The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-06-27
Assassination of Fletcher Freeman.
from the Sui van Democrat l


From the Su van Democrat
Our community was thrown into high
state of excitement on last Thursday by
a report which reached town in the fore
noon that Fletcher Freeman, the enroll
ing officer in Cass and Jefferson town.
ships, had been shot dead. The suspense
of doubt as to its truth was soon ended
by the arrival of a messenger for the cor
oner, and an order for coffin. The sad
intelligence cast e gloom over the coun-
tenances of our citizens, and caused 2
heavy weight of sorrow to rest on the
minds of all.
The particulars as we have them are
as follows: The people of the road dis
trict in which Mr.. F. lived were that day
called out by the supervisor to work on
the road. Mr.. Freeman started for the
rendezvous of the road hands, when meet
ing-Shaw and Ely Rusher who were
without tools, the two latter went back
to his house for hoes-Fletcher pursuing
his way alone In few minutes after
leaving them he heard the report of a
gun, but paid no attention to it, thinking
it was from hunters who had hounds af-
ter deer; but one of them who had been
in the army, thought be recognized the
cries as those of q man who was shot.
They thereupon returned and found Mr.
F. dead in a small ravine.
Shaw and RusEer then proceeded to
where the hands had assembled and in.
formed them of the fact. This was about
clock in the morning. He was shot
in the left side, Just below the ribs the
ball passing through and coming out
near the spine. An examination of the
surroundings revealed the fact that the
assassin was secreted in the bushes al
the road side not more than 90 or % feet
from his victim
A "blind" had been constructed, foI
their better concealment, of branches
some of which had entirely died; others
OF more recent cuttings had wilted, and
some appeared to have been cut thai
morning. In this den were found scraps
of meat and bread, and large piles ot
whittlings with different beds where the
assassins had lain. The supposition i:
that the place had been occupied by three
persons for one or two weeks.
There is no clue to the murderer OF
murderers that we have heard. 1t is no
generally supposed that he was the vic
tim of any private grudga or rroliea Col
though that is possible) but that he wa;
killed because he was an enrolling Off
Ger of the Government We understand
that he had completed the enrolment o
Cass township and designed in day ol
two to commence in Jefferson We have
not heard cfhis having any difficulty o.
hard words with any citizen in the pros
ecution of his duties.
Coroner Neal being unable to attend
Justice Grigsby held an inquest on th'
body. The following gentlemen wer,
empanneled as jurors: Benson Usrey
JAS H Leach, Perry Empson, Sampson
Walter, Jos. G. Powell, VIM. r. Nance
John Deckard, Willis Parks, Jane
Smith, Jas. Carter, VIM. Clayton ant
Thomas Chambers. They returned a yer
dict to the effect that the deceased cam
to violent death, being shot with a gul
in the hands of some person to them un
known, which caused his immediat
death
He was buried on Saturday last, in tn
Sullivan graveyard, his remains beini
accompanied to the grave by the larges
assemblage of people we ever witnesses
on such an occasion, in this place.
Mr. Freeman was well known through
out the county, having few years ag
kept the American Hotel in this towl
and subsequently was the Reputlica
nominee for Sheriff of the county. H
was also one of the enrolling officers fo
the draft last summer.
The last time we saw him, about thre
weeks ago, he showed us an anonymou
letter, cautioning him against undertal
ing the enrolment of his to wnship; ths
if he did he would be killed. He CLAIM
cd to know who wrote the note, bl
laughed at the threat and said he ha
no fears of any man in the townshi
harming him in the least. This fact il
duced the belief that he was killed
stop the enrolment; though we leal
there is plausible theories showing Il
) contrary. 1t will be recollected that NJ
Freeman assisted in raising the cor
pany now known as Nicklin' Battery
expecting to get commission In
Failing in that he soon left the servic
being honorably discharged as unfit f
t duty. We learn that one of the desc
ers now in this county was induced
: enlist by Mr.. F., and has been known
threaten his life in consequence of hs
ing to remain while Mr. Freeman 9
off. The opinion is now general that
was shot by deserters. 1t is painful
the people of Cass township to have ST
picion directed towards them as co
, munity, and while all is dark and m
terious persons should not be hasty
jumping at conclusions. 1t is not oil
possible but probable the above surm
> is correct
EEe The following from the ROj