom
that had to be silenced by Judge Wilson,
who reprimanded the audience for so ex-
pressing its feelings In a court OF justice.
The challenge created a sensation in
Bedford and was the one topic of conver-
sation at noon. II Mcdonald is acquitted
there is little doubt that Palmers chal-
lenge will be accepted. There Is a general
demand. however. to know why he did not
give this evidence before the grand jury
that indicted Mcdonald.
Palmer's speech was impassioned from
first to last. but very able He was particu-
larly scathing in his reference TO K. s.
Reed. detective. Referring to Reed having
had Mcdonald removed from the State Re-
formatory, where the Governor in justice
refused to let him hound his man into the
cell, to the Jail at Bloomington so that he
could devil and browbeat him and break
him down..
S. B. Lowe began the closing speech for
the state. but will not finish until nearly
noon TO morrow.
Considerable new evidence has been dis
covered that will have an important bear
Ing IL the case comes TO trial again Mrs.
d
4. Freeland. last evening. conversation
said TO have occurred in Grigsby's store
few days following the murder of Miss
Schafer. According TO Mrs. Lemond, Dave
Fisher. a brother-in-law of Mcdonald. while
In the Grigsby store, said in the presence
OF l. +. Grigsby. Mrs Grigsby and Mrs.
Lemond, Il know the woman who burned
the coat worn by the murderer" Mrs.
Lemond reiterated the statement TO a re-
porter who called on her. When asked as
ment credited TO him, she said IL was
week or ten days following the murder
Mrs. Lemond said Dave Fisher said to
Mr.. Grigsby. Il was standing behind him.
and that he either knew the woman or
knew of the woman that burned the long
coat by the murderer
GRIGSBY is EvASIvE.
II couldn't say how long after the MUIR
der this was. either one or two weeks II
was right when much talk was going on
about the murder. The conversation &C.
Cured right in Grigsby's store. but can't
say whether IL was in the morning or after
noon first told my son Fred yesterday
about the matter and he said Ma, you
oucht TO have ;Sld that long ago.
Ihe reporter called at the Grigsby resi-
dence MIR. Grigsby. were you in the store
on an occasion when Dave Fisher. IN the
presence of Mrs. Rosetta Lemond and your
the coat worn by the murderer" he asked.
II refuse To say, replied Mr.. Grigsby
because
there has been too much said already about
this case. 1t has been tried and is now
over.
''win you but either affirm or deny Mrs
Lemond's story?
mo. sir. will neither affirm nor DENY the
statement. aud il will be useless for you to
prrss me further.
DR.. Freeland said to the reporter that he
had known Mrs Lemond for years and
said she was as fine a woman as there is
In Bedford. She told the TRUTH" said Dr.
Freeland. 'and il is substantially the same
story she told me-.
Dave Fisher is married and lives with his
mother. Hannah Fisher. He has never
before figured I'm the Schafer case. and the
story, which leaked out yesterday. came
too late FOR the state 10 take advantage
Of as the case had been closed and argu-
ment was in progress Much excitement
was created among officials when il became
known.
There has always been feeling among
those in close touch with the investigation
that there was more than one man impli-
Gated in that tragedy. but the authorities
have been unable To find any evidence bear
ing on this proposition. Prosecutor Miller
will Investigate the story of Mrs. Lemond
Immediately following the close OF the Me-
Donald trial.