Pike County Democrat, Volume 24, Number 24, Petersburg, Pike County, 27 October 1893 — Page 1

*Grand Cloak Opening*

Tuesday, October 3i, 1893 A large eastern cloak manufacturer \rill have his agent here on above <fay with five large trunks of cloaks representing every style under the sun ot LADIES MISSES AND CHILDRENS CLOAKS All the new things in cloaks of a great city for your selection If vou are . :.HARD TO PLEASE OR FIT. this is your golden opportunity. If von j are hair! to tit. leave your measure and j have the cloak made in the style you seRemember the date, October 81st, one day only. Everyone invited. lect.

T77\ T7\ <5c CO -TI1E PEOPLES STORE

Eb. Walker was in towu Tuesday. Miss Mav Benedict returned frorp Rockport Monday. Mrs. Isaac Fowler, of Oakland City, is in the city the guest of Mrs. Mary Pinney. Joel Coan and wife returned Wednesday fiora a visit with relatives at I Oakland City. t Misses Anna and Lizzie Schmoll, of Princeton, were the guests of Miss Fannie Ashby last Sunday. Mrs. Palmer, of Vincennes, was here the fore part of the week visiting friends and transacting business. C. F. Burton, Madison township, has taken a new farm hand to raise. The youngster is fat and hearty and the x>ride of the famjly. Remember Tiif. Democrat lov all kinds of fine job printing. New styles of type arriving. The finest lot of stationery in the city. Miss Ruth Stocks filled orders of trimmed hats for parties at Evansville and Rockport this week. This speaks highly for Miss Ruth as a trimmer. John Blaize, Jacob Scburz, John Read, Sol Frank and George and John Eisert were among those who went to the world’s fair last Wednesday. Pleas Smith and Gus Weber have opened u{> a meat market in the south room of the Trafzer building, where they invite all their frieuds to call and see them. Rev. Dr. Bain drove over from 'Princeton Tuesday and made this office a pleasant call. The Dr. is looking well and reports a pleasant home in his uew field of labor.

This Js A. O. U. W. day at Evansville and a number of the members of the order of this city will be iu attendance. A big lime is expected and <t grand banquet will be spread this evening. Next Tuesday night is hell-ow-e’en, and if you have anythiug hanging around loose it wouldn’t be a had idea to hitch a log chain onto it. The boys and a few of the girls are going to have a big time. Mrs. Nancy Justus, living near Highbanks died Wednesday morning after an illness of several day6. She ■was about sixty years of age. The burial occurred yesterday, tho interment taking place at the Gray cemetery in Jefferson township. Andrew Drvbrough, of the Lincoln Sanitarium, will leave in a few weeks for Hartford, Connecticut, where he will appear before the American association for the study and cure of inebriates. and demonstrate the efficacy ot his improved cure for alcoholic addictions. He will be absent but a short time. While there he will be the guest of Dr. T. D. C rat hers, of Walnut Lodge hospital. The sanitarium at this place is iu a flourishing couditioii.

S. J. Haines and wife are visitors at the world's fair this week. John Lee returned from Tat a hi Wells, Kentucky, much, improved in health. f Agent Gunckle sold.forty-one tickets to Chicago, Wednesday. Not ,a bad day either. Misses Lillie Armstrong, Ella Smith, Florence Capehart and Mrs. Lula Gladisli went to Chicago last Friday to visit the fair. The infannt child of Mel and Mrs. Lamb died last Thursday. The funeral occurred on Friday. Interment at Walnut HlHs cemetery. Sheriff Kinmau returned David Sutton to the Southern asylum at Evansville, Tueday. Mr. Sutton^s mind Has improved but yery little since being there before. tr* . Sheriff Kinman went to Evansville Monday and brought home with him Arthur Thonyjson, who has been confined in the insane asylum for the past tour or five mouths. v Last Monday while Henry Cox was getting into a wagon, he fell and cut a severe gash in the head. He was taken to the otSce of Drs. Byers & Link, who dressed the wound. The Gold Mine grocery has a few words to say this week in a new advertisement. The proprietor has a few specials which he is placing before the public at greatly reduced prices. Mrs. Bettie A. Bemont, near Pleasant Kidge, died Thursday, and was buried on Friday. The funeral services were conducted at the cemetery, site was a member of the Patoka township grange.

