The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-05-24

lowing the LlGdL9rS TO reopen.
three miles northeast of Greensboro,
was burned and the charred body of
his wife was found among the ruins.
Considerable mystery surrounded the
burning of the home and the incline
ration of Mrs. Lucas.
Following the fire an investigation
was deemed necessary by the county
authorities, and grand jury session
was Immediately called. Lucas re-
fused to answer questions asked him
by the authorities, and as there were
no witnesses who could swear that
the man murdered his wife and then
set fire to the house, no indictments
were returned.
No indictments Returned.
1.-THE grand jury couldn't return an
indictment against Lucas at the time,
because he refused toAtalk," said SUI
perintendent of Police Gormon. The
only reason that an Indictment was
not returned was because he abso-
lutely refused to answer questions that
would incriminate him.
attorney at the time of the Lucas
and jury investigation. stated this
morning that he had advised the jury
not to return an indictment against
Lucas. THE jury examined Lucas in
two sessions shortly after the Noyem-
Der elections. l believe the jury
would have returned indictments
sro h far hI.f
at the same time | knew that we did
not have enough evidence to convict
him. Had we tried him then and set
him free, his innocence would have
been established and we could have
done nothing now. was sure that the
evidence in the case would be found
House Burned Rapidly.
Indicate MS were at the time of the
burning of the building that the house
had been set on FIRE, and neighbors
testified before the grand jury that
the odor of coal oil was perceptible.
The house burned rapidly, and Lucas
made his escape without first trying to
locate his wife. He said afterward
that he presumed she was safe.
Body Was cremated.
In the embers of the house neigh
bors found the cremated body of the
woman, the lower limbs having been
burned into an unrecognizable mass.
Apparently she had reached the door
of the room before she fell.
| When neighbors reached the burn
ing building, after having heard the
cries of the man, they found Lucas
standing in front of the house, wiring
ing his hands. When asked where his
wife was he said. he did not know.
| 1t required the combined strength of
three patrolmen to subdue Lucas
when he rushed into the city building
Thursday afternoon. He was placed
in the city Jail and finally became
calmer. When he was searched he
had on his person letters from Alfred
Underhill, who was bargaining for his
farm near Greensboro. This farm was
owned oy his wife and since her death
Lucas has been taking steps to sell it,
although it is not in his name, it Is
said.
Made Trips to Farm.
Lucas had made frequent trips to
his farm since last week, saying that
he was going to sell hay.
| Deputy coroner's Report.
Conflicting testimony was present
edw in the report of Deputy Coroner
Roy Morroy on the death of Mrs
Lucas. The report was filed in the
county clerks office on October %
! The coroner said in the report that
death was due to accidental incinera
ton, the deceased having been un
able to get out of the burning house in
which she was sleeping.
However, during an interview fol
lowing the filing of the verdict the
deputy coroner was asked: Don't you
think the testimony as given in the
verdict, rather conflicting"
You will have to judge for your
self" was the reply. Il have nothing
to say about it,
Lucas Testified Twice.
The testimony of Lucas to the de
putty coroner at that time read as fol
lows: About p. m. my wife and
Ii
wife awakened me. saying she fell
sick, and asked me to get the cam
phor bottle. About or 2:30 O'CLOCK
| awoke and found the room full o.
smoke. I was considerably confused
CROPPED about the room and found the
door, and went into the north room
and then to the kitchen, and called
to my wife, but so much smoke wa:
IL the room that I was compelled t.
go outside and call for help. walking
toward the road and still calling fo
help. | then turned toward the Cate,
home.
When Catey answered me | wa:
half way between my own gate ant
the Catey house. | then returned t,
the house and entered the kitchen ant
found the kitchen filled with smoke
as was also the other rooms, and S.
dense was the smoke that it was i'm
possible for me to discern objects il
the room. Upon my return most o
the fire seemed to be in the bedroom
and the southwest room of the build
ing. BY this time Catey arrived, an
we went to the south side of the hous
and broke. into the bedroom. and w
could plainly see that my wife was no