Los Angeles herald., 1909-05-27
BLOOD STAINED
SHIRT OF GIRLS
SLAYER FOUND
GARMENT LIES MILE FROM
SCENE OF CRIME
SUSPICION STILL POINTS TO
BEN ELLIOTT
Young Man Again Is Questioned
Closely by Officers and Looks
Worried After the
Ordeal
BLOOD bespattered outside shirt


"A at Ivanhoe, three-quarters of
mile from the place where the brutally
mistreated and murdered body of O.
year-old Anna Poltera was found, May
II, was the result of the most active
days work that has been done since the
murder was unearthed.
1t is only a cheap cotton shirt, Whlte,
with black stripes running in small
checks through it, with the front a solid
crimson blotch, with the sleeves
smeared by blood marks, and what may
prove to be finger marks, but If the
owner of the discarded telltale piece of
clothing can be located Sheriff Hammel
believes the mystery of the crime will
have been solved.
The shirt is closely guarded in the
sheriffs office No one is allowed to
touch or handle it. This morning it will
be put under a microscopic test to see
If the size and nature of the apparent
inger prints can be determined.
Found Accidentally
The shirt was found yesterday after
noon by e. W. Dwyer, on his farm in
Ivanhoe. Dwyer had gone to look after
his horse, which was pastured in
field near the riverbed. He found the
best piece of evidence that has so far
been brought to light in the case.
at once sent word to the sheriff's office,
and Sheriff Hammel hastened to the
place and returned with the shirt The
location of the unmistakable blood spot
Is indicative of that which would result
from the treatment of Anna Poltera.
The shirt was of the cheapest material
and had been patched in several places.
1t was shirt which a Cholo would
wear judging from the texture of the
goods. In size it is 1872.
The spot where the shirt was found
had not been searched previously, but
the fact that it is not a mile from the
scene Of the murder makes the discov-
cry one of inestimable value.
Elliott Still Suspected
To find the owner of the shirt is to
locate the murderer, believes Sheriff
Hammel. The discovery adds further
TO the theory of the Mexican seen on
the road near p, Griffith park on the
afternoon of the murder as being the
one responsible for the outrage.
Despite the new development those
following the case We're given a sur
prise when Ben T. Elliott, the self-con-
fessed 1S-year-old burglar. who was
taken to Burbank yesterday morning
to be ararigned on the charge of bur
glary, was hurried back to the county
Jail yesterday afternoon. Elliott was
arraigned yesterday morning and his
case was continued until 10 o'clock this
morning.
Would the shirt that was found fit
young Elliott? was the first question
asked. Elliott was subjected to anoth-
er session. on his return from Burbank,
with Sheriff Hammel and Marshal Lee
Stanchfield of Redondo, who arrested
the youth.
In searching yesterday morning the
camp which was occupied by Elliott
fVarr Iaf se4fsa
paper dated May % WaS/found which
gave an account of the murder The
paper was buried in a small hole in
the rear of the camp. This fact is of
significance only to the extent that it
proves some discrepancies in the story
= told by Elliott after his arrest.
Elliott Looks Worried
On being questioned when brought to
Los Angeles he stated that he had read
no paper containing mention of the
murder, but later retracted this state
ment and acknowledged he had read of
1t in Sunday paper. The paper was
shown to Elliott yesterday afternoon,
and he said he had forgotten hiding it.
Whatever else transpired at the pri-
vate session was not made public. but
young Elliott wore far more troubled
expression as he came from the sher-
ifs office than at any time since his
arrest.
The blood-stained shirt was not
shown to Elliott and this fact caused
surprise. Sheriff Hammel said he knew
the shirt did not belong to the youth.
Nevertheless the admission by Elliott
that he was in the vicinity of Glendale
and left his camp there at o'clock
the Tuesday morning following the
murder leads to all sorts of conjectures.
A fact which cannot be of material
evidence, but which serves simply to
nj h
the vicinity of the crime, was the find
ing of a black leather pocketbook
March 6. The pocketbook was picked
up within sixty yards of where the
body of the girl was found and con-
tanned half a dozen of Elliott's cards.
Elliott Breaks Down
Elliott admitted he visited Griffith
park two months ago, so what looked
like a chain in the circumstances sur
rounding Elliott's connection with the
crime must be entirely eliminated
Although Sheriff Hammel still main
tains his belief in the innocence of Ell
lott, every possible circumstance will
be investigated in connection with his
travels, and many working on the case
have not been at all satisfied that the
youth does not possess knowledge of
the crime.
When Elliott was visited by his fa-
ther, B. F. Elliott, at the county Jail.
the young man DrOhe uoWll, ana throw
ing his arms about the fathers neck
exclaimed, 81 did not do it, dad. did
commit the robberies, but know moth
ine of the murder"
''I believe you. son. and will stay by
YOU" replied the father. 81 think you
have been awfully wronged in this re-
gard, but everything will come out
right in the end"
Elliott inquired about his mother and
young sisters and soon resained his
composure, saying he would plead
guilty to all charges of burglary
against him. throw himself on the mer
cy of the court and seek probation.
sheriff's Work FruitIess
sheriff Hammel, accompanied by
Denlltv Sheriff Harry Wright, was or
The scene of the murder early yester-
dav morning and returned at l o'clock
without their inquiries resulting in any
IContinued IN Pare Fiveb