The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-05-07
LIPS SEALED
ON SLAYINGS
BY PHANTOM
Fear of Death Keeps In
formers Quiet About
Willard Carson.
JOKES ABOUT SEARCH
Killer Mentions Funeral in
Letter Posted Where
Father Was Murdered.
BY CHARLES c. STONE,
State Editor, The Times

state Editor, The Times
KOKOMO, Ind, May Fear Oh
death is hampering authorities in
their attempts to arrest Willard
Carson. phantom killer suspected
of Staying Alonzo Whalen here
Thursday night.
That fear is not in the breasts
of officers, but in those OF persons
who might give clews to the where
abouts of the fugitive since Aug.
. 1926. when he killed his father,
Clinton Carson. at Liberty.
NO ones life is safe in Kokomo
with that man at large" IS the
comment of an elderly woman,
which expresses the views Of others
who are believed to be IN posi-
ton to aid in his capture.
Whalen tipped of police that Car
son was living across the street from
him Aug. .. last. Now Whalen Is
dead. Carson again" was the com
ment Of officers as they visited the
murder scene. Whalen's home. lie
was shot down as he sat in rock
ing chair. smoking his pipe and
fondling a little dog.
Authorities have made inyestlga-
ton into Whalens life. They an
nounced at it's conclusion there
could have been no one with reason
to STAY him except Carson.
Kill After Money Refusal
Carson is alleged to have fatally
shot his father when he refused
money. At that time he was tugl-
tive. being wanted for attacking
Virgil Shouse. then a Union county
deputy sheriff. who sought to ar
rest him on minor charge.
The killer is audacious and lucky.
When the attempt was made to cap
ture him here, police had Whalen
telephone TO the wanted man S
home. to ascertain if he was in the
house.
Apparently Carson senSed there
was to be an effort to capture him.
He packed suitcase, picked up
revolver and walked out side door.
Two policemen had so stationed
themselves that they would have
ENDANGERED each others lives by
shooting.
Mrs. Whalen ran from her home
across the street and tried to stop
the fugitive. Her move served him
well. The officers had shifted their
positions so they could shoot, but
Carson used Mrs. Whalen as
shield until he was out of revolver
fire range.
Carson was struck by a bullet at
the Chaplin quarry near here, where
he sought hiding after the flight
from his home. But the wound did
not stop him.
Retains Wife'S Affection
Carson's wife still loves him. She
makes her home here with her baby,
Betty Lou.
She would go with him in
minute if she could get away and
also take the baby" her acquaint-
ances declare.
I can't stand this much longer. >"
Mrs. Carson declared the day after
Whalen's death, as . hunt for her
husband which started two and
half wears ago was renewed with
Intensified vigor.
In appearance, Carson looks any
thing but a killer. He is blond
haired. handsome. suaye and well
croomed. He is 90 years old;
weight, 100 pounds: height, feet
10 inches: dark blue eyes and rosy
cheeks are other points in his ap-
pearanCe.
Just three days before Whalen
was shot down. Carson in a letter to
Samuel Buffer. restaurant propri-
etor here. humorously referred to
attempts at his capture. 1t bore
Liberty poStmark.
Flowers are cheap now. aren't
they? BY the way, good time for
& funeral
Buffer turned the letter over to
Sheriff Herbert Ellison Of Union
county.
Although there is a price of $4,000
on Carson'S head, he compels his
brother-in Spencer Stevens, to
supply him with large sums OF
money from the estate Of the elder
Carson. of which Stevens is admin
istrator. AT intervals. Carson writes
Stevens threatening letters, and re-
CeiveS money from the wealth built
I'D bv the father whose life he took.