The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-02-05


All are alleged to have con-
fessed and while murder in
dictments against three of
those implicated are being
prepared for presentation to
the grand jury tomorrow, de-
tectives sought to unravel a
maze of admitted and pos
Sible motives.
Those held as result of the al
legged confessions are:
Joseph Theodore Mathers, 19. OF
TBS North Meridian street, embam-
ing student and friend and room
mate of the slain pastor, charged
with the actual shooting.
Mrs. Saunders, the widow, semi
invalid. charged with having con-
spired with Mathers to kill her nus
band. and with having given Math-
ers $40 to hire slayer.
Masil Roe, 10, of 314 East Wal
nut street, Indiana Central Business
college student. and friend of Math-
ers. charged with having purchased
the death weapon and with having
driven the death car at the time
Of the murder.
Athlete Also Involved
Mrs. Mabel Bake, Wabash, who
had been living with Mrs. Saunders,
charged with having permitted
other defendants to hide the death
revolver and other discriminating
evidence of the crime in her home.
Ross Curtis. 20. Wabash, former
Wabash high school athlete, accused
of attempting to destroy and hide
the weapon and jewelry taken from
Mr.. Saunders.
Police said Mrs. Saunders told
them Mr.. Saunders minds had been
affected several weeks, that she had
feared for her life and had filed
papers to put him in an insane hos
pital. that he choked her recently
and threatened to kill her and their
two sons. age Is and TO-
Mrs. Saunders. slight woman
showing signs of illness, seemed
dazed by the sensational tragedy,
as police questioned her. She has
been suffering from tuberculosis for
the last year, Mrs. Bake said.
Sequel Of Drinking Parry
Mathers. an immature appearing
youth. seemed appalled, by and fear
full of the consequences of MS act,
which was the sequel of a drinking
party.
Roe. an ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS,
short and Stalky youth. answered
questions of police readily.
Officers claim Roe told them he
never had met Mr.. Saunders be-
fore the drinking party that pre-
ceded the murder, although, 1t Is
charged by police. Mathers several
DAYS before had told him he intend
ed to kill MIR. Saunders.
Roe's purported confession states
that he begged MatherS not TO COM
NIT the murder, but that when
Mather said he, Mather, had" To
kill Mr.. Saunders or kill himself
Roe said he would rather it would
be the pastor"
Shot in Back of Head
The alleged statement goes on TO
explain how he drove Mr.. Saunders
car, with Mr.. Saunders, intoxicated,
beside him in the front seat, while
Mathers, in the rear seat, drew the
revolver and shot the minister in
the back of the head. killing him
instantly.
Then, it was related, Mathers
took the wheel, driving the car TO
Fortieth street just east of Merid-
ian street, pushed the dead man
under the wheel. robbed him of So
and left, the two walking back to
Mathers' rooming house.
Reading between lines" of the
purported confessions. and consld-
ering additional statements made
by the prisoners, police laid the
tragedy TO a web of circumstances
resulting from drinking orgies and
abnormal affections.
Police said MatherS admitted that
the pastor became so fond OF him
that Mr.. Saunders planned to kill
his family. and that it was decided
Mr.. Saunders had to be killed TO
save his family.
Mathers' purported confession
states that he and Mrs. Saunders
talked over the proposed murder
about three weeks ago. because they
thought he was mentally unbal-
snced and had made threats against
his family.
Coming 10 Indianapolis early last
week, MRS. Saunders gave him SIC
TO hire q slayer. but he had Roe
buy q gun for $3.50 and decided to
commit the act himself, the state
ment continues.
7 had TO kill him, or kill myself,
police quoted him as saying.
Mrs. Saunders left for Wabash