seen by detectives who knew him, and threatened to arrest him if he did not go home. He had given "a lot of conflicting statements", Authorities suspected him of being an anarchist, which he denied: While in jail, Raymer was caught hiding a letter, in his shoe, that he wrote (in Yiddish) to S. Singer, a "second hand dealer." Raymer had often stayed with and was living with Singer at the time of the attacks. Raymer was asking Singer for help, as he was certain he was going to be found guilty and hanged: It was later discovered that there was no "S. Singer". Eli Singer, a Russia-born shoe repairman, and his 22-year-old son, Harry Singer, lived and worked at the 110 South Seventh Street address. When police approached Singer about the note, he said he was a "slight acquaintance" of Raymer's. Raymer's indictment was the first to be brought before a jury. His trial was closely watched, as it was expected to establish the likelihood of convictions in the other indictments. The Springfield Jewish community raised a fund for Raymer's defense. His sister, Rosa Albert, came from Boston to be at the trial and serve as a character witness. While she was in Springfield, Albert stayed with Eli Singer. Raymer's trial for Donnegan's murder had been paused by the judge, who determined that it was "impossible" for any of the attackers to receive a fair trial. The initial jury was purged, and a new jury was assembled of prominent businessmen in the community. Several people admitted to seeing Raymer bend down over Donnegan in the street, and stand back up with blood on his hand, stating their belief that Raymer had slit Donnegan's throat. Others, did not name Raymer but described someone who looked like him: "a short fellow with sleeves rolled up, who talked in broken English, and a 'Jewish' accent." When Raymer confessed, he insisted that he was not "first leader" of the mob nor had cut Donnegan's throat, attributing that to a man named "Red" Davenport. However, Davenport was never found, and neither known by anyone in Springfield, nor mentioned beyond Raymer's confession. It was reported that Raymer likely "imagined the identity of his companions to escape further experience in 'third degrees.'" Sarah Donnegan, William's wife, was a key witness for the state. She testified that Raymer was one of the men who dragged her husband