Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 February 1894 — HE IS STONE DEAD. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HE IS STONE DEAD.

Execution of Stone, tho Wratten Murderer. James E. Stone, who cruelly and without motive murdered six members of the Wratten family, near Wash ington, Daviess county. Sept. 19. 1893, was hanged at the prison south at 12:15 Friday morning. This was the first hanging unner the new law at tho southern penitentiary. Warden Patten conducted the execution. The legal requirement, limiting the number of witnesses, was strictly observed. The crime for which Stone was executed was probably the most atrocious ever committed in Indiana. Stone has been re-

garded as a metaphysical wonder, for after murdering the Wrattens in cold blood with an ax and corn-knife ho not only assisted in preparing the bodies for burial, but acted as ono of tho pall-bearers at tho funeral. He was not at first suspected. It was his wife’s testimony that indicted him. There was no robbery, and Stone has never assigned a motive for tliocrimo, claiming it was simply an insane impulse. He made a full confession, or rather several confessions, and always claimed that he was the only person implicated. The mystery has never been fully cleared up, there being many circumstances tending to show that Stone was not the only person connected with the crime. Stone met his fate with calmness and expressed his belief that he had tom forgiven for his awful deed and that the angels In hpaven awaited his coming; that his crimson stained hands had been washed in tho blood of the lamb; that he had made his peace with God and man. The body of the murderer was taken back to Daviess county for burial, Friday.