 Murders, Suicides, Accidents, Deaths Madison County, Indiana |
KILLING
OF GORGE ADAMS.
One of the
most exciting homicides that ever took place in Madison county occurred near Elwood on
the 17th day of May, 1888, in
which George Adams, a farmer of Duck Creek township, was killed by Charles Conway, of
Henry county. George Adams,
the victim, and George Melrose and Charles Conway, the perpetrator of the deed, came
to Elwood on Saturday morning
and met at that place. While there they visited several saloons and became very
boisterous before evening.
They started toward home, George Adams in a wagon, and when near the residence of
William Rybolt Adams stopped
to deliver some packages' which he had purchased for Rybolt while at Elwood. Melrose and
Conway were in a buckboard
and overtook Adams while he was at Rybolt's house. The parties got into a
conversation which resulted
in a quarrel, ending in blows. Conway jumped out of the buckboard with a revolver in his
hand and flourished it at
Adams, when a comrade took it away from him. He then jerked out his knife and made a lunge at
Adams, cutting him in the arm
between the shoulder and the elbow. After this, the fighting ceased and in a few minutes
Adams fainted from the loss
of blood. He was carried to Rybolt's door yard and laid on the ground; his coat was removed
and it was discovered that he
had been seriously injured. Further examination showed that an artery had been severed. Efforts were made to stop the flow of blood, which proved unsuccessful. The wounded man was taken into Rybolt's house and a messenger was dispatched for Doctor M. J. McTurnan, at Rigdon, and Doctor Daniel Sigler, of Elwood. McTurnan was the first to arrive, but Adams had suffered so much from the loss of blood that he was beyond medical aid. When Doctor Sigler arrived an effort was made to tie the artery, but it was too late to be of any benefit. Adams died about 5 o'clock the next morning. In the meantime Conway had become alarmed at the serious turn that affairs had taken and started at the serious turn that affairs had taken and started for his home in Henry county. Melrose, however, lingered at the house, and when he learned that Adams was perhaps fatally injured he went to him and asked him to testify in the presence of those assembled that the wound was not received from his hands, which Adams readily agreed to. Melrose immediately went to Elwood and gave himself up to the officers, and was taken before 'Squire Ward L. Roach for a preliminary hearing and was bound over to the court as an accessory to the crime. He was taken to Anderson, placed in jail and held to await the action of the Grand Jury. Conway, in the meantime, had driven to Windfall and taken the train there for his home, not knowing of the fatal consequences of the stab he had inflicted on Adams until the following Sunday evening, when he was arrested by the Sheriff of Henry county on a warrant issued from Madison county. He was brought to Anderson on the following Monday and taken before the Mayor of the city, but waived an examination. He was placed in jail and made no effort to give bond. Conway was accompanied by his father, who was a highly respected citizen of Henry county, and also by James Brown, an attorney of New Castle. Conway justified himself in the act by stating that Melrose and Adams had become engaged in a quarrel, and that Adams struck Melrose with a club. He stated that all the parties, including himself, had been drinking, and that while Adams was fighting Melrose with a club, he from his seat in the buckboard ordered Adams to stop when Adams turned to him and started to assault him. He grabbed him by the collar and jerked him over the seat and while handling him had struck him, and that he, Conway, during the melee, had drawn a revolver from his pocket and attempted to defend himself, but was frustrated by a companion, who knocked it from his hands. Conway strenuously denied having cut Adams, and stated that the only knife that he saw in the crowd was one in the hands of Melrose. Adams was a tenant living on the farm of Gustave Kramer, about six miles from Elwood. He was an industrious man, and always bore a good reputation. He had removed from Franklin county about two years prior to the occurrence. Young Conway was about twenty-four years of age and lived near Moreland, in Henry county, and had been visiting his uncle, who resided near the scene of the tragedy. He had been subjected from early life to epilepsy and had been petted by his parents on account of the infirmity, and was a badly spoiled boy. He was very peevish and of an irritable disposition. On former occasions he had made demonstrations of viciousness several times, and had used his knife, but with no fatal result. George Melrose was acquitted of any criminal action in this matter. Conway was brought into the Circuit Court in Anderson for trial after an indictment had been found against him by the Grand Jury, but took a change of venue to Delaware county. On the 9th day of August, 1888, he was there found guilty of manslaughter and was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment in the penitentiary. Goodykoontz & Ballard defended Melrose, and were credited with handling the case judiciously, and thereby gaining for him his freedom DEATH
OF JOHN C. JONES, EX-MAYOR OF ANDERSON.
John C.
Jones, an old and highly respected citizen of Madison county, died at his home in Boone
township on the 26th day of July, 1895. Mr. Jones was the second Mayor
of Anderson, having been
elected to that position in the spring of 1866, and served two years, at the end
of which time he removed to
his farm where he resided until the time of his death. His wife was a sister of Benjamin
Sebrell, who was from 1860 to
1864, Sheriff of Madison county, Mr. Jones being his chief deputy. Mr. Jones never
accumulated much of this world's
goods, but he saw a good deal of the bright side of life and was a hale fellow well met, who
enjoyed the respect of nearly
everybody, and had but few enemies. He will be long remembered by the old settlers of Madison county. FOUND
DEAD IN BED SUDDEN DEATH OF LABAN ANDREWS.
Laban Andrews, who lived on the
line between Madison and
Grant counties, died very suddenly on the 16th day of November, 1888, having been found dead in
bed. At first it was thought
that foul play had been the cause of his taking off, but upon investigation made by Dr.
William A. Hunt, Coroner of
Madison county, a verdict was returned of death from natural causes. The house at which he
died was situated about a
mile east of the road, on the line separating Grant and Madison counties. He was about twenty-one
years of age and left a wife
and one child. The inquest showed that there was a hereditary tendency to heart disease on
the part of his family, and
this was supposed to have been the cause of his demise. SERIOUS
ACCIDENT TO NATHAN T. CALL, EX-TREASURER OF MADISON COUNTY.
Nathan T.
Call, ex-Treasurer of Madison county, met with a serious accident on his farm in
Boone township on the 10th
day of March, 1892, while sawing down a tree. In falling, the tree caught Mr. Call beneath its
weight and severely wounded
him, breaking one of his legs and otherwise maiming him. It was thought for awhile that he
would die from the effects of
his injuries, but he finally revived, although a cripple for life. Mr. Call was in 1884 elected Treasurer of Madison county and served for two years. He is one of the leading Democrats of the north part of the county. A
BOY KILLED IN BOONE TOWNSHIP ON THE PLAY GROUND AT THE BRUNT
SCHOOLHOUSE IN THE INNOCENT PASTIME OF PLAYING BALL.
The Brunt
schoolhouse in Boone township is one of the old landmarks of Madison county, and has
witnessed many scenes of
pleasure and merriment which will be long remembered by those who attended school and "spelling
bees" at that place,
prominent among whom are A. J. Brunt, John R. Brunt, Isaac D. Forrest, Albert J. Ross
and many others who are now
the leading citizens of Madison county. But while speaking of the pleasures enjoyed at
this schoolhouse it is our
melancholy duty to record one unfortunate affair, which took place on the 19th day of
November, 1874. While the
boys were out at recess, romping and playing as boys at school usually do, and some of them were
engaged in the game of town
ball, a bat in the hands of Richard Brunt slipped from his grasp, striking a comrade by the
name of McLane in the
forehead, injuring him so badly that he died on the following day. Both of the parties were prominently
connected in the
neighborhood, and the unfortunate accident cast a gloom over the entire community, which hung for
a long time like a pall over
the sad scene of this accident. Young Brunt was nearly heart-broken and did everything he
possibly could to alleviate
the sufferings of his playmate until death relieved him of his pains. Richard Brunt is now
living in the township. He is
a good neighbor, an honest and upright citizen and well respected by all who know him. He
is the youngest son of the
late Thomas Brunt, frequently spoken of in this volume.ENOCH
McMAHAN AND HENRY STREETS, A FARM HAND, BURNED TO DEATH.
On the 19th
day of May, 1888, the house of Enoch McMahan, of Boone township, was burned to
the ground, and Mr. McMahan
and Henry Streets, a farm hand, nineteen years old, the only occupants of the
building, were burned to death.
Enoch McMahan was a widower, his wife having died several years prior to this occurrence. He and his farm hand lived alone in the house, and were on the night of the fire sleeping in the same room, unconscious of the flames that were about to enwrap them. Some neighbors discovered the fire and ran to the house to notify the occupants, but the. unfortunate men did not awaken in time to extricate themselves. They could be clearly seen through the flames by those who first arrived at the burning building. It was a shocking sight for the old neighbors and friends of the deceased to be compelled to stand by and behold them perish before their eyes when no help could be rendered them. Enoch McMahan was one of the early settlers of Boone township, who helped to fell the forests and make it one of the most beautiful localities in the county. He was a man possessed of truly Christian virtues, and it was often said of him that if ever there was a man beneath the heavens who was really a Christian, Enoch McMahan was one. He believed in the Golden Rule and practiced it. He was a man who had the highest regard for his word and obligations ; he was a kind neighbor and a benefactor to many beginners in the locality in which he lived. Mr. McMahan was related to Thomas J. McMahan, ex-Sheriff of Madison county, and now President of the National Exchange Bank, of Anderson. He was also related to A. J. Brunt and John R. Brunt, of Anderson. This shocking fire left a lasting effect upon all those who witnessed it, and will long be remembered in the locality in which it occurred. No sadder event ever took place within the bounds of Madison county AN OLD TIME CRIMINAL
At the September session.
