The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-09-10
CROFT UNAFFECTED
WISHES DEATH FOR
VICTIM OF CUTTING
AS Divorced Wife Fights for
Life, Her Assailant La
ments Capture Before Kill
ing Two Others.

While William Croft, confined at
the county Jail, indifferently, at times
jokingly, refers to his murderous as
sault on his divorced wife, Mrs. Croft,
at her home, over 405 Main street, to-
day continued her remarkable fight
against death. This woman, once be-
lieved dead by the attending physi-
clans, is showing remarkable vitality
and nerve. II am going to get we'll"
she calmly informs her physicians, and
they would not be greatly surprised if
she does recover, although the odds
are all against her.
Mrs. Groff's temperature was nor
NAL when I visited her this morning"
said one of her physicians. Her heart
action was good and her pulse was
about normal 1t has been definitely
learned that one of the knife thrusts
penetrated her bowels. The other five
wounds, including her gashed throat,
are not necessarily fatal. The bowel
rupture, however, is very dangerous.
This may cause a reaction i'll her con-
dition at any time, in which case she
will undoubtedly die. This reaction
may not occur, but the chances are it
will"
Wishes Her Dead.
Croft, who was informed Tuesday
night that his former wife was dead,
which information prompted him to
make written confession of his
crime, showed absolutely no feeling
when told that the report of Mrs.
Groff's death was incorrect. His only
comment, Turnkey Miller says, was:
"Well, wish she was dead"
Croft has shown supreme indiffer-
ence to his crime ever since his ar
rest" Miller said today. 'He made
no attempt to feigning insanity. and in
the event of Mrs. Groff's death 1t
would not surprise me if he entered a
plea of guilty without making any de-
Tense of his action. He told me. I
don't care what they do with me, but
want it done quick
Croft has shown no remOrse, Is
healthy and has good appetite. Once
he said he felt little nervous and
asked me for some medicine, which
gave him, and which appeared to
straighten him up within short time.
Admits Fermentation.
"He talks freely about his family
troubles, and makes no effort to shield
the fact that his crime was premedi-
tated. He said he decided to murder
his wife a few days ago when he met
one of his daughters on the street and
she ignored him. He says his wife
turned the children against him, and
he revenged himself upon her and is
| willing to meet the consequences
Croft has told Miller that he had a
rifle hidden near the place where he
attacked Mrs. Croft, but he did not
say what he intended to do with it.
1t is believed by the police that he
| intended to use this weapon to resist
arrest. A search will be made for it.
He also remarked that he is sorry
he was captured so soon, for there
! were two more people I wanted to
get" Who they are he refuses to say.
but his son Edward is supposed to be
| one of them. Edward is cripple and
has always been loyal companion OF
his mother.
Patrolman Vogelsong said today that
| when he was taking Croft to the coun
! ty Jail in the police ambulance, the
man remarked to him, well, Henry
this probably will be my last ride"
mo, you will get one more when we
take you to the station on your way
to the electric chair at Michigan City,
replied Vogelsong, and Croft laughed
at the possible fate in store for him.