South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-09-14
State NezOS
VARIED CAREER OF
7O-YEAR-0LD MAN
ENDS IN SUICIDE
Was in Jail Awaiting Trial For
Hangs Self With
Blanket Strip.
Special 10 The News-T nos


GOSHEN, Ind. Sept. 13.-Ending
his life by hanging in a cell in the
Lagrange county Jail at Lagrange.
Lewis Deerwester. 20, accused OF
numbering A. d. Helper. his neigh
Dor, whose charred remains were
found in the debris of the Helper
home near Ontario. Lagrange couu-
" brought TO an end a career so
unusual that his strange existence
stands out nparalleled-mOs of 20
years fraught with tragic occur
rences. often suspected OF having
committed criminal acts. Deerwester
was never prosecuted TO the extent
OF being tried. Sheriff Hern Of La
grange county Is convinced Deer
wester shot and killed Helper and
set fire 20 the Helper home, be-
lievtng the body would never be
found. At 10 o'clock the night be-
fore his dead body was discovered,
hanging at the end OF a rope made
from strips OF blanket provided him
In his cell, Deerwester answering a
question OF Sheriff Hern. said:
Now, son. II you let this rest on
me. yOull never know the truth"
Second Case.
Deerwester had been taken into
custody the second time as a sus-
pect in the Helper case 1t is
thought he knew the sheriff was
satisfied OF his guilt.
Today Deerwester's body is in a
grave in Greenwood cemetery. La
grange His funeral sermon
short 3rayer-was preached in the
corridor Of the Lagrange county Jail.
The r11pTrnprg FIVE
dren and his brother, Joseph Deer
wester, who went 10 Lagrange from
Bellefontaine, Ohio, his home where
the deceased formerly res cd. A
handful OF curious strangers attend
ed the funeral The cortege was
made up or a motor hearse and two
automobiles, in which the five chill
dren and the brother rode. AT the
grave Rev. George r. Hubbartt. La
grange VI. Z. minister, offered a
short prayer.
Deerwester's second wife - the
mother OF his FIVE children-de-
is said 20 be with "a carnival COM
pany that has tilled northern In
diana and southern Michigan dates.
When she married Deerwester in
1897. soon after he tried TO commit
suicide she was IS years old. Her
maiden name was Clara Ellsworth.
Accused OF Crime.
Back i'm Bellefoutaine, Ohio. 2j
years ago Deerwester. then a wild
over and childless, was accused Of
numbering Mr.. and Mrs. David Det-
rick. aged formers. When Mr.. Der
rick answered a knock at a door of
his home he was struck on the
head with an ak His wife rushed
20 his aid She met a like fate.
Mystery that enveloped the double
murder was never solved although
one clue led 10 a California prison.
Deerwoster was accused OF murder
ing the Detricks then as he was aC-
cused Of numbering Helper few
DAYS ago. Going to Blue Jacket
cemetery. near his home. he lay on
the ground between the graves OF
his wife and his only child-a
daughter-and using a knife slashed
his throat In a little book he car
ried ne had written the following
explanation
AUGUST IL. 1897"
Dear Friends. You are ac-
cusinc me OF deed I did not do
and rather than disgrace my peo-
pie I will take my life. So, good
bve all. dear friends forever God
forgive me FOR this I would
rather die than be disgraced I
have no one 70 live for. All that
were near and dear 10 me are
gone.
LEWIS DEERWESTER.'
NurSed back 10 health DeerWeSter,
A.. married 1S-year-old Clara Els
worth. They soon left Bellfontaine.
going 90 Michigan 10 reside. Re-
turning TO BellefOntaine for a short
time they located at Delphos. Ohio.
and a year ago went 10 Lagrange.
in the . years she was Dcerwester's s
wife. Clara Ellsworth Deerwester
gave birth 10 five children. A few
months ago she left them all 20 fol
low the existence OF Carnical
queen.
Appeals to Aunt
Nettie. q 15-year-old daughter OF
Deerwester. shortly before her faith
OF hanged himself wrote hcr aunt.
Mrs Fannie EwinE. az BellefOntaine
Ohio. saving Am writing this let
ter to let YOU know the great trou-
bic we are in My heart aches so
that I can hardly write this letter.
Your dear brother. Lewis. tmy faith
err. is on trial for his life. acc. sed
of killing neighbor man and then
burning his house. on. my dear
would never 90 a thing like that.
But evidence is strongly against
him Mama left home June Is and
we have not seen or heard Of her
since I cannot leave the children
/ and I am almost worried 10 death"
The child then appealed 10 her
aunt 20 hurry TO the DecrwesTer
home.
Lagrange people are divided on
( the question of whether DeerweSter
killed Helper Some Of them share
/ the belief OF Sheriff Hern a guilty
man hanged himself and that the
I body Of murderer is now I'm a
/ grave az Greenwood cemetery 9th
ers are just as convinced that Deer
westcr was a victim OF unusually
/ strange circumstances and THAI
/ after a cloud hung over most of
his life ne ended his existence
1 sn -0uoH having heen u-ror- Of, u.