Scott Wallace was wanted at Princeton for. assault and battery. Scott came' to Petersburg, but Deputy Sheriff Robinsoji happened to be on the lookout for him and took, him in. He returned Scott to Princeton last Tuesday. The following marriage licenses have beemissued since our las issue: Richard Phillips to Ambrosia Hillman. John Smith to Barbara Kress. George A. Coleman to Maggie W Lewis. William Rigway to Flora Evans. Otto Brush to Katie Haggenmeyer. The following pensions have been granted in the First district during the past week. They include original, increase and reissues: Jacob J. Cosby, Oakland City. James Mannis, Spurgeon. Noble G. W alters, Genttyville. On the eighth page of today’s paper will be found the large advertisement of W. V; Hargrove & Co. announcing their ‘-red figure” sale. They have just bought an immense stack of goods ior their dry goods and clothing houses and propose to put them at prices tiiat will make them go within the next Bixty days. It will pay you to read the notice and get the bargains offered.

'he News A.s Taken on the Fly for Our Readers. Frank White and Isaac Montgomery have a Close Share. Goodlet Goodridge Encounters Bold Highwaymen Saturday Night. William Vox Caught lu the iUethei of Theirea at Chicago. HI HIED ALIVE,

The Banks Cave in and Bury Two Persons. Last Friday afternoon while Frank White and Isaac Montgomery were digging a ditch on the farm of Leslie Vittinb, near Walnut Hills cemetery, preparatory to laying a drain tile, the bank caved in completely burying White and covering Montgomery up to his shoulders. ' The ditch at the point where the cave-in occurred was about nine feet deep, and at tho bottom there was considerable quicksand. Mr. Latnba few minutes previous had told the men to be very careful as the bank was liable to cave is at almost any time, lie had scarcely finished before the bauk on one side gave way piuioning both men to the other side. White was entirely buried, while Montgomery’s head was just above the surface. Leslie Lamb proceeded without a moment’s hesitation to get down on his knees and scratch sand, as he had never scratched before in order to save the life of White. He threw the sand right and left until he had uncovered White’s head and gave him a breathing Ijole. White was almost suffocated when he was reached, and had turned black in the face, while his tongue protruded from the mouth. Mr. Lamb then secured a spade and dug both men out, being compelled to dig clear to the bottom in order to extricate them so closely was the dirt packed about them. The men were so weak and exhausted from the crush about them that they were unable to help themselves for sometime. Montgomery was least injured, but while buried up to his chin Was unable to help himself as his arms were pinioned to his sides by the dirt. It was a close call and had uot Mr. Lamb been close at hand White would undoubtedly have perished. The men Will in the future be a little more careful when working about quicksand bottoms.

HELD (Jf>, Uoodlet Goodridge Held (Tp in HU >, OwnOoorrud. Last Saturday night just as Goodlet Goodridge was about to enter his home on Vincennes avenue near Walnut Hills cemetery, three men confronted him and demanded his money. “Good” looked into the glisteuing muzzles of two revolvers for a few minutes while the bold highwaymen held them as unconcerned as if nothing had happened. From some unaccountable reason the robbers failed on their part to secure anything from Mr. Goodridge. It may have been the nerve displayed by “Good” that scared the gang off, anyhow they had their trouble for nothing. There is no question but what the work was that of novices, and possibly home talent at that. Previous to holding up Mr. Goodridge the parties had ransacked the house, the family being asleep, but as far as is known secured nothing of value. They left a hatchet on the table, which may be the means of furnishing a clew to the burglars. It is an open fact that just at the preseut time there is in Petersburg a gang ot persons who “do not toil neither do they spin/' and they must

live, and it doesn’t matter much to them hew the living is made. The officers have a duty to perform in ferreting out the crimes that have beeu committed during the past several weeks. There have been several holdups on the streets and numerous cases of petty thieving, und it is time that some Of the parties were captured. Be on the alert and keep your eyes wide open and the game will be bagged. »■

DOME VP AT CHICAGO. William C*x riiiu the Fair aa« ii Kobbed. _ William Cox, living near High* banks, went with the big excursion party to visit the world’s Columbian exposition at Chicago a week ago last Monday. The train, did not reach Chicago until about four o’clock Tuesday morning. Mr. Cox, it is said, returned home Wednesday afternoou, having experienced the sensations of being held up and robbed while in the Windy City. Just in what manner he was robbed is unknown to The Democrat reporter, but is understood to have occurred in one of the many free shoyvs that are operated in that city, and which is uo more or less than a gambling dive where thieves and murderers hold lorih. The gambling devices are many and the cappers‘Will pick out a man and tell him that he has lost aud that he must put up the necessary cash whether he has gambled a cent or not. and if he does not acquiesce in their demands, they proceed at once to go through his pockets for his “gelt.” This is-supposed to be the way in which Mr, Cox lost his money. The police of Chicago turn a deaf ear to all cases reported to them, and this class of thieves have full sway while the big lair is in operation. Mr. Cox is a hardworking farmer aud wont to see the sights, but returned'before seeing much except the Ferris wheel and the big buildings. Mr. Cox has the sympathy of all in hi|misfortune.

