Evening star., 1921-06-13
K|[L|NGREHEARSED,
WOMAN CONFESSES
Midwife Says Miss McArdIe
Played Piano While Assas-
sins Slipped Into House.
By the Associated Press.


counts in an indictment returned to-
day at the direction of County Prose-
cutor Z. C. Stanton by the grand jury
against Mrs. Erminia (Emma) Cola
vito, midwife, who by her own con-
fession procured for Mrs. Eva Cathe-
rine Kaber the two assassins who
knitted the latter's husband. Daniel F..
to death.
One count of the indictment was
based on the poisoning of Kaber. Mrs.
Colavito having admitted that she
gave Mrs. kaber a phial Of ginger
ale and some oil'' when she was urged
to furnish death potion.
The second count mas to do with the
actual murder. of Kaber. in which
the woman, by her own tale. partici-
pated by at least knowing OF every
preparatory step taken with the slay-
ers
Mrs. Colavito is indicted on the
same counts and charges as were
made to apply to Mrs. Kaber when
ago.
Four Now Face Trial
Four women are now formally charged
women are now formally charged
with the murder of Daniel F. Kaber.
who was stabbed twenty-four times
by hired assassins in his home, In
Lakewood, two years ago.
,oSEsd Ms oS Goavso cnalas 5hisy5so af murses
early today. after she haa made
startling revelations to the police.
Others charged with the crime. and
who are under first-degree murder
indictments. are Mrs. Eva Catherine
Marian McArdlc, her daughter. and
Mrs. Mary Brickel, sixty-nine years
old. mother of Mrs. Kaber.
Indications were that further in
dictments would be returned by the
grand jury today: Twelve persons
the murder.
Mrs CoIavito, who was known as
q midwife, was arrested in Sandusky
several days ago. She is said to have
left Cleveland the day Mrs. kaber
was indicted.
Got LAY Of tAe Land.-
I Mrs. Colavfto described in a signed
statement. authorities say. how, two
days before the murder. Kaber's as
sassins had tiptoed through his home
to get "the lay of the land" while
Miss McArdle played a piano to drown
the noise of their footsteps.
She also is alleged to have said
that the assassins demanded $1,000
for committing the crime. but that
Mrs. Kaber declared she would not
pay it unless her husband was killed
with some weapon SO that she could
collect an accident insurance policy"
This was denied by Mrs. Kaber.
Mrs. Colavito. also related. the Of
ficers say. how arrangements were
made for committing the murder. how
the plans miscarried and were rear
ranged.
The alleged confession was unex-
pected and came after several hours
questioning early yesterday. but was
not made public until this morning.
Mrs. Colavito had been questioned
several times. but the authorities
could obtain few satisfactory an
swers Early yesterday she sent for
ing: I'm going to tell the whole
story"
Women to Face Each Oother.
After obtaining the woman's state
ment it was decided to bring to-
gether all the women said to be in
volved in the plot. except Miss Nc
Ardle The officers feared the daugh-
ter's influence with her mother might
still Mrs. kaber's tongue and balk
their efforts.
The women were confronted with
Mrs. Ethel Berman, who continued
an acquaintanceship with Mrs. Kaber
after the murder and volunteered as
private detective. with the object
of solving the mystery. 1t was part
ly on her evidence that Mrs. Kaber
was indicted.
During the grilling. which con-
tinued from. noon yesterday until
early this morning, Mrs. AColavito
tent in Mrs. Kabers presence. She
declared that four men were en-
ployed to do the killing. two to use
the weapons and two to remain out
side as lookouts.
Five hundred dollars had been given
to Mrs. Colavito, she said, in her al
legged confession. to be paid the as
sassins in part. The money was given
to her, she alleges, by a fortune teller,
VINO is being held. and who is said to
have acted as .'go-between." The
$500 was paid. Mrs. Colavito said,
the men had threatened her.
Four Men. still Mt Large.
The fortune teller is said to have
admitted handling the money. but
Mrs. Kaber contradicted both women's
statements.
A man who was questioned is de-
clared to have told the officers that
Mrs Kaber offered him a large resi-
dence on Euclid avenue, which she
pointed out, IL he would do the work
for her." and also stated she would
give him a big automobile 'if I would
promise to run down her husband and
kill him with it," These statements
Mrs. Kaber also. denied. =.
/ Attempts of the police to appre-
bend any of the four assassins. whose
names they know. were unsuccessful
up to an early hour today.
Told How to Enter Room.
According to the officers who early
TODAY questioned Mrs. Colavito, book
ed on a charge of numbering Daniel
| r Kaber, the signed statement OF
Mrs. ColaSito. in part. reads as fol-
tit was on the Wednesday before
the murder that we went to inspect
the Kaber home, learn the arrange
ments of the rooms and find out where
Kaber slept. Two men known as Sam
and Tony, who were to do the work.
.When we reached the home that
eversing we were taken through the
halls and rooms. To help deaden the
noise made as we tramped through the
house Marian McArdle kept playing a
piano, The two men were told what
| To do. how to enter the house and how
to get out. They were shown the door
| to Kaber's room.
sIt was arranged that the back door
was to be open and Mrs. Brickel was
| to be on the porch 2t 10 O'clock the