18559, the Commissioners made the following orders in relation to the
capture of John Flinn for the crime of murder, and conveying him to
Indianapolis: "Ordered that Alfred Makepeace, constable of Anderson township, be allowed three dollars and fifty cents for his services in taking John Flinn on charge of murder." "Ordered that G. W. Remiker and W. B. Adams be allowed each the sum of one dollar and fifty cents for their services in assisting in taking John Flinn." "Ordered that Wm. Myers be allowed the stun of eighteen dollars and thirty-one cents for money paid as stage agent for the conveyance of John Flinn and his guard by stage to Indianapolis." " "Ordered that Joseph Howard and John Lewark each be allowed the sum of two dollars and eighty-seven cents for removing John Flinn to Indianapolis, Indiana." "Ordered that John Rogers, jailer of Henry county, be allowed two hundred dollars for keeping, boarding, washing and making fires in the said jail for John Flinn and other prisoners of Madison county." Madison county at that time did not have a jail sufficiently secure in which to incarcerate criminals guilty of important violations of the laws. The allowance for taking Flinn to Indianapolis was for taking him there for safe keeping. This occurrence took place so long ago that it has almost faded from the recollection of the oldest living inhabitants. There is none who can give a correct account of who it was that Flinn killed. Mathias B. Hughel is of the opinion that he was arrested for the murder of a man of the name of Perrine, a contractor on the canal, employed in the construction of the branch that extended west of Anderson. Perrine mysteriously disappeared and his body was afterwards found along the river not far from where the farm of Joseph Burke is situated, on what is now known as the Perkinsville pike. Augustus M. Williams corroborates Mr. Hughel, and says that Flinn killed Perrine by drowning him ; by jumping on him and bearing him down in the water in White River and leaving his body, which afterward floated down to the place where it was discovered. Mr. Williams says that Perrine was also a contractor on the canal, and there was a misunderstanding existing between the two men which led to the crime. He also says that Flinn was tried at Newcastle on change of venue, for the crime. The allotment on the canal on which Flinn was engaged at the time was near what is known as the Wise farm between Perkinsville and Hamilton. Dr. John Darr, one of the early physicians of Newcastle, was made an allowance for medical aid to Flinn. THE
SCENE OF THE ABBOTT MURDERS
In the early settlement of
almost every county in this State, as well as in others, there was more
or less lawlessness, disrespect for the rights of others, and a general
contempt for good order. Even today we see this evidence in many such
will continue to be the state of affairs in almost all new settlements.
Madison county was not exempt from lawless characters in its early settlement, and between the years of 1825 and 1835) there were many strange characters residing within its boundaries men who had ventured from eastern and southern localities to find an abiding place temporarily, it might be, to evade the strong arm of the law which was about to clasp them within its grasp. Fall Creek township in an early day was the home of a band of counterfeiters, who plied their vocation for some years until the law was put in operation for their benefit, when the business was broken up, and the band scattered. Pipe Creek township, in the first settling of the county, and for a few years afterward, was the abiding place of a. nest of horse thieves, who followed their unlawful work in this and neighboring counties until matters became entirely too warm for them, and they abandoned the business. The descendants of some of these people reside there now. In other portions of the county at that early period resided people who knew no law, and did about as they chose, until public sentiment and an advanced civilization compelled them to leave. About the year 1880 a family by the name of Abbott, consisting of a father, mother and two grown sons, from Kentucky, moved into the new and sparsely settled country. They settled or rather " squatted " on what was long afterward known as the Isaac Moss farm, some two miles west of the then village of Anderson. Their cabin was situated near the river bank, at the foot of the hill, on the north side of what is now known as the Perkinsville road. From the first it would seem they were more or less viewed with suspicion, although never appearing before a court of justice on any charge, and living in the locality for two years, subsequent discoveries indicated that the suspicions against them were well founded, and their hasty exit was not made any too soon. They cultivated a small patch of ground, and an occasional trader through the lonely locality would stop with them for the night. The Abbotts seemed to shun work, and yet appeared to possess a considerable amount of personal property, in the way of horses, hogs, sheep and such like, although at their first arrival few of these things were known to belong to them. The men would make quiet trips away from home, and be absent from two to three weeks at a time. Whither they went on their business was unknown. In that early day every man was expected to know his neighbors for three or four miles around, how many plows, wagons or horses he possessed, how many acres he had in wheat or corn, how many members of his family, where and when the next "meeting " would be held, and all the gossip afloat. But the Abbotts were reserved in that respect, and did not let the neighbors know any more of their business than possible. and although maintaining some show of sociability, were careful to keep their affairs to a great extent to themselves. The truth seemed to be, and was the verdict generally of the neighbors, that the family was a household of thieves, but were committing their depredations in distant localities. This seemed to account for the occasional new horse, a few sheep or hogs, which the had not purchased directly in the neighborhood. The suspicion continued to go from neighbor to neighbor that the Abbotts were " crooked " people, and dangerous to the community, although no overt acts could be charged to their account. Further along, however, as we shall see, an event occurred which seemed to confirm fully the evil impressions created against them and which caused their sudden flight to unknown parts very soon thereafter. A prominent highway of early days extending through several counties adjoining this was known as the " Strawtown road.'' It was probably the first wagon road in the county. Its terminus was at Greenville, Ohio, and extended west from ;here through Muncie, Anderson and Perkinsville to Indianapolis, while a branch of it was constructed northwest toward the Wabash. The "Strawtown road'' was the emigrant route to the West for many years, and thousands of people seeking homes in the West"in the early days of the State passed over it. What is now known as Eighth street in Anderson and the continuation of the gravel road to Perkinsville, was a portion of the " Strawtown road " of early times. During the summer of 1882, a gentleman from some point in Ohio started West on horseback over the route spoken of, determined on seeking a new home in the West. He moved by slow stages, stopping a day or two at different points along the journey to inspect and prospect. He reached this county in ten or twelve days, and, passing through the village of Anderson, stopped in the evening at the Abbott home for the night, intending, as it was supposed, to continue on in a westerly course the next day. He was never seen or heard of again. His intentions being when starting away to not be absent over six weeks, his relatives at the end of that time began to fear that trouble of some kind had overtaken him. So strongly were they confirmed that at the end of two months they determined upon a trip to find him if possible, or if not seeing him to ascertain what had become of him. Going over the same route it was a matter of very little trouble to find many places at which he had tarried over night and where they accurately described the man and horse, and different matters pertaining to him were uniformly correct. The searchers moved along their journey quite rapidly, encouraged by the hope of soon finding him. Passing on the route they went on through Anderson and stopped at the Abbott home to make further inquiries. " Yes, he had stopped there," the inmates said and described him. "He left early next morning," they said, expecting to go a least twenty-five miles that day." The two men continued on their way west making their usual inquiries, but at no place after leaving the Abbott cabin could they hear anything concerning their friend. They continued in search for several days in the country around Noblesville and Indianapolis, but finally abandoned it and passed back east having accomplished nothing. Neighbors who may have had certain fixed views regarding the disappearance of the stranger remained quiet. It should be remembered that those were the days when such things as detectives and telegraphs were unknown, and the opportunities and the class of persons necessary for ferreting out evil deeds and bringing criminals to justice were not nearly so favorable as in this day or age. An event, however, soon occurred that brought matters to a crisis and determined the suspected family upon an immediate flight. One morning the body of a man was found floating in White river only about a quarter of a mile below where the Abbotts lived. No one recognized the features in the neighborhood, and the Abbotts were as seemingly mystified as to who the man was as any other persons. After a few days the sensation over the discovery subsided to a great extent, many thinking that it was some stranger who had accidentally fallen into the river and drowned. A few there were, however, who did not think just that way, and intimations of a murder were quietly spoken of. The Abbotts seemed to have felt probably that it would soon be laid at their door, and one night the family with all their goods and chattels quietly disappeared. Their absence was not discovered until two or three days, and no effort was made to pursue them, the neighborhood being gratified that they had left. The disappearance of the man who had stopped at the house, and the search for him afterwards with no intelligence regarding him seemed now to have been explained by the finding of the corpse floating in the river. The opinion rapidly crystallized that this mysterious family had murdered the stranger for his money and the property in his possession, and sank the body in the river, and their hasty flight seemed to confirm it. They were gone, none knew where, and no effort was put forth to arrest them, and the affair in a few months passed from the minds of most of the people then residing in that locality. This was an event, it must be borne in mind, of over ,sixty years ago. In this day of rapid transit and shrewd detectives, the suspected people could not have escaped. Everything relating to the affair would have been unraveled in a short time. For some years afterwards many persons in passing the road fronting the place would call attention to the cabin, which remained unoccupied, and with feelings of awe, avow that it was haunted, and that the spirit of somebody could be heard within its portals after night, and through this superstitious fear many avoided passing by there after dark. The cabin has long since gone to decay, and the people living in the vicinity were called hence long ago, yet the recollection of this mysterious family and the dark deeds attributed to its members were themes for discussion in the humble homes of the pioneers in the vicinity for many years thereafter." AN
ATROCIOUS CRIME.
Susan Nelson was the widow of
William Nelson, who was for many years a resident of Anderson township,
and who died in Anderson many years ago. On the 7th of September, 1888,
Mrs. Nelson left the city, going west on the Bee Line road on the
evening train. During the day she called at the post office and left an
order for her mail to be forwarded to Kansas City, Missouri. She also
employed a drayman of the name of Swearingen who took her trunk to the
depot, and said to him that she was going to visit her son, Jasper
Nelson, who had written to her and informed her that he was very sick.
