San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-14
Comal County Grand Jury
Said to Have Confess
sion of Crime.
Staying IS BRUTAL
Ten-year-old Child on Way
to School Beaten to
Death With Rocks.

brutal murder of Irene Hitzfelder, 10
year-old daughter of Mr.. and Mrs.
Herman Hitzfelder, at Spring Branch,
near sBulverde, is in the hands OF
Sheriff Nowotny of Comal county, ac-
cording to a telephone message re-
ceived by Chief Deputy Sheriff Al
phonse Newton IT., Friday morning.
Clarke Cofield, 16-year-old youth. was
placed in the Bexar coui ty Jail for
safe keeping at $40 Thursday night.
and, according to Sheriff Nowotny, the
Comal county grand jury is now in
session and an indictment is expected
Friday afternoon. The written econ
fession, alleged to have been made by
Cofield. he Comal county sheriff told
Chief Deputy Newton, is il the hands
of the grand jury.
The little Hitzfelder girl, who was
an only child, was found at lonely
spot near Spring Branch, about 200
yards from the -oad Thursday when
search had been instituted for her fol-
! lowing her failure to APPEAR at school.
She was lying face up, Ter head hay-
ing been badly crushed and blood
stained. Jagged ctoncs were lying
near the body. Following an examina-
ton by DR. Rennie Wright of New
Braunfels, it was stated that the girl
chad BEEN criminaily assaulted :
Brought to Jais Here.
Cofield wns taken in custody by
Sheriff Nowotny Of Coma. county and,
after having been taken TO the scene
of the crime where he is alleged TO
have admitted his connection with 1t,
was taken to the Comal county Jail
at New Braunfels. Feeling became in
tense. however, and the youth was
brought to the Bexar county Jail in
an automobile for safe keeping. He
probably will be kept in the Bexar
county Jail until disposition is made
of his ease.
According to Information conveyed
TO Bexar county Officers, the tiny
Hitzfelder girl, who lived with her
parents on a ranch near Spring
Branch, had started on horseback to
attend. school. When about two miles
from school, she is alleged to have
been attacked. TIE horse she had rid
den, officers were informed, was found
near the roadside. About 20 yards
away the mutilated body of the girl
was found.
Search first began, it was stated
when the girl, who was usually very
prompt in attendance at school, failed
TO appear. Other pupils are said to
have seen her on the way to school
that morning. Suspicion pointed
strongly TO Cofield, officers said, and
he was located at A store near Spring
-.tonsnfnn M
aroused when, officers claim. his cloth
ing bore evidence of having been fresh
~ washed and was still wet. A COM
parison OF his footprints with those
found at the scene of the murder is
said to have shown very close re-
s,mblance.
Denies Criminal Assault.
The written confession said to have
been obtained from Cofield, Chief Dep
ry Newton was told sets out the
details of the crime but so far as
the chief deputy was informed the boy
did lot admit having criminally as
saultded the girl. He admitted having
beaten her to death with stone, how
ever, the chief deputy said.
According to information furnished
Chief Deputy Newton the body of the
sIain girl was taken to New Braun
fels, where funeral services were TO be
held Friday afternoon. Ths dead girl
was the granddaughter of Herman
|Pfeuffer Of Bulverde, who is a direc-
tor in the New Braunfels State Bank.
Cofield is said to be the son of
MFR. and Mrs. James Cofield. living
bn a small farm near Spring Branch.
Henry Bender, farmer near New
Braunfcls and who was one of a
party to find the body of the little
victim, brought to central detective
headquarters in San Antonio three
arge flint stones, despatched with
blood and presumed to have been
hose used in crushing the head of
be school girl.
No Finger Prints Possible.
New Braunfels officers were de-
irous of obtaining finger prints from
hem. An examination by Owen
xilday, Bertillon expert and finger
print man in the bureau of identifica-
ion. showed this. however, was i'm
possible because of smears.
While at detective headquarters
Bender briefly told of the tragedy.
at was fortunate the officers sue
eeded in getting the boy to San An
pnio early last night" be said. "1f
his hadn't been accomplished I am
btisfied there never would have been
trial. Excitement was greater in
Few Braunfels. especially in the
buntry about the town, than / have
yer known j. to be.
Il was one Of the first to find the
pdy Of the little girl" be said. 1T
Fas a terrible sight. The child's