The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-03-19
DECKER CONFESSES
TO l0VETT MURDER
after KIND ADVICE
(By Associated Fress)


WARSAW, Ind. March 19.-Mem-
cries of his early religion revived by
letter urging him to confess his sin
and seek forgiveness and softening IN
fluence of motherly advice given by
Mrs. c. B. Moon, wife of the sherift
of Kosciusko county, has resulted IN
confession from Virgil Decker, IL
years old, in which he declared that he
alone was responsible for the death OF
Leroy Lovett, 19-year-old youth OF
Elkhart, Ind, with whom he had
chummed. Decker signed the confes-
sion early today in the presence OF
Mrs. Moon, her husband, three detec-
tives. and two Warsaw citizens.
Since his arrest Tuesday at Marion,
Ind, on the charge of numbering Low
EFT, the Decker boy had insisted that
he had no part in the Lovett lads
death. Almost constant questioning
by officers failed to bring any admis-
sion from him except he had spent
some time Friday and Saturday, March
II and IL, with Lovett. Yesterday he
received in a letter from Mrs. George
Walker of Nappanee, a woman wholly
unknown to him, a deeply religious ap-
peal that he confess everything to
ing him to lean on Jesus"
Gives Him Advice.
During his incarceration Mrs. Moon
also has talked with him, discussing
his predicament and giving him the
tender advice that is exchanged be-
tw cen mother and son. Late yester-
day the Decker lad requested Bible.
Later Mrs. Moon heard him talking as
he walked about the cell. She listened
and heard him quoting the scriptures
did you find something to comfort
you?" she asked.
The boy said he found something
very comforting.
Are you familiar with the Bible?''
asked Mrs. Moon.
Decker replied he could recite manv
passages of scripture and he told OF
earlier days when he attended church
regularly.
"My favorite verse is John, chapter
3, verse 16," and he quoted For God
so loved the world that he gave his
only begotten son that whoever be-
lieveth in him should not perish but
have everlasting life
Isn't that good?" he shouted. "It
makes me feel better already"
But Virgil if you keep on telling
lies don't you know you will only
make your case worse" suggested
Mrs. Moon.
"Yes, l know it, but I have made
my peace with God and lam ready tC
tell ALL" declared the boy.
Tells of His Trip.
He then gave a complete account
of his trip from Elkhart, Ind. with
Leroy Lovett, which started Friday
night, March II. and which according
to the confession ended Saturday
morning in summer cottage on the
Tippecanoe river with an attack or
the Loyett boy. The story was later
reported in the presence of Sheriff
Moon and others and incorporated in
the signed confession.
No motive for the attack was giver
except the brief statement that THE
devil told me to do it and | just did it. >
The attack, with a heavy iron bar
was made, according to the confession
given out by the officers, shortly be
fore noon Saturday, and was not fatal
but, fearing the consequences which
might result from this assault, Virgi
the confession revealed, changed some
of the Lovett boys clothes for his
own, obtained horse and buggy anC
drove with the injured lad to a rail
road crossing. There he released tht
horse, leaving the buggy with Lovet
seated in it unconscious, expecting
that a train would come along, demol
ish the buggy and leave the body sc
badly mangled that identification
would be impossible except by bits o
clothing These bits would be bits O.
the Decker boys clothing, leaving the
impression that he had met his deatt
in the accident
Seek His Motive.
With the confession given by Virgi
Decker, declaring that he was the only
one implicated in the mystery of the
Lovett lads death, authorities are now
endeavoring to establish a more def
mite motive than that ascribed by the
boy that "the devil told me to do it
According to Mrs. Moon the boy IL
his talk with her denied that there
| was an insurance plot to obtain pay
ments of policies aggregating s24, ,00(
in event of his accidental death.
"He told me-" Mrs. Moon said, "tha
he had simply taken out the policie.
because different insurance agents hat
been after him and had persuaded hin
it was a good way to save money"
The policies had been made payabl,
to his brother, Fred Decker Mrs. Moor
said the boy told her on the advice O
the agents.
The officers apparently are satisfied
with Virgil Decker's latest Statement
in which he assumes the blame for thu
crime, but they believe there are many
details yet to be revealed.
All TnAl nT0IRFNT