Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 February 1904 — DETECTIVES HOPEFUL [ARTICLE]

DETECTIVES HOPEFUL

Think They Have a Good Clew at Last in the Schafer Murder Case. . ■ i HAH WITH THE LOHG OVERCOAT Again the Subbject of the Informa-tion-Miss Griffin's StoryState News Items.

Bedford, Ind., Feb. 4.—ln a letter received in Bedford within the last few hours the detectives and the officials believe a clew’ has been given them which may tend to throw light on the mystery of the murder of Sarah Schafer. The detectives appear confident, and S. B. Lowe, of the investigation committee, stated that more facts important to the investigation have been unearthed within the last two days than at any time since the murder. The source of the letter cannot be learned, but that it alone furnishes the new clew was admitted by Lowe. Clue Round St Lafayette. Lafayette, Ind., Feb. 4.—What may prove to be a clew in the Bedford murder mystery has been given to the Lafayette detectives by Katherine Griffin, a servant in the employ of George E. Jenks, a pttper manufacturer living at 711 Columbia street, this city. Until the arrival of detectives from Bedford, who are on their way to this city, the full particulars will not be announced. In the presence of two witnesses Miss Griffin declared that she is certain that the man who killed Miss SehafeiNwas the same person who followed her on the night the murder was committed, and she believes that the school teacher was mistaken for herself. Man with th# Long Overcoat. The girl’s story, as related to Detective Weinhardt, is as follows; "I was visiting at the home of Miss Shoultz, whose father is trainmaster of the Monon railway, at Bedford. While there I became acquainted with Miss Schafer, and also with a man I did not like. On the duy of the murder this man and I were together, and he grew angry at my refusal to accompany him. and we parted. On the night of the murder I waa at one end of the alley in which the body of Miss Schafer was found. It must have been shortly before the crime was committed. I discovered that a man was following me. He wore a long overcoat ami seemed to be watching every movement 1 made. Thinks* Mistake Was Made. ‘T succeeded in eluding him. and he walked up the alley toward the Bpot where Miss Schafer was murdered. When on the next morning I heard of the crime I was so alarmed that I left Bedford at once and came back to Lafayette. Miss Schafer was about my size, and in some respects did not look unlike me. 1 am sure that the man who followed me was the perpetrator of the crime.” Detective Weinhardt believes that the gir’ls story will solve the Bedford mystery.