Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-06-04
SUSPECT WINTERS
CHILD WAS SLAIN:
FATHER ARRESTED

Newcastle, Ind, June DIR. and
Mrs. w. A. Winter father and step
mother of Catherine Winters, aged 8
who disappeared from her home here
more than. a year ago, We're arrested
on their arrival here from Terre Haute,
Ind, today. They We're charged with
conspiracy to commit a felony. This
makes three arrests in the case w. H.
Cooper, a former roomer in the Win
ters' home, having been arrested late
last night.
1t was said a second search of the
home of DR.. w. A. Winters, father of
the girl, would be made late today.
PrlVate detectives and local police Of
flcers, who searched the home last
night, asserted they found, sealed in
the basement wall, a red air ribbon,
Whlch had belonged to the missing
child.
The sweater, police officers declared.
had holes in it which looked as if they
mad been burned there and the under
shlrt was stained as if by blood.
Cooper Not Surprised.
cooper was a roome at the Winters
nc ne at the time of the disappearance
OF the gil, but left Newcastle the day
alter she disappeared n remained
away for 10 days. He did not seem
much surprised when arrested and de-
CARED he could prove an alibi. He also
planned Mayor Watkins for his pre-
dicament. 90
Dr.. and Mrs. Winters were in Terre
iaaute, where motion pictures are be-
ing SHOWN to raise funds to further the
search for Catherine.
Large sums of money have been
Spent IN search for the child and She
mas oeen reported found in various
Parts OF the country, but each renor+
mas proven untrue.
~ was stated that the charge of CON
splfacy to commit a felony had heen
placed against the three persons under
arrest, merely as a e of holdinr
them and that the charge miab+ he
changed later. % oo
daughter of DR.. w. a. Winters disamu
peared April 20, 1913. The child had
peen canvassing the n~eighborhood in
for y she Shelly laHea, trying to sell needles
seen late in the afternoon. The police
We're not notified until the next day
catherine is the daughter of DIR. Win
tiers by his first wife, who died several
years ago. Catherine inherited 81. 900.
on her mothers death.
The warrants for the arrest of mr.
n Mrs. Winters and Cooper were is
sued by Mayor Watkins, who has heen
a leading figure in the Investigation Of
the disappearance of Catherine. Coop
eis poHQ was paced at $4,000, which
he was unable to furnish The Win
tiers bonds have not been fixed.
Grand Jury Investigation.
". r. Meyers, county prosecutor.
said today he would file a%ffiday;ts
against the three in the circuit court
and that a grand jury Investigation
would be begun at. nee.
Police officials n the private de-
tective employed by the mayor began
today digging up the floor of the cellar
in the Winters nome with the hope. as
they expressed it, of finding either the
body Of the girl or evidence Of how
the body had been disposed of. 1t was
said if no traces We're. found in the
cellar other parts Of the premises
would be dug up.
Mrs. Winters, following her arrest.
was questioned regarding the clothine
worn by Catherine on the day Of her
disappearance, and the police said that
among the other effects, she described
the sweater which was found last
night.
1t was said DR.. Winters probably
would be taken to the Jail in Muncie,
so that he could no. communicate with
either his wife Or Cooper.