She informed Edward Downey that she was leaving Anderson never to
return. She also talked to other people in the same strain about
leaving Anderson. She was afterwards missed by her friends and no one
knew of her whereabouts. In the following month of October after she had taken her departure, a man of the name of James Porter, while hunting in the woods about three miles southwest of the city of Terre Haute, and while in a lonely portion of the forest, noticed his dog running to the side of a ravine with something in his mouth. He called the animal to him and saw that he had a human skull. The afternoon was then drawing to a close, but he concluded to institute a thorough search into the matter, and see what the discovery would lead to. Soon he found another bone, and then another, until at last it appeared to him that probably some foul murder had been committed. Overcome with fright and horror, he concluded to go to his home. On the following morning, assisted by some neighbors, he continued the search. This time a complete set of artificial teeth, and some female clothing, were discovered. It was not long before the dead body of a woman was found hidden among the shrubbery and leaves of the was found hidden among the shrubbery and leaves of the wood. The coroner of Vigo county was immediately notified of the affair. He promptly arrived upon the scene, began an examination, and held an inquest. Eighty-three cents in change was found in the dress pocket of the murdered woman. No clue, however, was. obtained as to her identity. It was evident that she had been murdered as her skull was crushed in as if by a heavy blow, and there were signs of a struggle in the underbrush. The physicians who were examined as experts gave it as their opinion that she must have been dead for five or six weeks. Considerable excitement was created by a rumor that a girl at Saint Mary's College of the Woods, had been missing, and it was for a time thought that this might he her body, but an investigation soon put that theory at rest. The people in the vicinity of the murder, however, kept up the search, hoping that something might turn up by which the remains would be identified. Finally, one day in some tall grass, a regularly written, but blood-stained insurance policy issued by Bain & Harris, of Anderson, Indiana, was found. The policy was torn nearly apart in two places. The policy was made out in the name of Mrs. Susan Nelson, and was for an insurance upon her household goods. This discovery furnished an excellent clue, and the detectives proceeded at once to work upon the case. Every neighboring village was visited, and every livery stable keeper for miles around was spoken to. The detective came to Anderson, and assisted by Marshal Coburn, whose energy was aroused by the knowledge of the perpetration of this crime, soon succeeded in establishing the fact beyond a doubt that the murdered woman was Mrs. Susan Nelson, of Anderson. The detective with his assistant then went to the old brick house in which she had for a long time resided, situated on North Main street directly opposite the present residence of Martin Gruenewald. A letter was found from her son. Jasper, postmarked at Brazil, Indiana, dated August 23, 1888. This was about two weeks prior to the time she had left Anderson. Brazil is only sixteen miles east of Terre Haute. This letter caused a great deal of comment, and suspicion was at once directed to her son as being the guilty party. He had for years been rather prodigal in his habits, and it was known that with all his faults that his mother loved him dearly, and that he had a great influence over her. It was supposed that he had lured her to Brazil or Terre Haute, and for the purpose of obtaining money from her. had murdered her, and then made his escape. Jasper Nelson was accordingly arrested at Cape Girardeau, Missouri, on suspicion, and brought to Anderson for trial. Upon a full and complete investigation of all the facts stated by him as to his whereabouts at the time of the murder, the court was satisfied that he was innocent of the crime, although many persons have been convicted on less convincing evidence. Hon. W. R. Myers was his attorney and did valiant work in saving him from conviction. Suspicion pointed to one Perry Manis, an ex-preacher of the gospel who resided near Frankton, in this county, and who was known to have been a frequent visitor to Mrs. Nelson's house. About this time Manis was arrested and placed in the Madison county jail, for associating with prostitutes, and, during his imprisonment, his actions in some way fastened suspicion upon him very strongly in relation to the murder of Mrs. Nelson. Among other circumstances it was shown that he had left Anderson about the time Mrs. Nelson did, and returned after an absence of four or five weeks. He left without taking a trunk, and with but little money, and returned with a trunk and plenty of funds in his possession. In a little while after his return he purchased a horse and buggy and a set of harness at a cost of $800. He gave as an explanation for his possession of the money that $225 of it was given him by his mother, and $25 by Maggie Moore, a lady friend. A boy was produced who stated that he had overheard him arranging a plan with Mrs. Nelson, in which it was agreed that they would go to Kansas City, and establish a boarding house. This was another very suspicious circumstance against him. The officers secured possession of the trunk brought back by Manis, and when interrogated as to how he came in possession of it, he said that he bought it of a man in the Union depot at Indianapolis for $6.00; that the man was a stranger to him and had told him he was out of money. The detectives kept at their work, and day by day more evidence was forthcoming, and the web was woven so closely about Manis, that finally an affidavit was filed against him in Vigo county for the murder of Mrs. Nelson. The grand jury at Terre Haute took jurisdiction of the case, and an indictment was returned charging him with murder. He was placed under arrest, and taken to Terre Haute, and on a trial in the Circuit Court in that county, he was convicted of the crime and sentenced to imprisonment for life in the penitentiary, and here he died within a period of two or three years after his imprisonment. It was known that when Mrs. Nelson left Anderson, she had in her possession over $600, which she had drawn out of the Exchange Bank a day or two prior to her departure. There was no doubt at all as to the identity of the murdered woman being Mrs. Nelson; portions of her clothing were produced in court which her friends and relatives recognized ; and the set of artificial teeth, which were found in the woods were shown to have been made for her by Dr. H. B. Reid, who appeared in court and identified them. It was also shown upon the trial that Manis and Mrs. Nelson were seen together in a lodging house at Terre Haute ; that he had hired a buggy and had driven away with her, but had returned without her; while there was no direct evidence to connect him with the crime, all the circumstantial facts in the case were very strong. The State of Indiana was represented at the trial by the prosecuting attorney at Terre Haute, and Wm. A. Kittinger, of Anderson. Mr. Manis was defended by Judge Mack, of Terre Haute. Mr. Kittinger won fresh laurels in the management of this case. Mrs. Susan Nelson will be remembered by the old citizens of Madison county as the sister of Frederick and Michael Bronnenberg, who have lived in this county nearly all their lives. The connection of Perry Manis with this crime was a severe blow to his family, none of whom had ever been accused or convicted of any crime. Manis, himself, was not considered as having vicious habits, and. in fact, was, at one time, an itinerant preacher, who held religious meetings in the school districts throughout the county. It was claimed that, by his efforts, he made many converts to the Christian faith. The only thing of which he was accused, prior to this affair, was that he was a man of lewd habits, indolent, and disposed to associate with bad characters. In this respect he was altogether different from every one of his relatives, who were all well-to-do and prosperous people. AN
OLD-TIME SHOOTING MATCH AND ITS RESULT.
In the early history of many of
the counties of Indiana, and, in fact, for many years afterward, "
shooting matches." as they were termed, were a leading sport, or
amusement, among a large portion of the people, and they were generally
attended by the male portion of the community for miles around. The
best shots with the rifle were generally rewarded with turkeys, the "
hind '' or " fore " quarter of a beef, and, sometimes, money. They
rarely failed to attract large crowds of men from the excitement and
social enjoyment that attended them,
and, even yet, " shooting matches " are occasionally heard of, but
rarely, any more. One of these matches occurred in this county in 1847. that was attended, from what followed before the people dispersed to their homes, with unusual excitement. Only a short distance west of the Mounds, near the bank of White river, on what is known as the Samuel Hill farm, where there was a distillery, a match for shooting had been arranged and extensive notice called to it for some days before. It was in November, on Thanksgiving Day of that year. The air was somewhat cold and the sky overhead dark and forbidding, but it did not fail to draw out a large crowd of people to witness the shooting, and fully two hundred persons were on hand, among them some of the best "shots" of that time in the county. The crowd was feeling in the best of humor, and the sport proceeded along finely for two or three hours after midday. Two young men, Cox and Tharp, were among those in attendance, but neither probably anticipated the dreadful tragedy soon to follow, or the hurried retreat and permanent exile of one of them from the county. There had been some previous trouble between the two men, but not of such a nature as to suggest danger or death to either. Tharp was the larger of the two, and inclined to be somewhat domineering in his actions to his smaller opponent, Cox. Tharp had had some trouble during the progress of the match, and Cox, it seems, had avoided his enemy by retreating from him two or three times. Goaded at last, it would appear, when forbearance had ceased to be a virtue, Cox seized the rifle of a bystander, rushed up to where Tharp was standing with his right side fronting him, and raising it high over his shoulder brought the barrel of it with full force upon his head. Tharp dropped to the earth as if shot, and never arose again. Immense excitement followed, of course. Both men had friends on the ground, and threats from both sides were passed rapidly back and forth. Tharp was placed in a wagon, brought to his home in Anderson, but died during the night from the effect of the blow, having never spoken. An examination after death showed a fractured skull, and that death did not come at once is marvelous. Cox soon after crossed over to his home about a mile lo the northwest, and next morning was arrested and placed in jail. As is usual in cases of this kind some loud threats by a few friend* of the dead man were indulged in, but the better sense of the community prevailed, and the matter was given over to the grand jury to investigate and report upon. Cox had many warm friends who considered that he had been imposed upon, and was not really responsible for the untimely taking off of Tharp. The grand jury soon convened, reported an indictment against him for murder, and preparations began for his trial. The jail, an old log affair, was situated in the northwest corner of the square, its main entrance fronting to the south. The Sheriff at that time was John II. Davis. And here begins a final feature of the affair altogether unanticipated, and which brought to it a termination much sooner than the general public had been led to suppose. A few friends of Cox were permitted to visit him every few days. They discussed quietly with him the probable results of his trial. It was feared by all of them that the best that he could hope for would by a long term of twelve or fifteen years in the penitentiary. They all feared a verdict, while they considered that he had acted in self defense. After talking the matter over from every point it was determined that he should break jail and leave the county forever. He assented and he readily agreed to make the attempt, and which, as we will subsequently see, was crowned with success. Five true and determined men were given the secret, and these five, it was said, brought it about. The strictest secrecy was enjoined upon all and the night was selected when he was to rush forth to freedom. During the occasional visits of his friends an impress of the lock in beeswax was taken. This was used in patterning an iron key that would fit the lock. After it was finished it was found to work exactly. It unlocked the door to the jail readily. All was well thus far. The next thing was to select the night and make final preparations. One can fancy how the hearts of these five friends must have beaten as the hour drew nigh for Cox to come forth. The slightest mishap might up.set all their plans and they themselves be locked behind the bolts and of the same prison from which they were striving to liberate their friend. Cox was the owner of a fine horse, " Selam," a good roadster, strong of wind and " good bottom." He was to be used in carrying his owner away from trouble. "Selam " was brought to town one afternoon and thoroughly shod for the journey at the blacksmith shop in the south part of the town near where the school building on Main street is situated. One of his friends went to the jail and told him to prepare to start that night at about the hour of 11 o'clock. Near that hour the five friends, one of them leading "Selam," approached cautiously and noiselessly to the jail building from the west side of the square. It was cold on the night in question, a slight snow was falling, the town was in deep slumber and only a faint, dim light could occasionally be seen from some building in the vicinity. Slowly and with cat-like tread the jail is reached, the door is unlocked and in low tones Cox is told to come forth. He does so at once, and for the first time in weeks, breathes the air of freedom and after a hurried conversation regarding directions he mounts the faithful horse. " Farewell, may God protect you" is heard, and a cordial final shaking of hands all around and he is off bidding farewell forever to Madison county. He moved in a westerly course. The night was extremely dark, and was lighted only by an occasional star from behind the dark passing clouds, but he moves on as fast as old " Selam " could carry him, animated no doubt by the fear that early next morning officers may follow and overtake him, and that he may yet be compelled to undergo imprisonment behind the gloomy walls of the penitentiary. He rode that night, it was afterwards ascertained, twenty miles before stopping, crossing the river at Perkinsville, and proceeding in a northwesterly direction. His first stop was in the northern part of Hamilton county at a farm house, where he remained until the afternoon, to feed and rest his horse. The next morning after his flight immense excitement was created in Anderson. at the discovery that Cox was missing. How it was done and who did it were puzzling questions that every one was asking. Many were glad of it while others condemned the officers for their carelessness. Officers were sent in various directions and posters sent describing the escaped prisoner. This was in the days before telephones, telegraphs, and railroads were known, and it was a much more difficult matter to trace and catch criminals than in this fast age. The night of the escape a heavy snow fell and it was impossible for sometime for the officers to ascertain in which direction he had gone, which was all the better for the fleeing man. Finally they got on the right course and traced Cox as far northwest as Logansport where it was found that he had crossed the Wabash river about the third day after leaving Anderson. After this nothing reliable as to his course in leaving the Wabash could be ascertained, and, after a few weeks, pursuit was abandoned altogether. The friends of Cox mingled with the citizens of the town the day after the escape wondering (?) how it was done and condemning in no mild terms the want of vigilance on the part of the officials. One of these five men, who was generally suspected as an " aider and a better" in the liberation of Cox, is yet among the living of Madison county, and as we observe his slow treading steps and bent form as he passes along the streets, we fancy he must, in his mind, recur to his part in the affair of near a half a century ago with mingled feelings of satisfaction to himself, if to none other, and what a thrill of excitement must occasionally pervade his thoughts as the stormy night, the quiet march to the jail, the appearance of Cox, and his quiet disappearance in the darkness all appear before him. A plain marble slab, properly sculptured, only a few rods to the northeast from the main entrance to the Anderson cemetery marks the spot where repose the remains of Tharp, the unfortunate victim of a tragedy of so much excitement in the long ago, and here the winds of near a hall century have sung their sad requiems over his grave. Some twenty-five years after the tragedy an old citizen of Madison county, during a journey through the west, in his route had occasion to pass through the west part of Wisconsin, in St. Croix county. Here in a small town he came unexpectedly across Cox, who had disappeared so suddenly in the winter of 1847. Both recognized each other at once and their greetings were cordial. Little or no reference was made to the trouble " back in Indiana," a quarter of a century before, and Cox did not seem in the least flustered or nervous at meeting the individual that knew a full history of his former difficulty, He may yet be alive, but if so, is no doubt gray and bent with the weight of seventy or eighty years upon him and as each annual occurring " Thanksgiving Day " appears he would gladly blot from memory that of 1847. Captain A. I. Makepeace saw Tharp on the morning of the tragedy and tried to dissuade him from attending the shooting match HOMICIDE
OF JUDSON J. LEARNED.
