The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1922-12-13
Mrs. Hattie Laird of Newcastle
Tells of Seeing Two Couples
Leave Auto.
FARM HAND is ARRESTED
Robbery Believed Motive in
Staying of Farmer and Wife
Near MiddIetoWn.
Times STAFF Correspondent


NEWCASTLE, Ind, Dec. 13.
Authorities are following up
new clews which may lead to the
arrest Of two men and two
women in connection with the
double Staying of William G.
Shaeffer, 80, and his wife, Susie,
40, whose bodies were found
Tuesday on their farm, three miles
north Of Middletown.
Information given by Miss Hattie
Laird. 916 Seventh ST, Newcastle.
is believed to be the clew on which
Sheriff Yost ia working
Miss Laird ,Old authorities that on
the evening of Dec. 8. a Ford sedan
stopped near her home Two men
and two women got out Of the car
and left il standi- at the curb.
The following morning police found
a Ford sedan near the Laird home.
which Miss Laird asserted was the one
abandoned the preW night. The
car was taken to police headquarters.
Later 1t was learned that it had been
stolen from the Shaelfer barn.
Miss Laird was unable to give any
description OF the men and women,
other than that they were well
dressed and were rather youthful.
Other developments today were:
Ben Brookshire, %. friend of the
seen at the home. still was de-
tanned for questioning. No charge
has been placed against him.
The theory was advanced that
the murderer or murderers were
we'll acquainted with the Schaeffer
family and knew Of their posses.
sion of $4,000 worth of jewelry in
the house.
Both Hit With Hammer
County officials were working on
the theory that Shaeffer. whose body
was found IN the barn, was struck on
the head with a hammer-hatchet as
he stepped from his automobile, and
that Mrs. Shaeffer was killed after she
had fallen asleep while waiting for
her husband to return to the house,
Her skull was crushed by the hammer
which was found in the kitchen.
The murderer, it is believed, washed
his hands in q basin in the kitchen
after committing the double crime.
A basin filled with bloody water was
found.
Brookshire's statements regarding
his whereabouts since he left the
Shaeffer home last Wednesday night
are being checked.
Compelled to Leave
Authorities maintained the Shaeffer
family compelled Brookshire to leave
their home when he refused to work
as a farm hand. 1t is believed the
murders occurred last Wednesday
night.
Robbery apparently was the motive
of the crime, as $4,000 worth of
iewelry was taken from a handbag.
A necklace, valued at $1,000, was
dropped on the floor. A sum of money
also was taken.
A pistol was found under the pillow
on Mrs. Shaeffer's death bed 1t ap-
parently had not been touched.
"Brookshire came to my home at
Muncie last Thursday" William Huffs.
tickle, brother of the murdered wom-
man, told authorities. while at
Muncie he would make three and four
trips a day away from the house. He
said he had been to Indianapolis to
make deal for team of horses. He
asserted he could buy the horses on
terms if Shaeffer would go surety on
note"
Mrs. Huffstickle told authorities
she last saw Mrs. Shaeffer at p. m.
last Wednesday. She declared Mrs.
Shaeffer told her her husband was
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