Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 August 1903 — MURDER AND SUICIDE. [ARTICLE]

MURDER AND SUICIDE.

Charles Medworth Of Near Mt. Ayr la Killed and Cremeted By a Farm Hand, Who Perishes In the Fire With Hie Vldtim. Newton oounty was last Monday the scene of one of the greatest tragedies ever committed in Northwestern Indiana. Charles Medworth, a farmer residing on a rented farm 2| miles southwest of Mt. Ayr, and well known in this county, especially in the west part of Jordan tp., was shot and killed by a farm hand and the murderer then set fire to the house, blew his own brains oat and both were cremated. The facts concerning the double tragedy as generally stated are about as follows: Medworth had had a man working for him for the past three or four years, who went by the name of plain “John.” He always refused to give bis last name, and was careful to say nothing of his past, where he came from, who or where his friends or relatives resided, and he never sent or received any letters. So far as reported Medworth got along well frith “John” and the latter was well satisfied with his place,* until some ten days or two weeks Sgo, when the latter complained that Medworth had been “talking about him,” and the result was that he left and went np about Pembroke, where he secured York at ditching. Medworth is Mid to have been worried over "John” being offended at him 'Rad went to where he was at work and tried to mollify him, remaining there two days. He apparently succeeded and when hie left the former hired man was satisfied with the explanation. #Last Monday Medworth drove (§ Mt. Ayr with his father-in-law, fttop” Keen of Goodland, where the latter took the train for home. Seturning home about noon he wind “John” at his place, and according to the statements of a ypung man named Miller who

was working there, everything seemed peaceful between them. Mrs. Medworth had gone blackberrying with the two children. Medworth got the dinner of which all partook. After dinner Medworth and “John” sat out on the porch, talking while Miller was at work grinding a sickle some few rods away. Soon Miller heard loud talking and looking up saw “John” shoot at Medworth with a revolver. The latter ran into the honse, followed by “John” who shot at him a few times more. Medworth ran into the pantry and closed the door, his frenzied persuer at his heels. “John” then seems to have got hold of a shot gun, broken down the pantry door and emptied a load of shot into Medworth’s stomach, killing him no doubt instantly. He then saturated the carpets with coal oil, set fire to the house and shot himself. While all this was going on Miller ran to the bouse but was warned to keep away by the murderer on penalty of meeting the same fate. He was told to get his clothes, that hev(“John”) had killed Medworth and was going to *burn the house. Miller then ran to a neighbor's for assistance. While he was gone a Mrs. Brown drove along and, seeing the house in flames, stopped her horse, hitched it and made her way toward the burning building. Oo approaching same she saw “John” at an upstairs window, his face covered with blood. She called to him to come out or he would perish, he made no reply, but Btepped back and soon the roof fell in. A search of the ruins after the fire revealed that Medworth had apparently been killed in the pantry, his charred remains being found directly underneath, while the frenzied hired hand’s were some distance away, a revolver lying close by the latter. Both bodies were badly burned, Medworth’s being less so, than the other man’s. The murderer’s remains were interred in the North Star cemetery near Mt Ays, without ceremony of any kind. Medworth was buried at Goodland, Tuesday. The latter leaves a wife and two children, who might have met a like fate had they been at home at the time. Mrs. Medworth is a daughter of Hopkins Keen, formerly of Jordan tp., this county, and her maiden name was Lillian

aided near Surrey last year, moving to Mr. H. Keen’s farm near Goodland last spring. The Kentland Enterprise says that the Medworth inquest developed that the mnrderer’s sir name was Olsen.