On the 7th of November, 1870,
the day on which Rutherford H. Hayes was elected President of the
United States, a riot occurred at the polls, in Anderson, in which
Judson J. Learned lost his life at the hands of Cornelius Daugherty,
City Marshal, in the discharge of his duty. About half past 2 o'clock
in the afternoon. John Jackson and a colored man, whose name was
unknown, became engaged in a quarrel near the intersection of Ninth and
Main streets. While they were thus engaged B. F. Whitelock, a
blacksmith, approached the Negro and struck him on the back of the head
with a stone. This caused the Negro to turn his attention to Whitelock,
and the two engaged in a fight, which naturally drew about them a
crowd, one of whom was Learned. The attention of Marshal Daugherty was also drawn to the disturbance, and he hastened to the place to quell it and to disperse the crowd, which by this time had become much excited and was making serious threats against the Negro. The Marshal succeeded in separating Whitelock and the Negro, and then made an attempt to get the Negro out of the hands of the mob, but was for a time prevented by Learned, who insisted that the Negro should be let alone, and endeavored to carry out his purpose by grasping hold of the Marshal to release his hold on the Negro. The crowd continued to grow more threatening, and a serious riot became imminent. The commands of the Marshal to disperse were unheeded. In his efforts to release himself from the impending danger and- to check the rush of angry men, he struck back over his left shoulder with a piece of a billiard cue which he carried. The blow struck Learned and felled him to the ground. Learned immediately got up and put on his hat, but still made further demonstrations toward the Marshal who commanded him to leave, or he would arrest him. This had the effect to disperse the crowd, and Learned walked to the drug store, and had his head bathed with arnica by Garrett W. Brown. The blow was on the left side of the head just above the temple. At that time it had indicated nothing serious, the skin being but slightly broken. After having his head bathed he went out on the street and returned in about twenty minutes to pay for the service rendered. He was then smoking a cigar and appeared to be all right. About five o'clock he complained of nausea and went home. A little later he complained of being chilly, pulled off his hat and went to bed. In a very short time he became delirious, and about six o'clock on that evening, died. Peter Madara, a next door neighbor, came down town to inform a number of the citizens of the turn of affairs. Coroner Sims was called and an inquest was held at the residence of the deceased on South Central avenue on the next morning. The Coroner's jury was composed of the following named gentlemen: H. L. Trueblood, E. B. Hartley, W. W. Jackson, Joseph I. Seward, James A. Thomas, and Andrew K. Rockenfield. Drs. Chittenden and Jones were witnesses in the case, having examined the body. Drs. B. F. Spann and C. S. Burr concurred in the opinions rendered bv Jones and Chittenden as to the cause of his death. After a full investigation of the affair, the following verdict was given : " That we, the undersigned jurors, empaneled and sworn on this 8th of November, 1876, at the residence of the deceased in the City of Anderson, Madison county, to inquire into and to make a true presentment in what manner and by whom. Judson J. Learned, whose body was found at his residence on the 7th of November, 1870, came to his death, after having heard the evidence and examined the body, we find that the deceased came to his death by being struck on the left side of the head by the butt end of a billiard cue in the hands of Cornelius Daugherty,on the afternoon of the 7th of November, 1876." After a full and fair investigation, it was decided that the Marshal acted in the discharge of his official duty as Marshal of tht City of Anderson, and no indictment was le- turned against him by the Grand Jury of the county. Mr. Daugherty immediately after he learned that Mr. Learned was 'dead, surrendered himself to Deputy Sheriff Riddle until an investigation could be had, and gave bond for his appearance to answer the charge on an indictment that might be brought against him. Although politics was up to fever heat in that memorable campaign, that could not be assigned as a cause for this terrible occurrence, from the fact that Daugherty and the victim were both of the same political belief, being ardent Republicans. Mr. Learned was at the time of his death twenty-five years of age and married. He left a wife and one child. No one regretted this occurrence more than Mr. Daugherty, the Marshal. He was not even conscious of whom he had hit until told afterwards, his aim being only to quiet the riot and to preserve the peace. Mr. Daugherty is yet living, and is an honored and respected citizen of Anderson. A TRAGEDY THAT SHOCKED ANDERSON. On the trial was exhibited a large lock of hair which Titherington had pulled out of the head of one of the women. Titherington was a familiar personage on the streets of Anderson for a quarter of a century, having been at one time a half owner of the bus and transfer line, which was a good paying property. " Lew," as he was known by the people, was not a bad man when not drinking, but disposed to be unruly when imbibing to excess. He was mixed up in a great many street fights and other troubles, the result of too much liquor. His headquarters for many years before his marriage was at the old United States Hotel. He was known by every traveling man from New York to San Francisco who stopped in Anderson. John Alderman was for many years his partner and they made money fast and spent it with lavish hands. One of the jurors who tried Jenkins said after the trial was over that " the jury thought that he was not exactly justified, but that Titherington needed killing anyway, and that they just voted to let him off." Neal Daugherty was City Marshal at the time of the killing and arrested Jenkins. Andrew J. Griffith was Sheriff and Randle Biddle his deputy. Titherington left a widow, but no children. He was a brother to Robert Titherington, who yet lives in Anderson. KILLED BY AN ASSASSIN. On the 12th of April, 1888, a party of men left the works and walked towards the railroad, near by which there was a co-operative coal shaft. "They had reached the crossing, when a shot was fired, apparently from the lower works of the shaft or from some empty cars that were standing close at hand. This was followed by an order to fire, delivered in a loud voice, and instantly a rattling volley was poured in upon the men, who had not recovered from the surprise of the first shot. Mr. Walden was struck by a number 84 ball, which killed him on the spot. It was never known to a certainty who did the deed, but it was known to have originated out of an ugly feeling that existed between the two labor elements in that locality, young Walden being a non-union man. The Coroner held an inquest over the remains, and also notified Mr. E. J. Walden, of Anderson, who had the body brought to this city, where it was interred in the Anderson cemetery beside that of his father. SUICIDE OF A POPULAR YOUNG MAN. Just before taking the drug he went to the Griffith House and requested the use of a room, which Mr. Griffith complied with. Young Hunt intimated that he contemplated self-destruction, whereupon he was informed that he could not have a room under any circumstances. He seated himself in the hotel office and Mr. Griffith supposing the matter ended, turned to other duties requiring his attention. No sooner had he left the office than Hunt approached the porter and repeated his request for a room, who being unaware of the circumstances gave him one, at the same time supplying him with some writing material which he demanded. In a short time Mr. Griffith returned and made inquiries as to Hunt's whereabouts. On being informed of what had transpired during his absence, he hastened to the room and found that the door was locked. He made repeated efforts to gain admission, but with no response. A view of the interior was finally obtained over a transom, and Hunt was discovered seated at a table, busily employed in writing. Mr. Griffith abandoned the effort to gain an entrance, but sent a messenger for the City Marsha! and for Hunt's father. They both arrived at about the same time, and the door was forced open, not however, until Hunt had destroyed what he had written. He then accompanied his father home, and at his request retired to his room to sleep off the excitement under which he appeared to be laboring. The method of self destruction was not, as yet, understood by his father, and it was not until some time thereafter, that he learned that his son had obtained during the day, of Pierce & Richwine, druggists, a bottle of morphine containing sixty grains. This alarmed the father who hastened to his son's room. Finding the door locked he forced an entrance, and found young Hunt lying on the bed in a comatose state from which he was aroused, when he informed his father that he had taken sixty grains of morphine, and had thrown the bottle out of the window. The Doctor at once notified the boy's mother, and sent for medical assistance. It was but a short time until numerous friends of the family came and offered their assistance, and from that time until early next morning they did everything they could to save young Hunt's life, but without avail. He expired at half past five o'clock on Sunday morning without a struggle and, doubtless, without the consciousness of pain. The causes which prompted the deceased to do the act are not known or understood, as he spoke very seldom of any trouble. It was supposed at the time to have been the result of a misunderstanding between himself and a young lady to whom he had paid marked attention for some months previous. Young Hunt was an honest, upright man, and had been employed at one time by the express company as a messenger, and at another period was assistant to the corps of civil engineers who surveyed and marked out the right of way for the Anderson, Lebanon & St. Louis railroad, now known as the Midland. He had many friends in the community who mourned his loss and sympathized deeply with his parents and brothers, who survived him. KILLED
ON THE STREET.
