South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-09-14
DETECTIVE CLAIMS
KILLING OF WOMAN
WAS AN ACCIDENT
Detroit Officer III e d After
Shooting of HOusemaid
Tuesday Afternoon.

DETROIT, Sept. 13.-John Schle-
chter. aged 81, Of 1885 Sherman st,
a detective attached 10 Hunt ST..
station. is under arrest in connection
with the fatal shooting of Mrs
Evelyn Bateman. aged 80, Of col
lElmwod av.. Tuesday afternoon.
The fatality occurred at the home
Of Mrs. Marie Holland. 1856 Gratioc
av. where Mrs. Bateman was en-
plOyed az a house maid.
Schlechbr was found az his home
several hours after the shooting
and was taken TO Hunt St station
here he was suspended. his badge
taken away, and his statement
taken.
Calls IL Accident
He declares the shooting 10 nave
been accidental. According to his
statement he says ne had gone to
the Holland residence to see Mrs
Bateman. who is the mother Of
three children, and was coEversing
with her when the revolver drop
ped out of his pocket. In attempt
ing 10 pick it up, Schlechter says his
finger caught on the trigger. pulling
It, sending a bullet through Mrs
Bateman's head.
Several people were in the house
at the time Sohlechter says. They
told him they would call the Re
ceiving hospital ambulance and for
him 20 go home.
Mrs. Bateman was dead when the
ambulance arrived
Doors Arc Locked.
Two hours before her mother
died, Mildred Bateman, the 16-yeag-
old daughter. had been sent down
town on several errands. on her
return, George thinner. rOOmer
at the Holland home, sent her on
another errand. When she return
ed. She says. she found all of the
doors of the house locked. and that
only her persistent hammeriHg for
about 10 minutes attracted atten-
ton. Then Mrs Holland came to
the door, she says Her hands and
dress were stained with blood. the
little girl said.
Your mother shot herself" the
child says Mrs. Holland exclaimed.
Where's the gum" Mildred says
she ASKED.
Il don't know" Mrs. Holland re-
piled.
Where's George" was Mildred's
next question
For Gods sake. don't mention his
name in connection with this" was
the reply. according TO Mildred.
II was shortly after the tragedy
that Ernest, aged IA. one OF the
dead woman's sons, came 10 the
Holland house. He says he sought
TO obtain his mothers consent 10
join the Boy Scouts
The boy told the police that he
his sister, another brother. Bernard
aged 10. lived at 651 ElmwoOd ave-
nue.. with his mother. The parents
separated several years ago. he said
The father, Charles Bateman. now
is living in Batavia, y. Y. ne said
The family formerly lived al 2409
Riopelle street
he said his mother had been
working at the Holland home only
a few days, less than a week
After the police learned from Re
ceiving hospital that Mrs. Bateman
had been killed they went 10 the
Gratiot avenue address. but found
all the doors locked and the place
apparently deserted. They broke in
through the rear.
The city was being searched for
Mrs Holland and thinner. as a re-
suit of Mildreds story when In
spector Fred Raymond of the Hunt
street station. learned that Schlech-
ter had been ar the Gratiot avenue
residence Schlechter was brought
20 the precinct station and made a
statement concerning Mrs. Bate
mans death after questioning by his
superior officers