Petersburg Methodists turned out in lull force last Tuesday evening to show the new pastor and his estimable family the high regard in which they are held by all. The affair was a complete surprise to Rev. and Mrs. Anderson and the number of self-invited guests completely filled the house. A goodly number carried with them a package ot some choice edible and left it as a reminder of the enjoyable evening. Mr. Samuel Anderson rendered some very choice selections on the piano, and Miss Mary furthered the pleasure by singing. She has a rich, full voice well under cultivation and the singing as well as the instrumental music was fully appreciated. A telegram was received by Crill Adams last Monday from M. Brennan, chief of the Chicago police, to the effect that the trial of Hogan aud Green, the patrolmen charged with robbing the body of Howard Adams of a revolver and a diamond pin, had been postponed until yesterday. Sol Frank wont to Chicago, Wednesday, to identity the revolver and testify as to the yalne of the pin. There has been two or three postpbnements of the preliminary examination in order that all the evidence might be got before the magistrate. At Chicago last Saturday night seven members of the W. C. T. U. made a tour of inspection ot the slums ■of Chicago. The.ladies were accompanied by two detectives who guided

them about tne uiarK Btreet dives. Among the ladies was Mrs. Adda Fields, a former resident of this city, but who is now engaged in the tern* perauce work in Indiana. The ladies were convinced that there were some real tough scenes enacted iu the Windy City. The Oakland city papers are engaging in a firstclass little fight, and it’s all their own. It’s three-cornered and up to date not a drop of blood has been lost. But how in the world the readers can stand the hogwash, is more than Petersburg newspaper men «an understand. When it comes to trifles the fraternity of this city fight it out on the field of honor. Ignorance of the merits of DeWitt’s Little Early Risers is a misfortune. These little pills regulate the liver, cure headache, dyspepsia, bad breath, constipation and billiotTsuess. Bergen, Oliphaut & Co. 31*

“Budd’Stone +- Confesses to Murdering: the Wratten Family. Arrested Last Saturday and Taken to the Pen Out of Mob’s Way. His First Confession Implicated Six Others, Who Wefe Arrested. . The Demon Helped Ur Oat and Barr the Eatire Family.

The murderer of the Wratten family has been dually run down and made (o confess his horrible crime. This demon in human form is none other than the neighbor. James E. Stone, more familiarly called “Bndd,” who gave the alarm the next morning after the butchery. This monster then at the coroner’s inquest told the story of how he had found the massacred family, and at once set to work with othei‘9 to catch the supposed murderers, even going so far as to keep watch at the house so that nothing would be disturbed until the arrival of the officers. He helped to lay out Dens ip Wratten, the husband, whom he so fiendishly murdered while he lay on a sick bed with typhoid fever. He attended the funeral of his victims and shed tears with the frieuds of the murdered family. Never in the history of the State has such a cold-blooded murder been recorded, and the principal actor in crime taken such steps in trying to fasten the suspicion on others. In all eight persons were arrested charged with haviug committed the crime, and taken to Jeffersonville for safekeeping. Brown, one of the parties arrested a few weeks ago on suspicion, was reioased last week. Last Saturday, Stone’s wifo and sister were before the Daviess county grand jury and gave such damaging circumstantial evidence agaiust Stone that he was immediately arrested and taken before the grand jury and confronted with the evidence of his wife, when he broke down and made the confession Implicating William Kays, Alonzo Williams, Grandison Cosby, Gibson Clark, Martin Yarbrough and John White^ the majority of whom lived in the neighborhood of the Wratten family. They were quietly1-arrested the next day and taken to Jeffersonville before the facts had become known, as the excitement has been such that m a few hours mob law would undoubtedly have reigned master of the situation,