About 10 o'clock on the morning
of April 10, 1898, the people in the neighborhood of Main and Ninth
streets, were startled by the sound of a pistol shot. Hurrying to the
scene, it was ascertained that John Moriarity had shot his neighbor,
McLelland Streets. Before the police arrived, a Mr. Ed. King, who was the first upon the ground of the tragedy, took Moriarity into custody and held him until the police arrived. He was taken to the jail, while his victim was removed to the office of Dr. C. L. Armington, where he was examined and found to be mortally wounded. He lived but a little while after being taken to this place, and was turned over to the Coroner, who held an inquest. It was ascertained that the shooting was the result of a neighbor- hood quarrel and a general disturbance of the people in that locality over some trivial matters. Moriarity had become so worked up that he had made up his mind to slay his enemy on sight, and carried out his design at the first opportunity. It was a great surprise to all who knew Moriarity, as there was never a more peaceable man in Anderson than he. The writer will never forget the wild, vacant stare on the face of Moriarity when he first saw him, immediately after the shooting. He stood in perfect silence, with no signs of remorse ; not a muscle moved. The very looks of a maniac were depicted upon his countenance as he stood with the smoking revolver in his hand. It is almost certain that reason had left him before he committed the deed, as he was never himself again. Visitors at his cell were met with a cold, expressionless stare ; he did not even recognize his old-time friends, and did not court their sympathy. Moriarity was a married man, and had a respectable family, who felt severely this awful tragedy. He was a very industrious man, and had accumulated some property, but left it encumbered, so that it was not of much value to his family. This was one of the saddest occurrences that ever marred the peace of Anderson. It was the most unexpected. No one who ever knew John Moriarity ever suspected that he would commit murder. He never had murder in his heart; but being goaded to desperation by petty annoyances, his reason left him, and in his insane fit of anger he committed the deed that stained his hands with the blood of his fellow man. He was incarcerated in the Madison county jail until the 16th of June following, when he took his life by hanging himself to a bedstead in his cell. McLelland Streets, his victim, was a day laborer, and but little is known of him. His family seemed but little distressed when they were informed of his sudden ending. SUICIDE
OF ALBERT C. WALTON.
Albert C. Walton was during his
life time one of the shrewdest and best business men that ever resided
in Anderson. He was a brother of Robert J. Walton, a lumber merchant,
who yet resides in this city. He moved to Madison county »from
near Willow Branch in Hancock county, in the year 1878, and in
connection with his brother, Robert J. Walton, was engaged in the
lumber business for several years south of the Bee Line railroad on
Dolman street. About the time of his location in Anderson he was seized
with lung trouble, which terminated in consumption. He was a very proud
and high spirited gentleman, and a man of great nerve. He fought the
troublesome disease as well as he could; he visited all southern
climates and watering places within his knowledge for relief, but the
disease had taken such hold upon him that there was no hope of
recovery. After all his efforts had failed he came home, and on the
19th of May, 1884, while in his room at his home, he requested his wife
to go out to the pump near by, and get him a drink of water, and as
soon as she had left the room he got up, went to the bureau drawer, and
taking from it a revolver, placed the muzzle to his temple, pulled the
trigger and killed himself almost instantly. Mrs. Walton was just in
the act of stepping into the room with the water, when she saw what was
taking place, and called upon him to stop, but he warned her to keep
away, and in her presence committed the awful deed. The only reason
that could be assigned was that he had fought the fatal malady until he
had given up all hope, and rather than die a slow death, a victim of
consumption, he decided to end it all by the means he had selected. He
left a wife and interesting family. Mrs. Walton, his widow, died a few
years since. CHARLES KYNETT KILLED BY THE CITY MARSHAL. Coroner Armington was called and an inquest held, a verdict rendered that Downey was justified in shooting Kynett. Kynett was a day laborer, and was not a bad man when not drinking, but a demon when under the influence of strong drink. At the time of the shooting many were disposed to criticize the Marshal, but those who best knew the circumstances agree that he did no unlawful act in defending himself and upholding the law. No one in Anderson regretted the shooting more than Marshal Downey, and it is said he was greatly relieved when his term of service as City Marshal expired. BATTLE BETWEEN OFFICERS AND THIEVES. On the Tuesday night prior to this event several residences in the city of Anderson had been burglarized, among which were those of A. B. Young, then a partner of the late Edwin P. Schlater; James A. Larned, a conductor on the Midland railroad ; ex-Mayor Dunham, and II. C. Ryan. These robberies set the officers to work to catch the thieves. On the following Monday night, through some source, it was ascertained that the robbery of some farm houses in the south-western section of the city was planned, and was to be carried into execution that night. At about 11 o'clock on Monday night the thieves stole a horse and buggy belonging to Joseph Sigler, near the Big Four depot, and drove rapidly south-west of the city to the residence of Tunis Whetstone. The officers who were watching them were soon in pursuit on horseback. About one-half mile this side of Whetstone's place the officers spied the buggy hitched in a fence corner. They immediately fell back, tied their horses, returned to the buggy and laid in wait for the thieves. When noticed approaching they were busily engaged in talking about robbing Dr. Brandon and about tapping Tucker's jewelry store. The officers waited until they were all in the buggy in order to make a sure case of it. When the thieves spoke to the horse to go, Captain Amos Coburn, the present chief of the Anderson police force, bade them halt. Kramer and Fetty surrendered immediately, but Leehan jumped from the buggy and started to run. The Captain ordered him to halt, which he refused to do, when Coburn snapped his pistol at him. Kramer then made for Alfred Coburn, who met him as he was aiming his revolver at him. Kramer shot at Coburn, but the ball struck the barrel of Coburn's pistol and glanced off and struck the knuckle of his right hand, wounding two of his fingers. This had the effect of knocking the pistol from Coburn's hand. Had the ball not struck the barrel of Coburn's pistol it would have undoubtedly killed him, as it would have struck him in the region of the heart. Alfred Coburn then spoke to his brother Amos and told him to catch Kramer, that he had shot him. The contest now became decidedly interesting. The horse had become frightened and was plunging to get away. Pistols were being rapidly discharged, and none of the parties knew whose time would come next. Capt. Amos Coburn and Dory Biddle started in pursuit of Kramer, who was now rapidly retreating. They followed him for about half a mile. During the running battle fifteen shots were exchanged. Kramer finally disappeared in the woods and made his escape. During the affray the scene at the buggy with the officers was exciting in the extreme. Alfred Coburn and Sheriff Biddle kept their men under surveillance. Leehan, as before stated, had jumped out of the buggy, and Alfred Coburn had ordered him to give up, but to this he dissented with an oath. Coburn then asked him a second time to surrender. Leehan stepped back one step, put his hand to his hip pocket and made the same reply a second time. Coburn then fired, when Leehan exclaimed, " You have shot me." To this Coburn made answer that if he had given up he would not have shot him, and that he himself was wounded and did not propose to take any more chances. The officers then returned to the city with the captured prisoners and placed them in jail. Kramer was an old offender and had long been a resident of Anderson, and was well known to the officers, while Leehan was a stranger. Shortly after being incarcerated in jail Leehan died. An inquest was promptly held by the Coroner, and a verdict of justifiable homicide rendered. Leehan had a sister in Indianapolis who was notified and came to visit her dead brother in jail, when she gave the following history of him : " Daniel Leehan was born in New York in 1854, and was twenty-seven years old on the 22nd day of May preceding his death. With his parents, when he was quite young, he went to Louisville, Ky., and thence he came to Indianapolis. The last work he was engaged in was braking on the Belt railroad. His parents died when he was eight years of age. and he had been without a home ever since." Leehan left Indianapolis on the Thursday preceding his death. His sister stated that he never drank, and that he had always treated his parents with the greatest respect. He made his home with his grandmother in Indianapolis, who was rendered heart broken over his fate. She had been a cripple for about two years before this sad affair took place, and had never walked in those two years, except with the aid of crutches. Leehan's body was taken to Indianapolis and buried in the Catholic cemetery beside his parents. His father was killed in the army at the second battle of Bull Run. Alfred Coburn.the Marshal of Anderson at that time, was a fearless officer ; he was possessed of steady nerve, and he had sound judgment. His deputy, Amos Coburn, is well known to the citizens of Anderson, and has figured in a great many scenes of this kind. Randall Biddle, who was then Sheriff, is now dead. Dory Biddle, the Deputy Sheriff, is now one of the editors and proprietors of the Anderson Bulletin. AN
OLD SUICIDE CALLED TO MIND.
Near what is known as the Frank
Lee farm, north-east of Anderson about two miles, a single man of the
name of William Nelson committed suicide by hanging himself to a tree
in 1884. A neighbor in the settlement was walking along the road
running north and south near where the residence of Mr. Lee now stands.
He was horribly shocked to discover a man hanging to a tree near by. A
rope was tied around the limb of the tree and around the neck of the
man, thus telling more forcibly than words the means by which the deed
had been accomplished. It was a most horrifying sight to behold ; the
eye-lids of the deceased were open and his ghastly stare met the eyes
of him who discovered the body. He rapidly retreated from the scene,
summoning the neighbors, and the body was taken down. It was discovered
to be that of William Nelson, who had lived in the neighborhood. He was
known as a man of quiet habits, and had been missing only a few days.
