The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-01-05

(COIblIkueu FTOUi dS6 ~
said they feared her skull was frac-
tured and held little hope for her
recovery.
Footprints Found
Police Lieutenant Claffey, and
squad found footprints around the
house. The bed was covered with
mud.
Police believed Mrs. Bickerstaff
was beaten with blunt instrument,
although no trace of the weapon
was found. The cash on her temple,
too. might, have been from bullet.
it was said. Robbery may have
been the motive, as Mrs. Bicker-
staff's purse is missing. Doctors
were unable to revive her and learn
details of the attack. When police
arrived, she made few incoherent
means.
Forest, IL son, said he and his
mother retired at 8 p. m. Monday
He said she usually awakened him
at a. ma This morning she failed
to call him and he did not awake
until Z. Being late for work, he
rushed from the home without going
into ibis mothers room.
He told, police he believed his
mothers assailant must have en-
tered the home after he left.
Mrs. Blanche Zimmerman, 3408 e.
Twenty-Fifth S., a naighbor, said
st,o boor1 = ,oico ~, fho Pfclro,ofaf IF
home about 2 a. IN, but did not in
vestigate. DIR. 10y Egbert, 2601
Roosevelt Ave, who dressed Mrs.
Bickerstaff's wounds, said she had
not been attacked. Mrs Bickerstaff
is Al years old.
Rufus Webster, "a, of 2142 Dex-
ter Ave, attendant at the Silver
Flash filling station, North st, and
Indiana, Ave, was fatally shot Mon
day night when he drew his revolver
to shoot it out with two Negro ban
dts, who attempted to rob the sta
ton. He was shot twice AND died
at the city hospital shortly after be-
ing sent there by police. The ban
dts ATTAINED nothing. Theodore
Yates, 25,\. Negro, 200 Kinney St.,
said to have been witness to the
shooting, was held for questioning.
Widow Survives
Webster is, survived by his widow.
His mother. two brothers and sister
live at Bowling Green, Ky. He had
been a resident here ten years and
had been employed by the Western
Oil e. Refining Company, for two
years. Funeral arrangements have
rot been made
Five Negroes were slated by de-
tectives and Patrolmen j. j. Sulli-
van and Spears in investigation OF
the murder. Two were slated under
high bonds.
While the entire police force were
attending a general roll call and
were listening to speeches by Mayor
Duvall, Police Chief Claude F John
son, Inspector Claude Worley, mem
bers of the board of safety, and
other police officials, two Negroes
attacked Walton Mills, $40 Pierson
St., driver Of De Luxe taxicab, at
Twenty-Fifth St., and Martindale
Ave, and robbed him of $40.
One of the Negroes drove the cab
to Fortieth ST. and College Ave-,
where they put Mills out. Police
sent Mills to the city hospital. The
cab was found today at HOO La
fayette st.
A lone bandit hurled a sack and
brick through the front show win
dow of the Sachs Bros. loan office,
312 Indiana Ave-, at a. m. today.
He was frightened away by James
Fisher, 312h INDIANA Ave.
Frank Donovan of the Soldiers
Home, Danville, ILL.,, said he was
struck on the head at Capitol Ave.
and ST. Clair Sts., and robbed of
$65, his hat, overcoat and shoes. He
said he believed his assailants were
two Negroes They picked him UP
and tossed him oyer a nearby fence
out Of sight where he laid until he
revived sufficiently to call for help
Clarence Wright, 619 Russell Ave,
was. held up by two men as he