Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-04-24
Murder Trial.
e of Indiana In the Union Circuit Court.
OK. \ Indictment for Murder.

Hosea COOK. \ Indictment for Murder
This case was tried during Tuesday and Wednes-
day last, found guilty of murder in the first
degree, and sentenced to be hung the 10th of June
next by the Sheriff of Union county. The main facts
in the case are about these:
In the latter part of December, 1889, Hosea Cook,
then about 20 years old. and John Champe, perhaps
little older started from Decatur county in this State
for Kentucky. They were to pass on their way,
though out of their route, into Franklin county, TO
see relative Of Cook They started from Decatur
county in the morning in company. Champe had
with him one hundred and fifty dollars in money. AZ
ter they had proceeded about eighteen miles, Cook
proposed to turn out of the road and take nearer
way through the woods. They were then IN very
broken, unsettled forest country They passed down
into deep and dark ravine, Cook cut an inn wood
club as he aledged, for a cane, fell little behind
Champe, struck him blow on the side Of the head
that brought him to the ground. He fell on his face.
Cook rolled him upon his back, gave HIM
other blow across the forehead which broke In his
SKULL and killed him dead that he never moved af
forwards. Cook then rifed him of his money, and
proceeded on about miles farther his relatives in
Franklin county, where he remained three or four
days, exhibiting nothing unusual in his appearance.
He then left for Kentucky, to which place he went.
About six weeks afterwards the body was found,
enquiry was excited and suspicion settled on Cook
he pursued to Kentucky arrested, and on his way
back confessed the murder He confessed il TO some
Brookville indicted, broke JAIL went into the Wabash
country, married, again discovered, arrested,
brought back tried at Brookve, and sentenced TO be
hung. The Supreme Court decided the indictment on
which he convicted bad, and directed il to be
quashed. He was re-indicted took change Of We
nue. to Union county, and has there been again con-
victed and sentenced. His friends about making
application to the Governor to commute his punish
ment to Imprisonment for life This arises out of the
strong and growing repugnance TO capital punishment
in that sentiment concur, and trust the Governor
will make the Communication.
i He is young man of iron nerve, and exhibited
not change of muscle or countenance during the
trial He looked the Judge fercely in the face dur
ing the pronouncing in feeling manner, his awful
sentence, and then retired, without apparent emotion
to the prison. He has wife and children living
Richmond Jefersonian.
i We understand that he came near making his es-
cape since his sentence. They allow him no fire in
the room which he REACH there being CRATE be-
tween him and the stove. In order to obtain fire to
burn out WITH he tore his cotton shirt in strips rolled
it in small ball, and threw il through the CRATES to
the stove, holding to end of the string He work
cd in this way until he got end of the cotton
string fire, and drew it to him. With this Ere he
had the lock very near burned out when he dis
lowered.