South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-12-03
SiSter-in-LaW of Supposedly
Murdered Woman Makes
Startling Declaration.
VIRGO IDENTIFIES REMAINS
South Bend Man Principal
Witness at Coroner'S IN
quest Held Tuesday.
BY CARL j. COOPER.

I.AWTON, Mich, Dec. 2.-"The
body that Sheriff Lang unearthed
i'm the cellar OF the Tabor home I'm
Lawton is not that OF my sister-in-
law" declared Mrs. Walter Tabor
Tuesday in reply 10 the questions OF
- number OF Paw Paw. Mich, resi-
dsnts IT don't know who it is
cac't even imagine-but this I do
know. that Maude Faith Tabor was
buried in Denver, Colo. about three
years ago"
such was the startling declara-
tion made by the wife Of Walter
Tabor. which throws an entirely
new light on the trunk murder
mystery which has so far baffled all
the efforts OF police officials from
half dozen states
Poor Witness.
Jfeeph Virgo. real estate dealer
OF South Bend. and former sweet
heart Of the girl whose body was
found badly decomposed in trunk
in the Tabor homestead, was the
principal witness Tuesday at the in
G.. Roland. of Lawton. Virgo was
"a mighty elusive witness and was
prepared for the leading
questions put to him by the coro-
ner. His replies were indirect and
evasive. capable OF being interpreted
in more ways than one. until the
coroner. evidently angry over the
fact that Virgo was more than his
match in a battle OF wits. threw
caution to the winds and demanded.
"Do you identity this body as that of
Maud Faith Tabor"
II do. replied Virgo.
liz was the first direct answer the
willy witness had given the coro-
ner.
Not Under Arrest.
Virgo is not under arrest. lie is
simply being held as a witness in
the investigation which is now be-
ing conducted by the officials OF
Van Buren county
He admitted under oath that he
had met i, Miss Tabor about five
years ago'while he was working in
the Irvine yard near Iawton. She
was teaching school at the time.
Sometimes he would go to see her
over the weekend and at other
times she would visit him at his
farm. He confessed 20 having
wronEed the girl five times when
she came % see him at the Irvine
farm.
lie also testified that Maud had
never said anything 20 him about
had hinted at II 10 him.
he said that he was an embalmer
and was also familiar with perform
ing criminal operations. His testi-
nony in this regard indicated that
he possessed an intimate knowledge
OF such operations.
Virgo Tcstifics.
During his testimony Virgo held
10 the fact that he had not seen
Maud Faith Tabor since October,
1913. He declared that Maud s
mother had written him three years
ago saying that her daughter was
ieaC. but that ne had interpreted
he letter 70 mean that Maud's love
for him was dead. not that she had
passed away.
Later lAt lENFAf CN tL LNl II NAAl
~.Waiter Tabor. Maud's brother. in
which he told OF the death OF his
sister. 10 was then he realized that
she was truly dead. and his identifi-
cation Tuesday afternoon OF her
body rer-oved any doubts he may
possibly have had.
Hc denied statements printed in
The chicago papers that ne had per
formed abortious. stoutly declaring
that he had never committed such
au act 300 his life. "All those
stories" he declared. are q fabric
of malicious lies printed with tho
intention of fastening the guilt on
me
Performed Abortion.
Dr. 8. s Warlhin. professor Of
phys illogical psychoioEe- at The Uni
Fers.ty of Michigan. examined the
b1d- and testified that from thc
evidence indicated. an abortion had
probably been performed. as the
cord had been touched Tie also
CONTINUED Oh PAGE FoUR)