South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-04-23
SHERIFF FAILS
TO FIND TRACE
OF JOSEPH VIRGO
South Bend Real Estate Man
Wanted to Testify in
Murder Trial.

Efforts TO find Joseph Virgo.
South Bend real estate man. wanted
at Paw Paw. Mich. as a witness at
the trial OF Mrs. Sarah ]. Tabor for
tho death three years ago 70 her
daughter. MaUde Tabor Virgo. fail
ed here Thursday and Thursday
night
No clue as 20 where Virgo may
be found although he is said 10
have left South Bend in company
with Mrs. Virgo, his present wife.
Tuesday.
Wanted at Paw Paw.
Virgo is again wanted at Paw Paw
in connection with the death OF his
NTH wife. whose body was found in
her hoLe chest IL the basement Of
the Tabor home at LawtOn, Mich,
late last fall. The South Bend man
is wanted as a witness in the trial
OF the aged mother for the death of
her daughter, Maude Tabor Virgo.
a visit 10 the Virgo home. sos T..
Ohio ST., Thursday by DEPUTY Sheriff
Dwight Barker Of Van Buren, cOun-
ty Michigan. revealed the fact that
Mr. and Mrs. Virgo left South Bend
for an unknown destination Tues
day.
No warrant has been issued by
the prosecution in the Tabor muir
der case for the arrest of Virgo, but
the authorities say that VirgO's at
tOrneys at Paw Paw promised TO
have him at the trial of Mrs. Tabor
as "A witness Wednesday. and that
Virgo himself promised TO appear.
Search for Witness.
However, Virgo did not put in an
appearance Wednesday, and We'd
nesdav night Deputy Sheriff Barker
left Paw Paw for South Bend in
search Of the witness.
Soon after her return, under ar
rest from Yreka, Calf. Mrs. Tabor
made a confession in which she i'm
plicated Virgo in the death or
Maude Tabor Virgo. She said that
Virgo had performed a criminal Op-
Grafton on his wife. and that she
died from the operation and an over
dose Of chlorofOrm. The confession
also said that Virgo placed the body
of his wife In her hoLe chest, hll-
ed the chest with salt and carried
il down into the basement Of the
Tabor home at LawtOn.
Later Mrs. Tabor repudiated her
confession. and returned 10 her orig
inaI story told Deputy Sheriff Bar
ker and Pros. Atty. Fl. II. Adams
when she and her son, Walter o.
Tabor. were placed under arrest al
Yreka The original story was that
Maude died from an overdose or
chloroform. taken for earache, and
that the mother did not know that
her daughter was In delicate condi-
ton.
Later ENoncratcs Virgo.
Still another statement was made
by Mrs. Tabor 10 the Van Buren,
county authorities in which she de-
clared that Virgo had nothing TO do
with the death Of his wife. and that
the aged mother herself placed the
body in the hope chest aud carried
il into the basement where IL was
found during the latter part OF
November. three years after Maude's
death.
Following Mrs. Tabor's confession.
duplicating Virgo. the South Bend
man was placed under arrest.
charged with murder. Up 10 that
thine he had been held merely as
witness. Later the murder charges
against Virgo were Withdrawn. and
ne was released from custody. lie
returned 10 South Bend and re-
sumed his real estate business.
Promised TO Return.
Authorities at Paw Paw say that
when Virgo was released, II was
with the promise from him that he
would return 10 Paw Paw as Wit
ness whenever he was wanted
NeiChbors near the Virgo home
say that when Mr. and Mrs virgo
left south Bend Tuesday. IL was un-
derstood that Virgo would return
Thursday. and that Mrs. Virgo
would remain away several DAYS.
The belief was even expressed that
Virgo had gone 60 Paw Paw. but ad-
vices from Van Buren, county Thurs
day said that he had not put IN MS
appearance there
During the time that Virgo was
being held az Paw Paw under muir
der charges. Mrs Virgo was absent
from the city Van Buren, county
authorities were unable 10 locate
her no Scott. Mich. where she has
relatives. iron her return 20 South
Rend after Virgo had been released.
Mrs Virgo declared that she had
not been out OF the state. and had
not been very far from South Bend
Paul Gibson. a nephew Of Mrs
Virgo. and who lived with his aunt
prior 20 Thanksgiving, said Thurs
DAY that he was with the Ntrgos
SUNDAY. and that at that time some
thing was said about Mr.. and Mrs.
Virgo leaving South Bend He said,
how ever. that he did not hear where
they were going, and did not know