Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 November 1893 — STONE SENTENCED TO HANG. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

STONE SENTENCED TO HANG.

Pleaded Guilty, and the Jury In a Short Time Rendered a Verdict. James E. Stone, the confessed murderer of th® Wrattan family, was brought into court at Washington, Ind.,

by Sheriff Lending at 8:30 the other morning. The prisoner seemed as unconcerned as if nothing was going on at aIL . When the indictment of murder in the first degree was read to him he an-

swered in a low murmuring voice that could scarcely be heard: “I am guilty.” He was asked a few questions to determine whether he was sane. He answered in an intelligent and unconcerned manner. His wife, Cecelia, was examined and she stated that he fell on some ice last winter and hurt his head and at some periods he seemed slightly off, but that he had been in his right mind the last three months. Neither the State nor the defense argued the case, and after Judge Hefron had carefully

instructed the jury they were given the case at 10:42. At 11:00 the jury returned and handed the follow- 1 ing verdict to the Judge: “We. the jury, find t\i.e de-( fondant guilty of murder in the*first degree and assess

as his punishment that he shall suffer death.” Judge Hefron sentenced Stone to be hanged at Jeffersonville Feb. 16, 1894. Stone said to the Court that he guessed the jury did about as well as he expected. As he parted from his wife and children he besought them to promise to meet him in heaven. The persons implicated by Stone's confessions were released on their own recognizances to appear at the January term of court. Nearly every circumstance strengthens the belief that Stone proceeded to the Wratten hom 3 unaccompanied by any one and alone slew the entire family. There is no positive proof that was the motive, although this theory was advanced by the knowledge that the woman had considerable

money hid away in her house. Over S6OO in coin was in plain view of the murderer and could easily have been secured.

JAMBS[?]E STONE.

ELIZABETH WRATTEN.

THE WRATTEN HOME.