Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-05-31

ATR0CIOUS MURDER-Ine NoFiolh, ~
Herald of may 18th, gives an account OF al
atrocous murder committed in that city Oh
Sunday morning last, in Main Street, on the
body of John s. Murphy, a permanent resi-
dent of the city, by John Decker and VIM
L. Gosline, the particulars of which, rs obtain
ed at the coroner's inquest, were rs follows:
Decker & Gosline each commanded an
oyster craft. then in the harbOr the former
the 'cat boat Odd Fellow, the latter a
schooner called the Shultz; both vessels were
owned in Yorktown, but the men were both
Staten Islanders. These parties with de-
ceased, and Jere. Vaughan, were at the oyster
saloon of Edward Harrison, in Metcall's lane,
when some angry discussion commenced, and
irritating language was uSed; the lie was
passed between Decker and Vaughan, and
Decker struck Vaughan-wherenpon Muir
ply, (who, as Vaughan in his testimony said,
was of remarkably peacable disposition, and
never known to do such thing before,) rose
and struck Decker blow with his fist.
They were parted, however, and the landlord
proceeded to shut up his bar and put out the
lights, it then being about two o'clock.
Vaughan states in his evidence that he heard
Decker, on leaving Harrison's, swear that he
would have Murphy's hearts blood before he
slept
Decker and Gosline left Hanisons's house
berore Vaughan and Murphy did-Murphy
and Vaughan crossed the street from Met
Calls lane to go down to Mr.. Rhea's to get
something 70 drink; but hndingg the Place
FWiie7leef,r,ositc Mr.. Mv4fs--rrr-s f:srr; wfIere
d. and G.. had secreted themselves, on the
lookout for Murphy, Decker jumped out and
said d-n you I've got you. Vaughan thrust
his hand in his pocket thinking it would in
timidate Decker; and replied "got what?'
Decker then remarked to Vaughan L have
nothing against you; but that id --
(using an appropriate epithet) I'll have his
hearts blood before morning. Gosline, who
was standing a few yards down the lane,
called out "gve it to him now." Decker re-
piled, never mind, Ill catch him some other
time. Vaughan and Murphy then continued
on their way, Decker and Gosline taking
another direction.
Decker and Gosline being thwarted in
their purpose, and losing sight of Murphy
crossed Market square, and when opposite
Messrs. King & Toys they encountered Mr.
Thomas Spratt, who had been mp thus early
to make his marketing, and were about as
saulting him, when one of them sung out
"Thats not the mal1!' which was the only
thing that saved his life, for Mr.. Spratt says
they were bent upon something desperate
They left him and went back to Metcalfs
lane. where they unfortunately encountered
Murphy while on his way home, and knock
ed him down, and while he was down one Of
the men plunged knife into his body This
was witnessed by Mr.. Benjamin Peddlc, who
was standing in front of the National Hotel,
and who sang out for the watch.
The villains, after wreaking their VEN
geance on their prostrate victim, whose blood
was flowing copiously from four stabs, two in
the breast and two in the back, fled and were
pursued by the watch. They ran down to
the county dock-passing by Mr. Spratt, who
recognized them as the same two men who
accosted him short time before-and took
one of the Ferry Point boats, ordering the
colored man who was in charge of it tO row
them off to vessel in the stream at their
peril, and were soon oil board As soon as n
sufficient number of the police could be col
lected, officer Guy went in pursuit of them in
the same boat that had taken them off. When
he got on board he found the matches down,
and all hands (seven in number) apparently
asleep. lie soon walked them up, however,
and arrested the whole seven and brought
them ashore; but as soon as the offenders
were fully identified by Harrison, Spratt and
Vaughan, the rest were discharged
DIR. Fit2gibbon was called to examine the
wounds inflicted ON Murphy, but they were
past ali surgery. lie was carried home on 4
board, and survived about half an hour in a
state of insensibility, and the few words he
uttered were uninteligible.
Decker and Gosline are both young men,
neither of them, apparently over "a years OF
age. Murphy, as is shown from his where
abouts on this occasion, was unfortunate in his
habits and associations but otherwise peace
able and inoffensive. lie was about % years
Of age, in no settled business, and has left a
young wife, daughter of the late Mr. Loring,
carver, who was drowned some years ago by
the upsetting of boat, but no children.