Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-01-17
ARREST IN OHIO
MAY CLEAR UP
RIVER MURDER
Police Say John C. Lucas Was
Last Seen With Ferry
man at Linton.
WAS MISSING HUSBAND

Arrest Of John C. Lucas, alias Lewis,
in Larue, O., on a grand larceny charge
may clear up the murder of James
Harper, 65 a ferry operator on White
river, ten miles south of Linton, Ind,
according to Indianapolis police.
Detectives Hanks and Winkler, who
have been looking for Lucas. have in
formation, they say, that he was the
last man, seen with the ferryman.
Harper was slain on the night Of Nov.
10 In his shack and his body thrown
into the river. His boat was found adrlft
two days later, but his body was not
found until two weeks later when the
high water. at the time had receded.
The appearance of his shack indicated
that q. struggle had taken place. Har-
per was found to be missing on Nov. IL,
when relatives went to his place About
5000 In money Harper's life savings,
were dug up under an old shed near his
shack.
AT FIRST THOUGHT
VICTIM OF ACCIDENT.
Linton authorities worked on the the
Dry that Harper was slain and thrown
into the river for some time, but later
abandoned this theory in the belief that
he had fallen ont Of his boat and was
drowned. Relatives revived the mrrdcr
",
when Information was given them that
Lucas was supposed TO have been seen
with Harper a short time before he dts
appeared.
Lucas formerly lived in Indianapolis
the specific charge against him IS the
theft of $3.50 worth of Liberty bonds,
the property Of the children Of Mrs
Goldle s. Derrickson, whom he married
in indianapolis Nov. 16, 1919, the police
claim, under tho name Of John c. Lewis
Mrs. Derrickson was a widow with two
children. Her former husband left 4
small estate for the children and she
was appointed administratrix of the
estate and later guardian Of the chill
dren by the probate court Of this city.
Part of the estate consisted of cash,
and $3.50 of this was invested by Mrs.
Derrickson in Liberty bonds. Soon after
the marriage the couple went to Toledo.
On Nov. %, 1919, Lucas disappeared Ac-
cOrding to information sent to indian
apolis by Henry J. Herbert, chief OF
police at Toledo, a coat and hat belong
Ing to Lucas was found along the docks
Of the Maumee river In Toledo. she
river was dragged, but the body was
not found and the Toledo police de
clared that they were satisfied that
Lucas did not commit suicide.
h@AA> EsAN 4 I bO2DN MAEStNG
AT SAME TINE.
When Lucas disappeared, according to
the Toledo police, he had in his posses
sion Liberty bonds TO the value Of 50. $50
His wife said they owned 5000 worth
of the bonds and the other s., $50 worth
of bonds belonged 10 the two children.
Lucas Is said TO be the mans real name
but he was known as Lewis while in
indianapolis. Mrs. Derrickson Is now
staying at 1909 North Alabama street
Detectives Winbler and Hanks Of the
local police department said that the rec
ords Of the railroad shops show that
Lucas was absent from the railroad shops
Nov. o. 10 and II of last year. They
say they have Information that he was
at Harpers Ferry on Nov. 10 the last
day that Harper was seen alive.
1T was not on overnight affair" re-
marked Mrs Derrickson today in telling
OF her courtship by Lucas who was
known to her as Lewis. He represented
himself to me as a dear sweet old bach
elor. ! never knew he was married and
had a wife and four children living Mt
1851 Gale street, in indianapolis until
after he disappeared"