The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-08-13
TORCH KILLER
CAUGHT, SAYS
PROSECUTOR
Murder Gun Found; Former
Convict Is GriIIed in
Michigan Crime.
THIRD BROTHER SOUGHT
Shabby Stranger Seen With
Youths in Restaurant
Also Suspected.
BIZ United Press

bU mica FTGSS
YPSILANTI, Mich, Aug. IS
I'VE have the man." Prosecutor
Harry S. Toy of Wayne county de-
clared today in a recess in grilling
of a suspect in the torch murders
Tuesday morning of two youthful
couples near Willis, Mich.
He admits having the gun Mon
day night and on several previous
occasions" Toy added. Il can't say
more at present"
It was learned the man is a for
mer inmate of a Michigan prison,
who gave the alias of Herbert
Smith, said to be a former neigh
Dor of Harry Lore, Is. of Ypsilanti,
who was shot to death.
Thomas Wheatley, II. his chum,
of Denton. Mich, and Vivian Gold,
10, and Anna May Harrison 16,
both of Cleveland, were beaten to
death and their bodies burned In
Wheatley's automobile on a lonely
road near here.
Seek Third Brother
Smith and his Negro landlord are
being grilled.
Meanwhile, search was pressed for
jackson Keene, brother Of Paul and
Lawrence Keene, reputed moon
sinners, who were found washing
blood-stained clothing at their
"house on wheels" near the murder
scene soon after discovery Of the
smoldering funeral pyre.
The death weapon, a rusty So
caliber liver johnson, was turned
over to Wayne county prosecutors
by Police Chief Ralph L. Southland
of Ypsilanti. A check by Lieutenant
Earl o. Stevens, ballistic expert Of
the Detroit police, showed it to be
the. gun which fired the fatal bull
let's.
The rusty pistol had been fired
recently. Stevens said, and scorings
on it's test projectiles correspondent
with those taken from the body Of
Lore
Another Suspect Hunted
With finding of the pistol, and
the laboriously scrswled note a
Negress handed to Ypsilanti police
purporting to bear the names Of
the slayers, investigators concen-
trated search for still another man,
and possible accomplices in one Of
Michigans most appalling murder
mysteries
Two witnesses thus far have tes-
titled the four youngsters were &C
companied by g. fifth persona
shabbily dressed, stockily built man
in sweater and cap-when they ate
sandwiches in Milan Ndich) cafe
at 2:3O a. m. Tuesday-less than
three hours before the flaming pyre
of their automobile shocked resi-
dents into realization of the trag-
edy.
Detailed description of the man
was furnished by Norman England,
19-year~old night waiter in the cafe.
Deputy Sheriff Thomas Goodridge,
on night patrol in Milan, estah-
lished that the stranger did not en-
ter the cafe with the youthful quar-
tet.
Boy Appeared Drunk
Goodridge saw the four enter the
cafe, Lore appearing drunk, he said.
He watched to see whether the
driver of the car was in similar
condition. planning to detain them,
but the condition of the other
members of the party was satisfac-
tory, he said.
England, who was out of the din
ing room when the four entered,
said the shabby man was seated
with them when he came into the
room and that the stranger paid
the $1.10 check.
A room at the left of the dining
room had been lighted in his alb
sence, he said, indicating some one
familiar with the place had been
present.
Meanwhile, Paul and Lawrence
sKeene, brothers,. still were held.
They were arrested when they were
found scraping red stains off a club.
The victims bodies showed evidence
Of having been dubbed before they
were drenched in gasoline and set
aflre. Lore, however, was shot to
death first.
Purse Is Found
Another clew was obtained when
a travelling salesman found a blood
stained purse on the road six miles
from the automobile pyre. Mrs. Ru-
dolph Gold identified it as having
belonged to her daughter.
Authorities said apparently long
automobile chase preceded the muir
ders. Wheatley's automobile skid
ded before stopping, and other
marks on the road indicated it had
been forced off the road by another
car.
State officials took over the in
vestigation Wednesday on express
orders of Governor WILDER NJ.
Brucker. after Wayne and Washte-
nav counties became engaged In a
squabble over Jurisdiction. Brucker
ordered Attorney General Paul w.
VOORHEES, TO take complete charge.
Scouts to Rule" City
By Tines Special