The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1921-06-01
n ARE DEAD IN RACE RIOTS IN TULSA
Youth on Trial for Murder of His Double;
Motiue for Alleged Crime Is Mystery
Body of Indian Youth
Found at Railroad
Crossing

WARSAW. Ind. June Trial Of
VIRGIL Decker. rs. for the murder OF
Leroy I.ovctt, 20, said 10 he his
double" began In the circuit court
here today before Judge l.. W. Royse.
Two OF Dccker's brothers and his
mother. also under indictment on "a
charge OF murder. will be tried
separately.
AltboIgh Virgil Decker IL said to
have confessed 10 hG, az murdered
i.ovett. a boon companion. early in
March. the authorities have failed. 80
far as IL known. Go learn the motive.
Tho young man is said 10 have de-
clarcd In one Of his numerous state
mcnts. that Tho devil told me to do
IL and l just did."
Iovctt was found fatally injured at
a railroad crossing ~ miles west OF
Warsaw after he had been struck by
freight train. The body was taken
20 bourbon, where Fred Decker. a
brother OF Virgil. and Mrs Lydia
Decker. mother OF both men. claimed
the body as that % Virgil Decker.
Disptc over Body.
Accepting AZ first the claims Of the
Decker family 10 the body, a search
was instigatcd for Leroy Loyett. who
1t was nid, had been with Virgil
Decker short time before the acct
dent. This brought the Loyetj family
Of Elkhart. Ind. lg;o the case and
aHl.a L.. .
ed by them as their son, Leroy Fur
ther investigation disclosed the de-
cestscd had died from injuries other
than those received when struck by
the train.
Tho Dvrkers Noutiy maintained
IN" body was that ~ Virgil and II
wes some time before they admitted
their error The state. Il is said
bases lis charges against Frcd Decker,
Calvin Decker, another brother. and
Mrs Lydia Decker. the mother. on
the theory that q conspiracy existed
10 XIII l.ovett substitute HIS body
for that of Virgil Decker. and collect
100000 life Insurance which Virgil
carried In favor of his brother Fred.
Virgil Deckcr's Whereabouts were
learned several days after the lcvi-
dent when an uncle with whom he
was staying IN Marion. Ind, notified
the authorities He was arrested
and taken TO Warsaw. but maintained
his innocence for several days.
said "a Have Confessed.
Influenced. u was said. by Mrs
G., -. Moon. wife of the kosciusko
county sheriff. virgil Decker wis said
20 have confcusod 10 the crime It's
story, IN Substance. as related by Wit
ncESea 20 the alleged confession, was
that t.oVctt and hC LETT Elkhast by
automc bile and stopped al "a cottage
on the Tippccgnuo river near Fred
peckcr's farm whore they spent the
night lie Is alleged 90 have declared
he awoko before Luyett and seizing
an iron bar, struck the young man
over the head with II, leaving him IN
th. cottage. apparently dead
Returning shortly afterward from
his brothers farm with "A horse and
bdgFy, ne is said to have told the
authorities he .ound LoNctt partially
conscious. After changing clothing
with him. n" b. said To have cons
fcs,',d hc helped the injured lad into
the buggy and drove to the railroad
crossing. unhtchcd the horse ana l"fi
Ia, buggy containing LoNctt ON ths
track.
Ia another alleged statement
Decker Is said to have involved John
iNugnolio. who was arrested ana later
released when Decker rcfutcd tn,
charges.