There was no known cause assigned for him thus summarily taking himself
off, other than that his mind had become unbalanced. He had relatives
in the county who were notified and took possession of the body after
the Coroner had viewed the same. The remains were interred in a
neighboring cemetery. KILLING OF DAVID H. WATSON. When the writer came to. Anderson in the fall of 1850, no stranger could stop over night in our embryo city without being thoroughly interviewed by some inquisitive Andersonian, and in a few hours we were informed where he was from and where he was going, and how long he was going to remain among us. These interviews were not, as now, published in some daily newspaper, and read by ravenous sensation seekers, but passed from mouth to mouth. In the summer of 1858, among others, and the number was not great, came from Virginia, two large, tall, well-built men, each, I should think, six feet two inches in height, half brothers, by name David H. Watson and _____Richards ; the latter remained but a short time and then returned the latter remained but a short time and then returned to his native State, Virginia. Watson, like Joseph of Bible history, was a carpenter by trade, and having procured work, concluded to adopt Anderson as his home, and " grow up with the country." David, as we were all wont to call him, was a very kind-hearted, good-natured, jovial fellow, and soon became very popular; a little fond of his cups, but not at that time to excess. He helped to erect the first mill or warehouse built where Wellington's mill now stands. After a few years residence here he wooed and married Miss Lydia Kindle, daughter of James A. Kindle, who was at that time a prominent politician, of the Democratic persuasion, having held the office of County Treasurer and other places of trust. The fruits of his marriage were three children, two boys and one daughter, James, John and Mary Watson. After the decease of both parents, Mr. Bradley Makepeace took John and gave him a home, where he still lives with Mrs. Makepeace, whom he treats as a mother. Mr. Addison Holston, a worthy farmer of Madison county, took James and adopted him, having no children of his own. James Watson Holston came to his death in 1894, by an accidental pistol shot. Mary was raised and cared for by her aunt, Mrs. Samantha May Haniman, until her marriage to the Hon. John L. Forkner,of Anderson, where she and her husband now reside. In 1858, Mr. Watson was elected Sheriff of Madison county, and served as such until 1860. Mr. Watson, though a Virginian by birth, with friends and relatives in the Confederate army from his native State, offered his services to the Union army, and became a member of a regiment of Indiana volunteers, and while at home making disposition of his personal affairs for the purpose of going into active service, unfortunately on the 2d of February, 1862, got into an altercation with Michael Howe, of Logansport, Indiana, in a house at the corner of Main and Eleventh streets, making some threatening demonstration and Howe, being a stranger and not knowing the kindly disposition of Watson, took his jokes for earnest. Howe was inside of the house when Watson was trying to gain entrance and being a powerful man physically, he opened or permitted Watson to open the door, and as Watson attempted to enter, Howe, with an ugly, dangerous knife, struck at him with a downward stroke above the left collarbone from which wound he died next morning at his home, situated where the Grand Opera House now stands. The Hon. John A. Harrisen was Prosecuting Attorney at the time and proceeded at once in the prosecution of Howe for murder. Howe employed Calvin D. Thompson and Thaddeus Cooper, of Anderson, and the Hon. Daniel D. Pratt, of Logansport, Indiana, to defend him. Mr. Pratt was an able advocate with few equals and no superiors, and was equally great physically, weighing near three hundred pounds. The defendant's counsel instituted habeas-corpus proceedings and Howe was let to bail and a change of venue from Madison to Henry county was granted the defendant, where the case was tried before Judge Jehu T. Elliott, in the summer following. The case was on trial about six days and was closely contested throughout. The prosecution was conducted by the Hon. John A. Harrison, as prosecuting attorney assisted by J. W. Sansberrv, who engaged in the case by request of Mr. Harrison and through his great regard for the deceased. Mr. Pratt made the closing argument for the defense, a powerful appeal of six hours duration. Harrison and Sansberry spoke four hours each. The jury spent eight hours in deliberation and acquitted the defendant on spent eight hours in deliberation and acquitted the defendant on the ground that he had cause to fear personal injury to himself sufficient to justify the homicide. During the trial a witness testified that Watson was trying to break in a door in the house where Howe was inside, and with cast knucks, or some other weapon, had pounded on the door until he made indentations an inch deep in the wood. Mr. Sansberry came to Anderson, and examined the door, and, finding no such scars on it, went to Constable E. M. Roach and told him if he would produce said door before the jury at New Castle next day he would pay him five dollars, which Roach agreed to do. Next morning Roach went to the house, unhinged the door, took it to the train, thence to New Castle, and to the court house, where it was introduced to the jury and then returned to its former abiding place, having served as a truthful and silent witness. Watson was a splendid shot with a pistol, and often indulged in the sport of shooting. The old court house was full of bullet holes that he had shot there when he was Sheriff of the county. It was no uncommon thing for him, while conversing with a friend, to take out his revolver and shoot through the door or ceiling, just to see his comrade badly scared. He was a great friend of Joseph Fulton, and made his office, when the latter was postmaster, one of his places of resort. He would often go to the delivery window and ask for his mail and after being waited on shoot the candle light out, just for fun. This was as much enjoyed by Mr. Fulton as by Watson. One 4th of July he organized a company of "Rag Tags," composed of the young and lively gentry of Anderson, and gave a grand parade through the principal streets, winding up at the court house where they were addressed by Dr. Town- send Ryan and others. This company and its wonderful parade served for many years for the people to talk about. The jail register that he kept when he was Sheriff was a curiosity, and contained many unique entries. He always stated what condition a prisoner was in when received, and in what condition when discharged. For instance : " Michael O'Rourke put in for intoxication, very boisterous during the night; his cries were continually, water water Discharged next morning calm and peaceful but with an awful head." "John Jones came in awfully religious fully under the influence of ' spirits' and prayed incessantly all night ; but in the morning he was discharged a wiser and better man, his spirits having died out ." In making returns on writs of execution, he was very brief and to the point. After he had held a writ until it expired by law and had to be returned to the Clerk's office for reissue he would say, " This execution found dead in my office." David H. Watson was the best penman that ever held the office of Sheriff of Madison county, and before the court house was destroyed, the attorneys and court officials often perused his dockets and returns on the records with admiration for his skill as a scribe. The many good qualities of heart and hand of Mr. Watson will long be treasured up by the old-timers who knew him. He had his faults like all frail humanity, but no truer friend, or more generous neighbor, ever lived than he. His abrupt ending stopped what might have been a brilliant army career, as he was buoyed with the hope of distinguishing himself in the service of his country. His commanding appearance, and native ability would certainly have given him a place in the front line of promotion. MURDER OF ALBERT MAWSON. But little importance was ever attached to this story because the circumstantial evidence against White was so closely woven together and united that White's guilt was proven beyond the shadow of a doubt to the minds of the jury. After the death of Charles Mawson his widow, Nancy, lived on the farm and kept house with her son, Albert. Her elder son, Thomas, had married and gone to Henry county. On the 21st of October, 1874, news was brought to Anderson that the dead body of Albert Mawson had been found in a well on the Mawson farm. It was ascertained upon inquiry from Jesse Knull, a tenant on the farm, and from Daniel Hoppes, a son-in-law of Mrs. Mawson, that the discovery had been made early that morning; that the well had been rilled with stones, and that in bailing the water out of it there had been uncovered a pair of human feet. Knull and Hoppes then hastened to the city and telegraphed to Thomas Mawson at Luray, in this State, and also notified the Coroner of their discovery. It was but a short time before many people from the surrounding neighborhood and from Anderson hurried to the place of the murder. The well in which the body was found was located about fifteen rods south east of the house under an old shed that had been abandoned for some time. It was walled with stones and was quite narrow. It had been covered with loose boards, which had been thrown to one side. A pile of brick and stones lay near by which had been thrown out of the well, and at about eight feet from the top the feet of a corpse could be plainly seen. On the boulders and planks near the mouth of the well the stains of human blood could be noticed, and for a distance of several rods southward across the field frequent indications were found by which it was evident that a dead body had been dragged towards the well. Marks of blood were also visible on stones and bits of wood that lay in the foot-path. When G. W. Maynard, the Coroner, arrived at the farm, he had the body removed. The decaying remains were gathered up in a sheet, and brought to the surface. It was a sickening, horrible spectacle, and cannot be properly described. The body was in a nude condition, and the flesh was falling from the bones. The front teeth were knocked in, the jaw broken, and the side of the head crushed in. A rope was around the neck. It was developed at the Coroner's inquest, almost to a certainty, that Nancy Mawson, the mother, had gone to Albert's sleeping apartments in the dead hour of night when he was in a sound slumber, and with an axe, had knocked him on the head, killing him instantly. Blood stains were visible on the walls of the room in which he had slept. Mrs. Mawson was in a very depressed condition, and in her statements before the Coroner, which were interrupted by violent outbursts of weeping, and loud lamentations over the death of her son, whom she called her baby boy, she spoke of the many good qualities of her lost son, and how he had helped her in her lonely widowhood. She said she loved him dearly and truly, and that he was one of the best of boys ; that he was always kind and good to her, and had assisted her in the household work, and in turn she had helped him in feeding the stock. She stated that he had never been away from home but a few nights previous to this occurrence, and that he had left home to avoid arrest in consequence of some transactions he had had with a young lady in the neighborhood. Previous to his departure, he had told her that the girl's parents were threatening him with prosecution. She said she had offered him all the money he would need to defend himself in the courts, and told him he could have a thousand dollars for that purpose, if necessary, but he would not stay, and she fitted him up to go away. On the 17th of July, she had provided him with $148. She sewed the money in a muslin belt which she fastened around his body, and he had left home about sundown, saying