South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-11-27
ADMITS Staying.
DOWAGIAC TRIO.
THEN DENIESIT.
Half-Wit and Two Negroes
Arrested on Story of
Cyrus Ryther.
RE-ENACTS TRIPLE CRIME
Youth First Declares Hidden
$500 Was His Motive
for Murders.

Special to The News Times.
DOWAGIAC. Mich, Nov. 26.-
Cyrus Ryther, 80 years old, taken
into custody here today by Chief Of
Police Edward Bush. caused a sem
sation late this afternoon when he
confessed TO killing William Monroe,
his wife and daughter, Neva, ana
seriously in3uring Ardith. u. an
other daughter. with a spiked club
while the members of the Monroe
family were asleep in their beds
upon the night Of Sept. Il.
In his confession, which he later
repudiated, Ryther. VINO is said by
local residents 10 be an imbecile.
partly lacking in reason, is said 70
have recounted full details of the
brutal crime. several of which were
thought 10 have been known TO po-
Ice authorities only. For this rea-
son, despite the reputation, officials
were strengthened in their belief
that they had found a basis for ar
rests, and later took into custody
Donald Bass. 10, and Earl Cisco, 90.
both OF whom are negroes said to
have been implicated as accomplices
by Ryther in his confession.
Says 1900 Motive.
Ryther accompanied authorities
10 the humble hovel. formerly oc-
CURED by the victims OF the muir
der in the west section OF the town.
this afternoon and recited the full
sordid details of the crime, declar-
ing he had entered through the
front door after picking up a two
by four" sapling from the woodpile
outside. He then told OF Staying
VIII Monroe first and then the wife
and daughter. Neva. declaring his
motive was TO secure 1900 which
he claims Monroe had in the house.
He also told of the girl. Ardith's,
awakening.
Ryther said that he procured this
money by prying loose a trap door"
into the cellar OF the home with a
large knife, saying the money was
secreted there He claims he knew
OF the hiding place of this money
through overhearing a conversation
which the murdered victim is sup
posed 10 have held with a building
contractor about building a house.
During the period that he was in
the house in that night. Ryther
claims that his two alleged accom-
plices stood guard outside the
house.
Repudiates Confession.
Ryther, who is said TO have ad-
mitted nearly every crime suggested
to him in tho past. only to have It
later proved that he knew nothing
Of any Of them, later I'm the after
noon denied the crime, saying May
be I've said too much already" He
then said he learned the details from
the newspapers. while police say he
cannot read
While Sheriff Wyman does not
place much credence in his story. the
coincidence of several Of his state
ments with the truth caused authOri-
ties to detain him under a heavy
guard and to arrest the two negroes
whom he mentioned in his "confes-
sion" o. officers are reluctant
10 commit themselves 10 any definite
belief regarding his completely in
the case.
Bass was also questioned by To-
cal police tonight while sitting OPP
posite Ryther in the police room
here. The negro admitted being
with Ryther and Cisco on the night
of Sept Il when. he told the police
Ryther said he could make a piece
OF money by going along with him
that night. Bass denied seeing eth
or OF the other two men later that
night however In some details the
stories OF Bass and Ryther coincide
and for this reason, along with other
parts OF Ryther's confession" the
police will make a minute probe OF
the stories told by the pair and by
Cisco. Rythers telling Of breaking
the lamp chimney in the Monroe cell
lar has particularly impressed local
investigators as this detail had been
carefully guarded from the public.
That the confession" caused a
sensation. coming as IL did upon the
heels OF Ardith's statement implicat-
ing DR.. Loupee. is evidenced by the
fact that a large crowd swarmed the
office OF Justice OF the Peace Bidder
back where the examination was be-