Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1849-12-20
From the lafayette Courier.
The CautyyeII Murder.


Examination Of Alfred L. CGnttre7, Sarah CGntacel
and Spencer J. Dayton, charged 10Th The Murder
of David Jones'
Through the kindness &c legal friend we are en-
abed lay before our readers the leading features of
the testimony adduced the examination of A. l..
Cantwell and his wife, and Spencer Dayton, before
Squire VIM. Russell, of White county, on a charge
Of the murder Of David jones'
In issue of last Friday, we enormously stated
the verdict of the Coroners jury the verdict was,
that the deceased his death by violence at the
hands of Alfred L. Cantwen of Tippecanoe county.
aided and abetted by his wife, Sarah Cantwel, and
mis- brother-in-law, Spencer j. Dayton.
1t appeared in evidence that some two years ago,
Cantwell had contracted with the deceased for the
purchase of certain tract of land and house belong
ing to him (Jones.) and had possession of II until
some time last spring,-at which time he left 1t and
removed to a distance of some twelve miles from
Jones's neighborhood- On the Thursday preceding
the murder, he removed back TO the premises, with
his furniture, and found the house torn down. On
Friday he commenced re-erecting the dwelling, and
Jones came over and told them TO desst; and after
short conversation q compromise was effected by
which according to the declarations made by Can't
well the following day. he was TO give up the prem
Uses and Jones was 10 pay him $3.50.
During the day previous to Joness death, Cantwell
and his wife heard to make repeated threats of
violence against him, in the money should not
be paid at the time agreed upon, Saturday.
On Saturday, Cantwell and his wife started from
home together-he intending to call on neighbor
and she coming to own-and on the road both before
and after they parted they reiterated these threats to
persons with whom they were in converse Cant
well SAYING that " Jones had often fooled him, but If
he disappointed him that time he woudnt fool hun
again"
Mrs. Cantwell came to town and was seen in CON-
pany with Jones for several hours, going from store
to store and king purchases with him.
On Saturday JOneS returned to his home,
and Cantwell and his wife returned TO the house OF
Mr.. Davis (about two miles from the scene of the
murder) where they stayed till Sunday morning,
when they left and called upon Mr.. Harvey, from
whom Cantwel endeavored to get the loan OF
pistol, but was refused. On the same evening they
came back to Davis's, Cantwell bringing with him
pair of pantaoons, which he placed in a washingtub
IN a wagon out of doors.
During Sunday, Jones informed his wife Of his in
tention of leaving her and quitting the country;
whereupon she accused him of intending to run off
with CantwelIs wife This he at first denied. but
upon the accusation being pressed. end after having
obtained promise from his wife that she would not
inform his sons until he had sufficient time to get be-
yond their reach, he confessed the truth of the
charge. She then endeavored TO persuade him that IL
was plot entered into by Cantwell and his wife TO
murder him and get his money, without effect At
ter much solicitation she prevailed upon him TO inform
her of the place of designation, In order that she
might go in the morning and satisfy herself as to
whether he had been foully dealt with. Having pack
ed his clothes, he took leave about hour after
dark and proceeded in the direction of the place where
he said he was to meet Mrs.. Cantwell.
About dark of the same evening, Cantwel and
Dayton left Dayis's house, taking with them rifle
and small pony (shod oil round) belonging to Can't
WELL and in the direction of the spot designated
by Jones the place Of designation, which about
two miles distant from the house of Davis. Between
the hours of 10 and twelve o'clock that night Can't
well returned home and lay down with his wife, she
having gone to bed short time after he and Dayton
left On the next morning Cantwell requested Da-
viss to 90 and fetch him the pantaooDs which he
had placed in the wagon the evening before. They
were brought and put on, and those taken off when
be went TO bed were not seen afterwards.
On the morning subsequent to the day upon which
Jones left home, his son. in conversation with his
mother about the Cantwes, spoke of having seen
Mrs. Cantwell that evening at Daviss. Mrs. Jones
then informed her sons and son-in-aw Of what Jones
had said to her about going away with Mrs. c.. and
of The place where they were 10 meet Next morn
ing the sons in company with other persons, went to
the place of assgnaton. and there found in spot
large quantity Of blood and the tracks of two horses
apparently meeting at that point. The tracks of one
correspondent to those of Cantwelps shod poney The
tracks Of the horse could be traced for the distance of
half mile towards the pond where the body of Jones
was afterwards found.
The bullet extracted from the body correspondent
precisely, in size and weight, with the calibre of
Cantwells rifle. Joness horse has yet been found.
Dayton did not return TO the neighborhood until the
afternoon of the Tuesday following the departure of
Jones.
The result of the examination was, that the justice
refused admit them bail, and committed all three
of them to jail to await their trial.
On the 24th inst, through their counsel, Messrs.
Allen s. Pratt, they applied to judge Wilson, of
the Associate Judges of White county, for writ Of
Ha6eas CorPus,-alleging in their petition that the
testimony against them insufficient authorize
their Imprisonment The writ has been issued. and
by agreement made returnable the 10Th day of De-
cember next. Process lso issued for the
sary witnesses, and re-examination of the will
take place before Judge Wilson at Monticello at the
time above stated.