Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-26
NO CLUE FOUND YET
BEDFORD OFFICIALS HUNTING
MISS scHAFFR's MURDERER.
Joseph Heitger Makes Statement Re
garding Mention Of His Name
in the Case.

a dispatch from Bedford, Ind. last night
saws: Detectives at work on the mystery
of the murder of Miss Sarah -Schafer,
teacher of Latin in the Bedford schools,
believe that they have established a mo-
tive for the crime. They are satisfied that
the tall man in the long overcoat that
was seen lurking in the vicinity of the
Johnson house is the murderer, and that
the man is the one who was annoying Miss
Schafer.
The police believe that this man was
enamored of Miss Schafer, and that she
had repulsed him. Broedng over his pas
sion for the young woman. determined to
have an interview with her, the. police
think the man lad made up his mind to
kill her if she again resented his ad-
vances and watched for her as she left
the Johnson boarding house. He kept on
the opposite side of the street until Capt.
Alexander had entered the Windstandley
House and then overlook her at 14th and
L streets.
What Heitger Says.
At Bloomington, Ind, today Joseph
Heitger whose name has been mentioned
in connection with that of Sarah Schafer.
called on a representative of the Indian
apolis News and stated that the talk that
he was in any way connected with Miss
Schafer is absolutely 1alSe.
you may say said Heitger, that
met Miss Schafer only once. / never was
at her house to call on her. l talked to
her only in the pr esence of Miss Knox,
and we talked of George Shaw and James
Dodd, two Elkhart boys whom she knew
/ never wrote a word to her in my life,
nor received a word from her, and have
hardly spoken to her since Thanksgiving
night, when I met her at the basket ball
game. I will return to Bedford at once
md not no rnyu f1nd II I'm
of such suspicion.
Heitger is a member of a prominent
Bedford family. a college graduate and
an athlete.
During his examination by the officials
Saturday Heitgar said that on the even
ing of the murder he left the home of his
father, Joseph c. Heitger, at 6:45 O'Clock
He arrived at the old library building on
14th between and X streets before any
of the basket ball players, whom he coach
ed. arrived. He said he believed he was
there a few minutes after o'clock. None
of the players was positive at what minute
after they arrived. Heitger declared he
left the building some time near 8 O clock
going to his home at once and changing
his clothes, kept an evening engagement.
Chief Russell Gathering Information.
A dispatch from Louisville. KY, says:
Chief of Police M. C. Russell and Sheriff
Smith of Bedford. Ind. In company with
former Chief Jacob Hanger of the Louis
vile police. had conference here today
with a woman who two days ago notified
the Bedford police that she could probably
throw some light on the Sarah Schafer
murder.
Chief Russell left for home late this after
noon, going by way of New Albany He
said the woman with whom he was in
conference three hours had given him
much information about Miss Schafer and
her friends and acquaintance. He said
the information was very valuable, but
that he could not diviilge it until he had
had further conference with the authori-
ties at Bedford. He refused to give the
woman's name.