to such a degree are the citizens ot that county worked up. Some of! the men whom Stone implicated had been arrested a few days previous on suspicion. They protested their innocence. Stone protested his innocence hetore the grand jury so far as the killing of the family was concerned, laying the wholesale murder at the feet of the others, with the exception of Cosby, whom he said got too drunk to get there, while he, himself, did not arrive until after the deed was perpetrated. He then explained how the others had smeared blood on his clothes fo hold him to secrecy, llo also in this first confession -contributedgflni arks made by the trumped-up assasWus. In all he was cool and collected and eould not be shaken. But now conics the second confession which was' made at Jeffersonville, Tuesday night, in which he says that he alone and unassisted committed ihe murder of the whole family, going Into the details of how he had killed each of his victims, and stamps him as a villain of the worst typl. He makes a first confession which put six more lives in jeopardy, making a total of twelve this inhuman monster would have credited to him. And there is no question but what if he had stuck to his first confessiou

that these men wb>m he now n»ya are innocent would lave been strung upas soon at. they lauded in Wish* ington. Stone says that he went;to the ratten home about midnight, and se-ing Mrs. Ada W ratten moving about: in the house witting on her sick tusband, he called bet to the door und asked her for somre medicine tor the toothache- After^ahe had procured a bottle of Wizard (lij and brougl t it to him he attacked her with the « rnknife, cutting great gashes about her head aud heck. He next attacked Ethel, the little daughter who lived a few days after, then he followed up with Wratteit and the other children. After haviug, as he supposed, killed all those in that part of the houst, ho crossed over to that part occupied by the old lady, and bursting in thpiriudow entered and commenced hacking her with the corn-knife. She male a desperate fight, and it was not tmtil the demon had cut off both of her hands did she give up the fight. He then used tlie smill hand-axe and with several blows crushed the skull of the old lady. Leaving her for dead he proceeded back through (he house and finding Wratten ant) his wife still alive, he struck them several blows trith the axe, computing his horrible butchery, lie then says that he picked up t aelamp and threw it out of doors. Going out of the house he proceeded to a log laying near bv and sccreled the corn-knife ami axe, covering them up with leaves. These we»*e found Wednesday morning just where he had p aced them. In this confession he says that Martin" Yarbiough had planned to rob the tamily, but had never talked in regard to the murdei, and says that 1 arbrot gh was not avith him. After he ha l slain the family he made a slight search tor money but did not succeed in finding any. • He went home, washed himself at a spring, took off hie pants and secreted them between the weather-boarding aud the plastering', where they were afterward fqutid, all covered with - blood. The details of the crime are too horrible to relate and stamps Stone as one of the most brutal murderers that ever li zed in the state ot Indiana, aud a liar and rascal whose equal was rever kaown. This demon in human form when he was served wit It a notice to go before the grand jttiy called his family together and engaged in family worship, praying than God would bless them all, and in a few hours eon 'ossed himself as t he mot t atrocious murderer that this section of the state has ever known. His nerve ia^agai n displayed In the following letter w ritten to life family:

J EKFKKSON YILLE, Oct .3-:, 1893. Dear .Celia and 8a Ule, .Lester, Eia and Harry: I don’t till iU 1 will ever see yo >r faces again. Raise thase children to faar God, I can tell you today'that I am happy In a Sav- i lour's love. I sought Christ yesterdsy evening and all lust .night. I've found H in precious to my tout and am ready now f o die a happy man. Please meet me in Heaven, aU of you. Tell Celia to write me as soon as she gets this. Sue done Just right In tel Ing the truth on me to the g 'and ^ry She saved her soirfant. mine, too. Pray for me Celia. Good-bye. James E. stone. It Is supposed that the murderer will be tried at this term of tie Daviess county con t, which is now iti session. The county lias employed W. R. Gardiner, John C, Billlielmer, A. J. Padgett. James W. Ogdon, Alexander M. Hardy and Milton SHastings to prosecute the case At this writinj: it is unknown what will be done with the other parties arrested for complicity in thf crime as qonfessid by Stone at the Pine he was before the grand jury. W. W, Jackson", of neat this city, who is in

some way connected with tho nmr. dered family, his takoti an active part in forretinif out the criininaU, and it is partly c ue to him that Stone was arrested. His suspicion > were correct from the start and he laid*the' foundation for :he evidence which was gotten from Mrs..Stone, rhodetectives in the ctse were all a', sea in , regard to the matter, and wero never on the right road to catching tire guilty parties. Mrs. Mnrgaret Breoton, stepmother of Byron Brenton, of this ci v, died at her home in Winslow, Tuesday morning. '1 he funeral was held s Wednesday aftei noon. The (dtlaens" bank was closed Tuesday and Wednesday.