that he would go to his brother Thomas, in Henry county, and requested her that she should tell the neighbors that he had gone to Cleveland or Natchel, and possibly to his father's folks in England. Mrs. Mawson said that was the last she had seen of her son, and she had begun to think that he was dead, and had been killed near home, and that she suspected a family in the immediate neighborhood of being the murderers. She did not remember whether her son Thomas was at home on the night of Albert's disappearance, or not. This story of Mrs. Mawson was disconnected in a good many respects and but little faith was attached to it. The real facts as they afterwards were developed were to the effect that she had had some trouble with her son Thomas, and Mrs. Hoppes, her daughter; that Albert was her youngest child, and that she had doted upon him, and had placed great confidence in him becoming a good and useful man, while her elder son was somewhat reckless, and disposed to be something of a spendthrift. The mother at that time deeded her lands or a portion of them to Albert, intending at her death that he should come into possession of the property that she might leave. In the meantime Albert himself had to some extent grown reckless, and had desired to stray away from home occasionally, and atone time had entered the service of a railroad company as brakeman on a freight train. This displeased the mother and it is thought the supreme motive which compelled her to commit this horrible crime was to get possession again of the real estate which she had deeded to him. There could hardly have been any other motive for the commission of the act, as he possessed no money or other valuables and she did not want any one else to come into possession of the real estate, and it is said that after deeding away the land that she brooded over what she had done, at times, and that her son Thomas and her son-in-law and daughter harassed her about it so as to cause her much trouble. Several instances connected with the affair pointed very strongly to Mrs. Mawson as being the guilty party. She told William Fosset, a teamster, who resided in Anderson, and who was hauling wood from her farm to the city the following story : Fossett testified that about ten days prior to the finding of the body, while he was driving along the Columbus Pike, he met Mrs. Mawson near the residence of one David Pittsford. She hailed him in the road and gave him the first information that he had received that Albert was absent. She told how good she had been to him and what she would have done had he remained with her, and then she said that someone had killed him or buried his body in the woods or in a well, and that he would be found some time just as certain as she was looking in Fossett's face. During the conversation she reiterated three or four times her story about the burial of the body, and that it would be found. She was terribly affected and once or twice broke down crying. She also spoke with much levity about other matters and even told Mr. Fossett a joke during the conversation. Suspicion pointed to Thomas Mawson, the brother, as being an accomplice. The Coroner ordered his arrest and Marshal Cornelius Daugherty, of Anderson, accompanied by Mr. Newton Burke, left immediately for Luray, a small town in Henry county, situated between Muncie and New Castle, in which place Thomas Mawson was living. On entering the village the officers soon ascertained the whereabouts of Mawson, who dwelt in a frame building, a. part of which was used as a store. When the Marshal knocked at the door Mawson arose from his bed and asked what he wanted. The Marshal requested him to come down to the door, but he refused and told them to go away. The officers then called him by name, when he swore if they did not go away he would get a gun and shoot them. At this they withdrew. They then aroused several of the citizens and surrounded the house. When Mawson opened the door to speak to one of his neighbors who called him, he was seized by Mr. Burke, who made a prisoner of him without further resistance. Marshal Daugherty asked him for the trunk of clothes that had been sent him by his mother. He pointed to an old trunk which was found to contain nothing but some old rags. Further search revealed another trunk which contained two pairs of pants and two vests, which Albert's mother said he had worn away with him. Thomas told them that these were Albert's clothes, and that there was also an overcoat hanging on the wall which belonged to his brother. Thomas Mawson was brought to Anderson, placed in jail, and held for further investigation. He was eventually indicted by the Grand Jury of Madison county, and was placed upon trial, being defended by the Hon. Wm. R.Myers and Calvin D. Thompson, Esq., and after a full and complete hearing of the case was acquitted on the plea of an alibi, having proven to the satisfaction of the jury that he was at the home of his father-in-law, John Geddis. in Henry county, on the night of the murder. Suspicion also pointed to Daniel Hoppes, the son-in-law, and Jane Hoppes, the wife, the daughter of Mrs. Mawson, as being accessories to the crime. The Coroner also ordered the arrest of Mr. and Mrs. Hoppes. They were promptly taken into custody and arraigned before Mayor Wm. L. Brown for examination. They were also defended by the Hon. Wm. R. Myers and Calvin D. Thompson, Esq., and after a full and impartial hearing, were also acquitted of the crime. The verdict of the Coroner's jury as to the manner of Albert Mawson's death was substantially as follows : " That on the 21st day of October, 1874, Albert Mawson came to his death by a blow inflicted with an axe or some other hard substance, in the hands of Nancy Mawson, which the jury finds to be the cause of the death of the victim." The verdict of the jury was signed by the following named gentlemen: Geo. W. Hughel, J. I. Seward, P. J. Carr, John Allen, Caleb Brown, John R. Stephenson, Thomas E. Smith, Geo. W. McGraw, John H. Stanley, and Philip H. Kellar. This murder created the greatest excitement not only throughout the county but throughout the country. The Cincinnati and Chicago papers had representatives here during the Coroner's investigation and also at the preliminary hearing of the case. Miss Laura Ream represented the Cincinnati Commercial in which journal she gave a very full and detailed account of the murder, and the family history of the people supposed to be connected therewith. During the progress of holding the Coroner's inquest, at the residence of Mrs. Mawson, she very kindly prepared dinner for the Coroner and the jury. Mr. Maynard,the Coroner, from some cause became suspicious that some motive might have prompted the hostess to be so clever, so they excused themselves and did not partake of her hospitality. It was afterward told in the neighborhood that the dinner was given to the dogs and that they died from eating it. Some are of the firm belief that she intended to poison the whole crowd. We do not vouch for the truth of this, but give it as a matter of common rumor at the time. Mrs. Mawson, after the hearing before the Coroner, was placed under arrest and incarcerated in the old Madison county jail that stood at the corner of Ninth and Jackson streets, to await the action of the Grand Jury. On the 25th of October, however, she put an end to this celebrated case so far as she was personally concerned, and paved the way of escape for others in the crime, by taking her own life with a dose of arsenic. It is almost a certainty that she had contemplated this long before she was placed in jail; perhaps from the time she committed the deed. In consequence of the rumors which had overtaken her as to being one of the guilty parties, she had concluded that this was the best plan of putting an end to it. She had evidently intended to kill herself before arrest, but she did not carry out her purpose until she was placed in confinement. As she had no way of obtaining the poison after being placed in jail, she undoubtedly had it about her when she was put behind the bars. Sheriff Albert J. Ross testified before the Coroner who held the inquest over her remains that on the evening prior to her death he had noticed that she was sick. On going to her cell she told him that she had had a chill and asked for some water to drink. It being supplied to her she drank a copious quantity of it and seemed thereafter to be in great pain, accompanied with severe cramps. She told Mr. Ross that her stomach felt like it was burning up. She ate a hearty breakfast but declined any dinner. As she grew worse the Sheriff called in Dr. C. S. Burr, but Mrs. Mawson refused positively to take any medicine. Dr. Burr testified that he was called to see Mrs. Mawson and found her very feeble and cold and in a state of great perspiration. Her symptoms indicated poisoning. His opinion was that she had taken arsenic or antimony. Two or three witnesses were examined, among whom were Dr. L. Harriman and Dr. Horace E. Jones, who corroborated the statements made by Dr. C. S. Burr as to her symptoms. After her death a considerable quantity of arsenic was found sewed up in a little bag in one of her dresses, which confirmed the belief of many, as already stated, that she had had under contemplation for some time her own death by suicide. Mrs. Mawson's body on being removed from the jail was placed in a neat coffin and conveyed to her residence, from which her funeral took place. Her remains were interred in the Bucco cemetery, south of town, and thus ended one of the most fearful and inhuman crimes that was ever committed within the borders of Madison county. Thomas Mawson, the brother, who was accused of being a party to this crime, is now living, as is also his sister, Mrs. Hoppes, with her husband in Henry county, this State. The real facts of the murder will, perhaps, never be known, Mrs. Mawson having put herself out of the way and her evidence never having been given before any court in defense of herself or against other persons. It has always been thought that had Mrs. Mawson lived until such time as she could have been placed on the witness stand before a court and jury, that she would have finally broken down and told the plain, simple truth, and that if there had been any others implicated with her, she would have revealed that fact. It seems impossible that Mrs. Mawson, as frail as she was, could have killed her son and conveyed his body to its hiding place without help. The locality in which this crime occurred seems to have been a fated spot, as within sight of the house where Albert Mawson was so brutally murdered is the place, in a small ravine in a little strip of woods, where Milton White, with a large sassafras club, killed Daniel Hoppes, in the year 1867, a full account of which is given in another part of this volume. Thomas Mawson, and Daniel Hoppes and wife, being the only heirs to the real estate left by Mrs. Mawson and her son, came into possession of the same and all of Mrs. Mawson's personal effects ; they derived but little benefit from it, as it was nearly all absorbed in attorney's fees and court costs in defending themselves from the charges made against them. Another theory for the commission of the crime, upon which there was considerable testimony adduced at the time, was that Mrs. Mawson seriously objected and feared that her son Albert would marry a Miss Lane, who lived in that neighborhood, and who had instituted criminal proceedings against him, so it was said. One of the witnesses testified that he had heard Mrs. Mawson repeatedly say that Albert was dead, and that she would never see him again, and that she would rather a thousand times that he were dead than to see him marry the Lane girl. A SUICIDE BY HANGING. Having no family, he for many years made his home with his brother, and it is supposed he felt that he was in the way and ended his troubles by ending his life. THE
TRASTER MURDER.
For many years the firm of
Traster Brothers, composed of Robert and William Traster, owned and
operated the Moss Island Merchant Flouring Mills, west of this city.
