Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-06-02
SIeuth Quits After Quar-
rel With Prosecutor at
Newcastle, Ind.
MAY ABANDON CHARGES
Proceedings of Impeachment
Against Mayor Threatened
by ChiId's Father.

Newcastle, Ind, June 2.-Robert
Abel, private detective who has been
investigating the disappearance of
Catherine Winters, left this city yes
terday and said he would not return.
He left. after an alteration with w.
R. Myers, prosecuting attorney, in
which each accused the other of suf-
fering an attack Of cold feet"
The charges against the father and
step-mother of the girl, DR.. and Mrs.
w. A. Winters, probably will be dis
missed, and the search for the body of
the girl abandoned.
Abel went to Indianapolis, taking
with him his magnifying glass, his
Sherlock Holmes" hat and some die
tagraph records. AS he left he said
that no prosecution could be carried
on without the evidence contained in
the dictagraph report.
Three QuarreIs in a Day.
Abel and the prosecutor had three
quarrels during the day. DR.. and Mrs.
Winters and Ross Cooper, formerly a
boarder at the Winters home, were
named in affidavits charging them with
conspiracy to commit murder, which
were filed yesterday morning before
Judge Jackson. Their bonds were
fixed at $1,000 each.
Politics and cowardice have ruined
my case" Abel declared before he
left. 81 had dictagraph records which
contained report of conversation
between Mrs. Winters and her mother,
which was held in the dining room of
their own home. l had much other
evidence which has not been made
public, but which was told to Myers.
/ cannot do anything more until they
appoint a new prosecuting attorney
and file those affidavits, so l can keep
the defendants separated. am
through
When the word came that Abel was
leaving DIR. Winters wanted to prevent
the detective from leaving town. He
called his attorney, George Barnard,
and asked that affidavits charging the
detective with perjury be filed. The
affidavits were prepared, but at con-
ference between Mrs. Winters, the at
torney and Dr. Winters it was decided
to drop the matter.
Impeachment Is Threatened.
Impeachment proceedings against
Mayor J. Leb Watkins may be the re-
suit of the activities displayed by the
mayor in the investigation. DR.. Win
ters said that he would file charges of
in Office against Mayor
Watkins.
The departure of Abel came at a
,oint in the investigation when def
lite action was about to be taken.
Word had been received of the finding
If a shovel on farm owned by G. II.
Van Matre four miles west of this city
IN the morning following the disap.
,earance of Catherine Winters.
Reports were circulated by Detec.
i've Abel that box had been shipped
W Cooper from Winters home two
lays after the disappearance of the
,irl, and had been addressed to him
elf at Indianapolis. Cooper went to
the following day.
Four city policemen went to the Van
Iatre farm to fnvestiga-,e the shovel
nd mound the earth supposed to have
,een found on the farm. The shovel
vas a scoop shovel that had belonged
o the Lake Shore and Michigan South
rn railroad.
The mound of earth" was found to
'e a hole washed out of the land in
he center of a corn field when the
Blue river overhowed the field year
Igo.
Excavations were made near the
lole. but only stones and an old SOCK
we're found. The sock had belonged to
robert Mann, a hired man.