The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-01-27
THE ANDERSON HOMICIDE.
OPENING THE CASE.
POPULAR SENTIMENT.

from Special Correspondent OF the SENTINEL
ANDERSON, IND, Jan. 21.-The painful ex-
element which overwhelmed the commu-
nifty a week ago, has almost if not entirely
subsidized. The public feeling, which was
wrought up almost to frenzy, has become
settled down to a quiet realization of the
horrible tragedy which has thrilled the
whole country. The people are beginning
to look upon it in more of a matter of fact
way, instead of lamenting the calamity and
raving at the perpetrator of the deed as at
first. They no longer wiring their hands in
sorrow at their loss and in sympathy for the
beTeayed; they are becoming reconciled to
the great shock, though there still Is and
ever will be shocked remembrance of the
bloody tragedy. They ara no longer dis
mayed at the deed, but they are turning
their thoughts and attention to the principal
actor, not with the spirit of ungovernable
passion which existed a few days ago, but
rather with hope that impartial justice
may be meted out. Though there is lacking
everything that savors of lawlessness, there
exists a strong feeling against Corwin, while
there is to some extent disposition to JUS
tify the firing of the fatal shots. Every man
has his prejudice in favor or against the ac-
cused man, and 1 hape not yet seen a man
who is neutral on the subject. Indeed if the
preliminary examination should go against
OOrWl0, IL WOulQ not Do possible III THIS cOun-
ty to impannel jury. The general thought
and exclamation Is, "what will be done
with Corwin? though the belief that he will
be acquitted find is prevalent even to some
extent among his enemies.
BROKEN FESTIVAL.
While coming down on tho train this
morning 1 met III. NJ. Burnside, whose wife
is a sister of Mrs. Stilwell. He describes the
affair as most heart-rending to the family
and friends of the deceased. A family re-
union was to have been held at his (Mr.
Burnside's) house near Falkland, and part
of the guests had assembled there the night
before, when the terrible intelligence was
brought them. Mr.. b. expressed his iDdig-
nation in the strongest terms when alluding
to the great inequality of the sizes of the two
men, Corwin and Stilwell, the former being
probably strong enough to hold the latter
at arms length-that man of
such stalwart proportions should collar one
so Insignificant in size, and deliberately
shoot him twice in the head, was without
the least palliation or excuse. The status of
the popular feeling is about this: Every
one belongs to one OF two parties. One
party-the friends of Stilwell-claim that it
was Corwin's calm and deliberate intention
to shoot Stilwell; that he had, by stratagem,
brought about the very opportunity he de-
Scs
that it was his object to get Stillwell into his
office, and by exciting and exasperating
him, to get him to commence the ASSAULT,
when he would then give the finishing blow.
The greatest fault found against
Corwin is that he fred the second shot. The
very evidence that he intended to make
sure of the deadly work, tits claimed, is in
the fact that he fired the second time.
though the first ball would have carried
death to the unfortunate Stilwell. On the 9th
er hand the favOring party claims that Cor
win could not have done other than he did,
and that the second shot, fired under the inn
pulse of the moment, Corwin was scarcely
conscious of; also that he had continually
been subject to threats of violence from
Stilw ell, against whom he was finally CON-
PEELED to defend himself, and in this de-
tense Stilwell had failed the victim. There
is much interest manifest in the prelImi-
nary examination, and there is great deal
Depreciation as to Its result.
THE STORY OVER AGAIN.
One o'clock was the hour set for the trial,
and the case, as you may suppose, was suffi-
cient to draw out great throng. The
sheriff and deputies have been very busy in
the summoning of witnesses, there being as
many probably as twenty-five, who have
been summoned. Besides this the city Is
crowded with people in attendance upon the
trial, including countrymen from far and
near, who seem to take great interest in the
matter, as Col. Stilwell was considered
among their best and fastest friends.
At one o'clock L found considerable diff
Guilty in entering the hall, as the justice had
decided to exclude the crowd from the
court-a decision subsequently reversed.
when the throng broke in with a mighty
rush, like the breaking of many waters.
The rush was terrific, and the hall, a very
rlc or n a n1a in zfv 1oI in,
slant. The crowd was so dense that had il
not been for Mr.. Stephen Metcalf, of the
Herald, 1 should have been unable
to get a seat. The reporters
tables were on the right hand side
of the Justices seat. and Immediately i'm
front of the crowd, which consisted of mot
ley collection OF humanity of almost every
age, and presenting every phase of human
character in their outward appearance. The
utmost good order prevailed during the en-
tire time consumed in the examination of
the witnesses, and there were times when
absolute quiet reigned throughout the alb
sorbed, dense crowd. Immediately in front
of the justice were seated the attorneys en-
ployed in the investigation. These consist
ed of Major Gordon, Milton Robinson and
General Samuel Cary, relative of the Still
well family, for the state, and General Har-
rison, and j. w. Stansbury for the defense.
The accused was seated to the left of the
Justices seat, in company with his brother,
5. w. Corwin and Mr.. j. e. Fuller. There
was nothing in his outward appearance to
indicate that he was one above whom so
grave an investigation was being held. Were
his countenance not so familiar to the large
crowd there would have been nothing in it
to betray the man guilty of the charge made
against him. Only in one instance was there
any thing marked in his conduct to
indicate his fallings. That was when
note or letter was brought into the
court room and handed him. For an in
stan this face betrayed an unmistakable emo
ton of dismay, if not absolute terror, as if
/ he had read some painful news. What the
letter contained it is impossible to conjec-
ture. He instantly got up and removed to
another part of the room. This outward be-
trayal of his inward feelings lasted but for
the moment, end 1t was not long before
he recovered his accustomed placidity.
THE DRAMA REHEARSED.
The witnesses were finally sworn in and