The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-08-25
VILLAGERS ARE INCENsED
OVER TRIPLE TRAGEDY
Suspected Assassin, William Lee, ID
Closely Guarded Because Of
Fear Of lynchlng.

IA
BOoNvILLE, Ind, Aug. 25.-The
coroner's jury continued its investiga-
ton today into the death OF Richard
Lee. his wife and son, slain here early
yesterday, while William Lee. 81, held
as a suspect, sat In his cell In the
county jail and chatted cheerfully with
his guard. Extra deputies have been
placed ON duty to prevent an attack
being made on the prisoner by infurt
ated citizens.
state OF excitement following the
brutal murder, young Lee is appar-
emily the least concerned person In
the town. Requested to pose for his
photograph. yesterday, he carefully
filed his pipe and asked that he be
snapped while the lighted match burn
ed near his face.
Lee steadfastly denied any knowl
edge OF how his parents came to their
death. bloody AK and Ratchet, found
near the house, did not disturb him
when held before his eyes, and ne re-
fused TO believe, for a time. that nis
fathers head was nearly cleft by a
blow, and that his Jrother and mother
evidently died from blows In the head
Lee asked that he be permitted TO
attend the funeral OF his parents to-
day, but II Is believed this will be
denied. His fancee. Nina Williams,
will be examined by the coroner's jury
today. =.
Sympathy For FIancee.
The greatest sympathy was ex.
pressed today for Nina Taylor. the
young woman to whom Lee was to-
have been married yesterday. With
her intended husband In Jail, charged
with murder, at the time when the
wedding ceremony was TO have been
performed, she was hysterical most OF
last night Brought from her home
near Newburg this morning to appear
before the coroner's jury, she was
heavily yelled and refused TO make
any statement other than to declare
she VAS positive Leo was innocent.
Tile towns-people do not believe she
had any knowledge of the crime.
The authorities assert today they
are confident Lee carefully planned
the death Of his parents I'm order that
he might rob them Of their life's saw
ings, to be able to furnish a home for
his bride. People Of the village as
sert that young Lee was never indus
trious and that the reason his family
objected to his marriage was that they
feared he could not support family.
Lee Explains Bruises.
On examining Lee. today, Jail physi-
clans discovered that he had several
bruises on his body, and II Is now be-
lieved the younger brother endeav-
ored to save his parents from death
and that a struggle for possession OF
the death dealing. ak took place. Lee
laughed when told the authorities had
expressed this belief and said he re-
ceived the bruises while getting out
of his buggy when he called on Miss
Taylor the night before. Lees young
err brother had been stabbed In addi-
ton to suffering a deep cut on the
head.
While witnesses we're being exam
ined by the coroner's jury this morn.
ing young Lees revolver was found
on the floor I'm the room where the
three victims were slain. Not a shell
had been fired. but the authorities be
lieve Lee carried the revolver for use
in case OF emergency.
Firemen asserted today that when
they arrived at the house all doors
were locked and they believe young
Lee must have climbed out window.
The bloody hand-ax has been found,
hidden In a corner behind the kitchen
stove. while the top was on an oil can
nearby. A wash basin from the
kitchen and all keys to the house are
missing.
Victims Are Buried.
The three victims OF the tragedy
were buried in one grave this after
noon. Lee remained I'm the Jail, smok.
ing cigarettes. He declared the as
sertion that his family objected to his
marriage because he did not have
funds, or that he killed his parents In
order TO rob them, was foolish, as he
had 500 in the Newburg bank. The
cashier there said Lee had less than
800.