The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-09
GIRL IS Slain
BY RELATIVE;
BODY MISSING
Brother in-LaW Admits His
Guilt: Victim Choked
to Death.
TWICE TRIES SUICIDE
Ohio Killer Is Held Under
Heavy Guard as Search
Is Pushed.
TWICE TRIES SUICIDE


ron, New Philadelphia painter, dis
membered and buried the body of
his 23-year-old sister-in-law, Viola
May, was expressed by Coroner J. L..
Lewis, this afternoon, after the
finding of two blood-Stained under
garments buried near Dover.
Since his arrest yesterday, Heron
Farce has attempted suicide, first
by hanging and the second this
morning by SlaShing his wrists with
a razor blade. He told Laird he
was determined to kill himself.
Searchers concentrated on the
gravel pit near Dover after Miss
Mays slippers and fragment torn
from her coat were found. Heron
told officers he attacked the girl
there.
Police were powerless to lodge a
charge against the accused man
until Miss Mays body is found. John
May. Viola's aged father, was lead
ing the search. He said Viola never
had cared for Heron" and that be-
cause of this feeling, she seldom
visited her sister.
Heron admitted choking the
girl to death when she resisted his
advances, according to County
Prosecutor James Patrick. He then
drove to bridge spanning the river
at Dover, and dropped the girls
body into the water, he declared.
Miss May and a girl friend. Eve
lyn F'retz, visited the formers sis
ter (Herron's wife) Tuesday night
The attack on Miss Day took place
after Heron had driven Miss Fretz
to her home and was en- route home
with Miss May.
Heron said he drove to a gravel
pit on the Dover Canton highway
and parked. He then attempted to
attack the girl, and a violent quar-
Enraged, Heron choked the girl,
then drove to the Dover bridge,
where he dropped the body into the
river.
Stories in Conflict
The murder took place Tuesday
night. Heron appeared at the John
Henig farm near here at 2 a. m.
yesterday and told how two armed
men had attacked him and kid
naped the girl. Conflicting details
developed in his story during the
day and after intensive question:
ing he broke down and confessed,
Patrick said.
II choked her" Patrick said Her.
ron declared. II guess choked her
too long"
The sheriff's office was called
after Heron showed up at the
Henig farm. His automobile was
found, abandoned. Buttons from
Miss Mays coat, ragged piece of
her skirt and her glasses, the lenses
broken, we're found in the bottom of
the machine. HerronS story of the
supposed kidnapping, followed.
Girls Slippers Found
After hearing Herron's story, po-
lice went to the gravel pit. The
girls slippers were found, but dark
ness forced them to delay further
search until today.
If Heron threw Miss Mays body
into the river, it probably was
washed rapidly down stream, officers
fear.
Heron attempted suicide shortly
after he was lodged in Jail, accord
ing to Sheriff Abe Laird. He said
he had a terrific battle with the
man before he Subdued him. Her
ron's shoulder was diSlocated dur
ing the fight, Laird declared.
Prosecutor Patrick said he would
lodge a first degree murder charge
against Heron when Miss Mays
body is found.
Heron is a painter and paper
hanger, and the father of four
children. Miss Mays sister, is his
second wife.
Miss May, one of twelve children,
was employed at the John G.. Sen
i1auser home here. John May, her
aged father, worked until after mid
night with searchers, hoping to find
the body.