The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-30
Question That Is Now Being
Asked by Officials and Detec-
tives at Bedford.
NEW, STARTLING THEORY
Which Sheriff Frank Smith Came
to indianapolis Yesterday
to Investigate.
YOUNG MAN IN THIS CITY
May Be Able to Throw Light on
the Latest Development of the
Mysterious Case.

stan Correspondence OF the Journal.
BEDFORD. Ind, Jan. "a new theory,
startling in nature and one that fell like
bomb in the ranks OF the sleuths striving
hard TO run down Sarah Schafers murder
er is occupying the entire attention OF the
officials and the Pinkerton detectives. Reed
and Smith. tonight. 1t is believed here
that a young man now in Indianapolis can
throw much light on the mystery.
The question, an answer to which is be-
ing eagerly sought. Is: Was the innocent
young Latin teacher, as she walked TO her
home that rainy. dreary night of last
week, slain TO seal her lips on a secret
regarding the life of a friend held dear-a
secret that was not thought secure IN her
keeping?
1t was learned tonight that the officials
are strongly inclined TO support this late
story. With the few facts that formulated
foundation for this belief in his possession.
Sheriff Frank Smith made a trip TO In
danapolis to-day and returned tonight.
His information was given 10 Sheriff
Metzger. of Marion county. and Captain OF
Detectives jeremiah Kinney. Sheriff Smith
refused absolutely to discuss the result Of
his trip, although he told the Journal rep
resentative that IL awaited nothing.
THE THEORY.
On the strength OF the latest bits Of
evidence, any one of which is vague. one
man must explain his whereabouts the
night of the tragedy. His home is not in
Bedford. The latest developments deal with
confiding girl. a secret and a confidante.
The officials believe they have in their pos
session the name of the young woman who
,VI1 foIIf 81, hat farfn ha
theory to bits. or proving it the correct one
beyond a doubt They are all most secre-
tive in their movements.
Did the man who dealt the death blows
fear that Sarah Schafer than whom no one
on earth could be more innocent OF the
wrong ways of the world. would some
time become oonscience-stricken and con-
hde the story TO another? This is one OF
the questions propounded. The story, IL
IL proves true, is a most startling one and
it would rank the murder of Sarah Schsss
fer among the greatest crimes OF the times.
No incriminating evidence is yet in the
hands of the detectives, but the fact re-
mains they are bending every effort 10
straighten out the tangled bits OF .informa-
ton. The officers believe that one among
Miss ScEafer's aoquaintances had confidcd
a grave secret to the girl. The whereabouts
of this woman for the past two weeks viii
be submitted TO the closest inquiry by the
Pinkertons. Both men refuse. however. 10
make even the barest statement in regard
to their work. II their present theory
proves true. every one regarded in the
slightest way as a suspect will be elimi-
mated from the case.
MYSTERIOUS LETTER.
The mysterious letter received by Miss
Schafer from a correspondent unknown to
her most intimate friends, as far as the de-
tectives are informed. figured in the investi-
| CATION to-day. A fact also that created
sensation was that the officers have I'm their
possession the photograph Of handsome
young man that was shown TO at least one
of the witnesses as a means of Identifying
the strangers seen with Miss Schafer within
the last three months. Miss Lillian Stout.
who was a passenger the train upon
which Miss Schafer returned to Bedford
| after the Christmas holidays. was shown
| the picture 1t developed later that the
picture was that OF Harry Behr, the Louis
| Vile suspect. 1t is understood Miss Stout
! identified IL as one of the men on the train.
| and before being shown IL gave accurate
description Of the Louisville suspect. The
| two Pinkerton men declare she must be
mistaken. 1t was learned tonight that Bert
MayhiII of Flora. and Frank Shallenberger.
| of Cayuge were the young men who met
| Miss Schafer on the train. They talked with
her for some time. Later Mr.. Shallenberger
wrote to Miss Schafer. asking permission TO
/ visit her when he was a. Bedford. Miss
! Schafer replied that she would have no OBJ
! lection TO him paying a social CALL but that
she did not care to continue the acquaint-
/ ance further.
BURNED HER LETTERS
Before the committee to-day story OF
/ the mysterious letters told. One OF
the witnesses declared that dozens OF
| times after school closed at noon Miss
! Schafer ran to her room for her mail,
eagerly read the letters and Immediately
] destroyed them. Often she returning
! TO her boarding house as her sister teachers
were leaving the building. At times. the
witness said. Miss Schafer late at
school in the afternoons as the result OF
I these trips TO her room
Miss Lillian Pearl Bassett OF Indian
apolis. who has been chosen by the Board
OF Education to nll the position OF teacher
| of Latin i'm the High School. arrived here
to-day. JOSEPH WElMER
/ NOME OF local PEOPLE