The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-03-16
DECKER BOY CHARGED
WITH MURDER; PROBE
CONTINUED BY POLICE
(By Associated Press)

WARSAW, Ind, March 16.-Formal
charges of murder against Virgil Deck
er, 20 years old, were made today by
Prosecutor H. W. Graham in charge
of the investigation here of the death
mystery of Leroy Lovett of Elkhart,
Ind, whose body first identified as
that of Decker was found Sunday On a
railroad near here. Decker's half
brother, aged 16. also was arrested on
the prosecutors order
Meanwhile the investigation of the
death mystery was continued at half
dozen scattered places in northern In
diana. c. B. Moon was sent to Marion,
Ind. to take custody of Virgil Decker
arrested last night and held for in
vestigation. His half brother, Arthur.
was held by the Elkhart police and
also was to return here for inyestiga-
ton. -.---
Mrs. Lydia Decker, mother of the
youth, who was ordered held by Cor
Oner N. B. Aspinall as a material wit
ness, has been released and was said
to have gone to the home of a son
near Atwood. The coroner's verdict
was that Lovett had been murdered
by unknown parties.
Explains Insurance.
Awaiting the arrival of Sheriff Moon
at Marion Virgil Decker was submit
ted to a long examination by author
tiles who said little information was
obtained from him. When told the
Warsaw sheriff had been sent for him
the prisoner was quoted as saying, "It
appears that someone is trying to &C.
cuse me Of taking somebody out and
killing him. l wouldn't do anything
like that"
Decker's explanation of his insur-
ance, three $4,000 and one $4,000 with
double indemnity in case of accidental
death was said to be statement that
he wished to be well insured. The
policies were made payable to broth
er, Fred Decker.
MARION, Ind. March 16. - After
more than an hour of questioning.
Sheriff Fowler said he had obtained
little information from Virgil Decker,
| who appeared evasive and gave con-
fusing answers. Decker was arrested
here last night in connection with the
Warsaw death mystery.
you?" asked Sheriff Fowler Maybe
did and maybe l didn't" Decker
replied.
But you were in the automobile, !"
continued the sheriff.
Il guess | was" was the answer.
| Decker said he did not remember
i of asking Lovett to go to Albion with
| him in the car, and also repeated that
| he did not remember where he was
| last Saturday.
! Sheriff Fowler told Decker the War
saw authorities were coming to Mar
! ion for him.
'It appears that someone is trying
! to accuse me of taking somebody out
and killing him." said Decker 81
| wouldn't do anything like that"
why not tell us then where you
were?" he was asked.
Il don't rene ember only that was in
| Warsaw" the youth replied.
! ELKHART. Ind, March 16.-Carrie
Eggleston, an Elkhart school girl, to
day denied Virgil Deckers statement
that he was with her last Saturday
evening.
Il. last saw Decker on Thursday
evening when we went to a moving
picture show" said the girl here to
day. "At the theatre Decker showed
me four or five insurance policies thai
he had made payable to his brother
Fred Decker, and his mother. He
often invited me to visit him at q
cottage on the Tippecanoe river"
Elkhart police say that Lovett, the
murdered youth. was paroled from
Plainfield in 1915, only to be returned
there the same year following his ar
rest for the theft of $S3.
Lovett's funeral will be held at his
home here Friday.
Arthur Decker, 16 years old, half
brother of Virgil. was arrested here
last night at the request Of the Kos
cisko county sheriff and was taker
today to Warsaw.