The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-06-13
FOUR women
INDICTED IN
kABER CASE
Grandmother, Mother,
Daughter, Midwife Face
Trial for Murder.

Cleveland, Ohio, June 13.-F1rst
degree murder was charged on two
counts in an Indictment returned
today at the direction OF County
Prosecutor E. c. Stanton by the
grand jury against Mrs. Erminia
Colavito Of Cleveland, midwife,
who by her own confession pro-
cured for Mrs. Eva Catherine Ka-
ber, the two assistants who knitted
the latter's husband, Daniel F. ka-
Der, 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
"gingerale and some oil" when she
was urged to furnish a death
potion.
The second count has to do with
the actual murder Of Kaber in
which the woman, by her own tale,
participated by at least knowing OF
every preparatory step taken with
the slayers.
Mrs. C0lavito is indicted on the
same counts and charges as were
made to apply to Mrs. Kaber when
she was indicted almost two weeks
ago.
Cleveland, Ohio, June 13.-Foul
women are now formally charged
with the murder Of Daniel F. IA
ber. who was stabbed "a times by
hired assassins in his home in
Lakewood, two years ago.
Mrs. Erminia Colavito, 30, was
booked on a charge Of murder early
today after she had made startling
revelations to the police. Others
charged with the crime and who
are under first degree murder in
dictments are Mrs. Eva Catherine
Kaber. widow of the slain man
Miss Marion McArdle, her daugh-
ter, and Mrs. Mary Brickel, IS
years old. mother Of Mrs. Kaber.
Twelve Persons Involved.
Indications were that further in.
dictments would be returned by the
grand jury today. Twelve person:
have been named in connection
with the murder.
Mrs. Colavito, who was known
as a midwife. was arrested in San.
dusky several days ago. She i,
said to have left Cleveland the da,
Mrs. Kaber was indicted.
Mrs. ColavitO described in 4
signed statement, authorities say
how two days before the murder
Kaber's assassins had tip-toet
through his home to get the ia,
of the land" while Miss McArllt
played a piano to drown the nois,
Of their footsteps. She also is al
+! legged to have said that the assas
sins demanded $4,000 for commit
ting the crime, but that MRS. Ka
Der declared she would not pay i
unless her husband was killed will
some weapon so she could collec
an insurance policy"
MM.Wife Tells Story.
This was denied by Mrs. Kaber
Mrs. Colavito also related, the off
GERS say, how arrangements wer'
made for committing the murder
how the plans miscarried and wer,
rearranged.
The alleged confession was un
expected and came after severa
hours questioning early yesterday
but was not made public until thi
morning. Mrs. Colavito had beel
questioned several times by the au
thorities, but obtained few satisfac
tory answers. Early yesterda,
morning she sent for Chief of Pc
lice Frank W. Smith. saying, e
am going to tell the story.
After obtaining the woman
statement, it was decided to brin
together all women said to be IN
volved in the plot except Miss Nc
Ardle. The officers feared tn
darghter's influence with her moth
er might still Mrs. kaber's tongu
and balk their efforts -
| The women were confronte
with Mrs. Ethel Berman, who cor
tinued an acquaintanceship wit
Mrs. Kaber after the murder an
volunteered as a private detectiv
with the objective Of solving tn
mystery. 1t was partly on her evi
dence that Mrs. Kaber was indicted
/ Four Men Hired to KILL
| During the grilling, which con
Itinued from yesterday until earl
this morning. Mrs. Colavito coz
itinued her statements to some ez
tent In Mrs. kaber's presence. Sh
declared that four men were en-
ployed to do the killing. two I
use the weapons and two to n
main outside as "lookouts".
! Five hundred dollars had bee
given to Mrs. Colavito. she said /
her alleged confession, to b PAL
the assassins in part The none
was given to her. she alleges, by
fortune teller, who is being hel,
and who Is said to have acted ~
"go-between". The $500 was pai,
Mrs. Colavito said. after she tell
phoned Mrs. Kaber that the me
had threatened her.
| The fortune teller is said to hay
admitted handling the money, b,
Mrs. Kaber coutradicted both won
ems statements.
/ WINS ENGLISH ESSAY PRIZE
I Chicago. June l3.-The Lunt pria
for tho best essay in English, ,
!, Northwestern university, Va
awarded today 20 Miss Marie ]
Ansel, Elgin. and Miss Ella Eli,
'abeth Clark Abin9don. Ill