They did a prosperous and thriving business. Their brand of flour was
known far and near. In addition to furnishing all of the Anderson
merchants they made large shipments throughout the country. The Trasters were very popular with the people. Their mills were a favorite place for the surrounding country and city folks to congregate for sport and pastime. The island near the mills was, and is yet, a favorite resort for picnic and fishing parties. It is no uncommon sight in the summer fishing parties. It is no uncommon sight in the summer season to see forty or fifty Anderson fishermen perched upon the old water-gates, like turtles on a log, fishing from morning until night. The Trasters had in their employ, as teamster, a young man by the name of Granville Dale, a good-natured inoffensive fellow, intelligent and industrious, given a little to drink, but not sufficient to in any way interfere with his duties. He was a " trusty " for the firm, had care of the teams and did all of the chores. He often came to town with loads of " mill stuff," and returned with the cash proceeds. One Sunday morning, on a bright April day in 1867, a party of Andersonians, consisting of ex-Sheriff Ben Sebrell, Captain Ethan Allen, R. C. Reed, with others whose names are not now remembered, all friends of the Trasters, started for Moss Island for a day of fun and fishing and a good dinner at the miller's homestead. Fishing tackle, canteens and other accouterments necessary for such an expedition, were in ample store; in fact the party was well fixed for a day's sport. A merrier lot of good fellows never left Anderson, nor one that was more capable of enjoying such an occasion. Ben Sebrell was the master of ceremonies. He was a brother-in-law of the Traster boys and was one of those big- hearted men, full of life; did not care which way the wind blew and was always ready for a " time." The journey to the mill was soon made ; the fishing party assembled on the bank of the river and business set in. Jokes and stories went the rounds, and an occasional whiff at the canteen was indulged in, until the party became quite merry. At last a tap on the dinner bell announced a repast for the party. They packed their tackle in response to the cry, "Come to dinner." On their way to the house the party halted at the barn. The canteen was again passed around. Dale, the teamster, was attending to the horses. A slight misunderstanding came up between him and William Traster. Angry words followed. Finally Traster made some move toward chastising Dale, when the latter stooped to the ground, picked up a rock the size and shape of a goose egg, hurled it at Traster, and hitting him on the head, felled him to the ground never to rise again. It flashed across Dale's mind in a minute that, in a rash moment, frenzied with drink, he had killed his employer and best friend. The fishing party was summoned to the scene. Traster's body was taken to the house and every means resorted to to bring him back to life, but all proved of no avail. Thus the party was abruptly broken up. The Coroner was notified and an inquest was held, and a finding made in accordance with the facts. Dale gave himself up to the Sheriff. He was incarcerated in the Madison county jail until court convened, when he was indicted by the Grand Jury, tried and convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to seven years' imprisonment in the 'Northern Indiana Prison at Michigan City, where he served his time. After the expiration of his sentence he went to Indianapolis, where he was for many years a cab-driver. He never returned to Anderson. He never made any pretentions to deny his guilt, but spoke of it with regret. The man he killed was his best friend and had given him employment, for all of which he felt grateful. They were both under the influence of liquor at the time. Traster was a large, muscular man. Dale was small and delicate and feared that if Traster got hold of him his life would be in danger ; hence his resort to the stone. He had no idea of killing Traster. The stone he used was for many years kept in the Clerk's office, with many other relics of early-day tragedies, but was destroyed by fire when the court house burned in 1880. The killing of William naturally broke up the business of the Traster Brothers. He was the sturdy wheel-horse of the firm. When he was gone the business soon went down. The old mill stands there, a silent witness to the many scenes of joy and sorrow which have taken place on that famous retreat, Moss Island. A HORRIBLE ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE. He was alone at the time, and no one knows just how long he had been lying in his own blood before he was discovered, which was about half-past 3 o'clock in the morning. The family of Mrs. Mary Croak, who occupied the floors above his room, heard him making an unusual noise and went down to ascertain the cause, when they were horrified to find him in this condition. Captain Amos Coburn was then City Marshal, and was called in, when he had him removed to a place where he could be cared for, and a physician was called. It was ascertained that he had taken a shoe knife, and, at one "slash," had cut his throat from ear to ear, almost severing his wind pipe, He was very fleshy, and the wound presented very much the appearance of a hog that had been butchered and hung upon the " gamling sticks." The sight was a most sickening one, and will linger long in the memories of those who beheld it. Dav-e was an inoffensive, good-hearted German, who followed "cobbling" for his living, and always had his shop in some basement or cellar, seldom ever coming out, only to buy some eatables, he having always done his own cooking. His habits of living under the ground gave him the name of "Ground Hog Dave," by which he went by the people who knew him. There were few people in town who knew his real name at all. He had no relatives in this part of the country except a brother at Logansport, who was said to be well fixed in life. Despondency and ill health from his long life in damp cellars was the cause of his rash act. He evidently aimed to make good work of his attempt at self destruction, as he left lying on his work bench the following note : " My sickness is getting worse, so I do not wish to live longer. " DAVID ENGLEFIELD." The doctors sewed up his wounds and he was removed to the poor farm, where he was kindly cared for until he recovered, and then he was sent to his friends, and is, in all probability, living yet. This was one of the most wonderful cases on record, where a person had so nearly cut his head off, and was then brought back to life. All of the older people of Anderson well remember "Ground Hog Dave." SUICIDE OF ELIAS SKINNER. KILLING OF MRS. ALVIN VINEYARD. SUICIDE OF ELIJAH J. WALDEN. Mr. Walden was, during his earlier life, one of the best fixed men, financially, in Anderson, and in his day was the owner of much valuable real estate. He was twice elected to the office of trustee for Anderson township, and on several occasions was prominently spoken of in connection with the County Treasury. Later on in life he became involved in speculations to such an extent that it was the cause of his financial downfall and finally of his death. On the 25th of June, 1885, Mr. Walden visited Indianapolis for the purpose of having an interview with his daughter, who lived in that city and whom he desired to see for the purpose of securing from her help in his financial troubles. When he reached the city he became disheartened and went to the Bates House, where he addressed a letter to his family at Anderson in which he said that he could not bear the idea of asking his daughter for relief, intimating at the same time that he intended to commit the rash act which he afterwards carried out. On the same evening he returned to the city and went to his home on South Fletcher street, where he immediately retired, after taking a large dose of morphine. His family did not realize what had happened until it was too late for medical relief to do him any good. The wife was at first attracted by his heavy breathing and attempted to arouse him, but without success. Dr. G. F. Chittenden and other physicians were immediately summoned and did everything known to medical skill, but without avail. Mr. Walflen breathed his last at 1 r. M. on that night. He left a wife, two estimable daughters, and one son, who yet survive him. His two daughters, who are married, reside in Indianapolis ; his wife and onlv son, Robert, are yet residents of Anderson. Mr. Walden was a prominent Mason, being a member of Anderson Commandery of Knights Templar, which organization took charge of his remains and buried them in the Anderson cemetery with all the honors of the order. He was a man of good habits and was generally and socially liked by every one in the community. He was very secretive in his disposition as to his business affairs and no one in the city realized that they were in as bad a condition as they were. SUICIDE
OK MISS EVA PIPER.
On the 28th of November. 1890,
Miss Eva Piper, a domestic in the family of John S. Davis, in Anderson,
committed suicide by hanging herself in an out building on the
premises. She was the daughter of Mr. Thomas Piper, who lived near
Pendleton, but for several years had been a member of the household of
the Davis family, who esteemed her very highly. The cause of her rash act was said to have been the result of disappointment in a love affair. Mr. and Mrs. Davis were very much affected over the affair, as well as the relatives and friends of the unfortunate girl. SUICIDE
OF FRED. W. IRWIN.
On Saturday morning, May 18,
1895, a handsome, well- dressed stranger, threw the population of
Anderson into a fever of excitement by committing suicide. He entered East's hardware store and selecting one of the best revolvers in stock, loaded it carefully, and muttering, "I believe this would kill a bull dog," placed the muzzle to his right temple and ended his existence by sending a bullet through his brains. With not a clue to work on as to his identity, he left the officers in a difficulty. His act, though rash, had been deliberate, and it was evidently his ambition in his last moments to occupy an unknown grave. He had, with a foresight seldom exhibited in these cases, in his endeavor to erase all clue, not only destroyed his personal effects, including papers and letters, but he had gone so far as to cut his laundry mark off of his collar, cuffs, and shirt, then going to his room completing the work by cutting the marks out of his soiled laundry, as well as destroying all that came under his notice. His work was complete, and when he entered the hardware store, giving the impression that he wished to buy a revolver, there was not a thing on his person that bore any clew as to who he was or where he came from. Baffled in this manner, there was but one thing to do. As an unknown he was placed before the public, and at least 4,000 people looked on his features for identification. He was finally identified by u traveling man named Ferguson, as Fred. W. Irwin, an employee of Dadge, Andrews & Co., of Columbus, Ohio, who were communicated with. There was no apparent reason why he should quit the company, and Mr. Dadge was thunderstruck at the announcement of his death. Irwin came to Anderson and put up at the Big Four Hotel. He did not register, and did not say what his name was. He talked to Walter Teal, but simply alluded to Columbus, Ohio, being his old home, in speaking of Sell's circus wintering there. His widowed mother and sister came and claimed his remains and took them to Columbus, Ohio, for burial. The young men of Anderson turned out to escort them to the station, having six pall bearers and a large procession on foot. SUICIDE
OF GEORGE HUNGER.
George Bunger, a shoemaker,
committed suicide in an outbuilding near the Pan Handle freight depot
in Anderson, on the 10th of June, 1896. He was a harmless, good-natured
fellow, who made his headquarters in Geo. Hettel's shoe store for
several years, and came with that gentleman from Lafayette, Indiana, to
Anderson, about the year 1887. He had been drinking for several days previous to his death, and is supposed to have been in a fit of melancholy when he committed the deed. Disappointment in a love affair in his younger days is said to have borne heavily upon his mind and caused him to drink to excess at times. His relatives at his old home came and claimed his remains and removed them thence for burial, after an inquest had been held by Coroner Sells. It is said the young lady to whom he was at one time engaged to be married is now an inmate of the Insane Asylum at Indianapolis. A PECULIARLY SAD SUICIDE. The cause that led McCallister to commit the act is stated as follows : J. C. Clark, special agent of the American Express Company, had been in Anderson several days. The result of an investigation showed that McCallister was short $950 with the company. A warrant was placed in Patrolman Rodgers' hands, who, meeting young McCallister at the door of the Griffith House, began to read the writ, when the young man drew a revolver and fired, the ball entering his forehead. He fell to the sidewalk, the brains oozing from the wound. He died almost instantly, and was removed to the home of his parents, where an inquest was held by Coroner C. L. Armington. Young McCallister's funeral was one of the largest ever in Anderson. It is not only the opinion of the writers, but of a large majority of the people of Anderson, that McCallister was the victim of a conspiracy that some one else was the rogue, and that the young man had a confession wrung out of him under promise of protection, after which he was betrayed. When he saw he was trapped he was too proud to be placed in a felon's cell, and deliberately took his life in the presence of the officer who made the arrest. He had been employed by many people in Anderson at different times, and had always borne a good name. TRAGIC DEATH OF DOTE McCULLOUGH. About half past nine o'clock in the evening a young man by the name of Paxon, and Laura Skidmore, a woman of the town, went to Welsh's saloon, on North Main street, and entered the wine rooms. While they were in the rooms " Dote " McCullough came in the back way and entered the wine room. He had been a lover of the Skidmore woman, and was in a jealous frenzy when he entered the place. He began to threaten Paxon and the woman, when Welsh entered. The latter told McCullough he would either have to behave himself or get out. McCullough was a stranger to Welsh and he retorted by making some threat. McCullough then passed out, and in about five minutes entered the room again. He had a revolver in his hand, and when he saw Welsh standing a few feet away he leveled the gun at him and swore he would kill him. Welsh jumped toward McCullough and struck his arm. The blow lowered the weapon, and, as it was discharged, the bullet passed through the fleshy part of Welsh's left thigh. Welsh and McCullough then grappled and the latter attempted to use his gun again. Welsh in the meantime had got out his revolver, and, breaking away, brought it down, and sent the ball crashing through McCullough's head. McCullough never spoke after the shot. Welsh picked up the smoking weapon of his antagonist, and passed into the saloon and laid it and his own pistol on the bar. Policemen Robbins and Smith attracted by the shooting rushed in and placed Welsh under arrest. He was taken to jail and the ambulance was called. Coroner Armington was also notified. He came and viewed the body and ordered it taken to Sells' undertaking establishment. After an inquest his body was taken to Oxford, Ohio, for burial. The firm of Diven & McMahan was retained to defend young Welsh. Welsh was acquitted at the preliminary trial on the grounds of self-defense. (Historical Sketches and Reminiscences of Madison County, Indiana By John La Rue Forkner, Byron H. Dyson) |