The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-03-10
A BOYS MURDER.
IN A STRANGE LAND.
THE KANSAS TRAGEDY.

IN a 81 ftANGE LAND'
THE KANSAS TRAGEDY.
AZ INDIANAPOLIS MAN MURDERED-A COLD
FLOODED BoY-AN ATRoCIoUs STORY OF
CRINE-KILLING OF DANIEL FERRIS
Concerning the death Of Daniel Ferris, an
nounced in tie telegraph yesterday, the
Chicago Tribune contains the following mi
mute details of the atrocious crime.
TOPEKA, Kan, March s.-Since the Bender
horror in Labette county was discovered,
there has been nothing that so much excl
ted the people of this community as an
atrocity that came to light last night in this
city. A whole family-father, mother. ana
son-by the name of Olds were ar
rested on suspicion of having murdered
neighbor named Daniel Ferris. He
kept grocery and provision store on Sixth
avenue, near the east side OF the CITY, and
was carving on a thriving trade. He
slept in his store, and scarcely ever left, do
ing his own cooking, and having few init
mate acquaiDtsnces in the city. he was
very prudent dealer, and was generally De,
Iieyed to have a good deal of money. Fred
Olds. the son. who is about IL years OF age,
had not done any work this winter, and was
known to be without money: His being
f1ush for several days past excited the sus-
picions of the neighbors, and Mr..
t'ottrell informed j. M. Higthsohe,
relative OF the Qcc6dS6u, bndb Ills hoO NV
been seen about his place of business for the
past two days. and that he had better look
into the matter. Mr.. Hightshoe, on recelV-
ing this word, called on officer Streeter, ana
with Sheriff Wade, Marshal Hannah and
Deputy Sheriff Davis went to the store OF
Mr. Ferris. which they found in possession
of Frank Olds, and his son Fred. These men
who are well known in the city, and who
have been seen carrying goods away from
the place at various times during thepast TWO
days, as stated by persons living in the VI
cinity, on being questioned by the officers,
said that Ferris had gone east on t Ligth
train for the purpose of getting married, and
would be back in two or three days. This
was denied by Mr.. Hightshoe, as an impos,
sible thing to happen, Tor be felt sure II
such had been the Intention OF Ferris IL
would have been communicated TO him.
On further questioning the Oldses they made
contradictory statements, saying Ferris had
gone south to remain some time, and, IN
short, so conducted themselves that they
were arrested and locked up in the county
iail. The officers then proceeded to search
the premises, and after short time IL was
shown that their fears were we'll grounded; ;
for it took but a little while to look through
the place, and to find blood on the stairway
leading TO the cellar. The examination was
continued by digging in two or three places
in the earth, and under pile of potatoes
which were there, and, covered about loot
deep,
THE DEAD BODY WAS FOUND;
but il was not disturbed, Just sufficient of
one arm being uncovered to show the off,
GERS they were right. After removing the
potatoes, and digging down about foot, the
corpse was lifted from the place where the
vilhar > who committed the bloody deed had
hidden it, and brought up into the store
room An examination showed that Mr.
Ferris had been shot through the head, had
his throat cut almost from ear to ear, and
was buried in this shallow hole with all his
clothes on. The ball had entered the left side
OF the face just below the temple and gone
clean through the head, coming out a little
lower on the other side than where it entered
on the left. An examination OF the store
showed a hole in the plastering with blood
scatter d around where it is probable that
the bullet struck. After being viewed by the
Jury, the remains were placed in charge o
the sheriff and removed to the court house
whsre they were kept till morning, and the
inquest was held to-day. Mr.. Ferris was
about thirty-fve years of age, and mos
excellent man. He had lived here about {
year, com n : to this place from Indianapolis
Indiana, where he leaves two children, h'
being a widower. He has also numerou.
relatives IN that city, where he wa
great e. tee ned by all who knew
him, and he has made many friends here by
his quiet, unassuming, and strictly mora
department. The coroner's jury commenced
at o'clock, and witnesses were examined
by Sheriff Ryan, county attorney for Shaw
nee county. The court room was packed I'll
ii could not hold another person, and hun
dreds went away, unable to gain admittance
The churches were about deserted, and al
day long in the hotel and on the street, moth
ing else was talked about or thought aoou
but this second edition of the Bender tragedy
The air was full of wild Iumors, but, o
course most of them were sensational
.k-~ fo1lr lrn a
parties, but cooler counsels prevailed, ant
this evening comparative calmneSs Is re
stored among the excited Populace. Mrs
Ellen Jeffries. near neighbOr of Ferris, wa
THE FIRST WITNESS
put upon the stand. She swore that sh
heard the report of a gun about sevel
O'Clock Thursday evening. and scream i'm
nediately afterward, and then all was still
The ball passed through from side to side
below the base of the brain, and did not ne
csssarily produce instant death. But the
murderous knife soon stopped the victir
from making noise; Mrs. DDS Ithe mothe
OF the murderer, was the next TO testify
Her testimony was straightforward, with
out seeming equivocatiou, and it is gener
ally believed that she was kept in ignoranc
of the. hellish deed. Her testimony wa
very damaging to the SOD son, b1
associate the father with him in the commits
sion OF the horrible crime. She said Ere
told her and mis- father that Mr.. Ferris ha
employed him to take charge Of his stor
while he went east to get married. Sh
identified q carbine found under the counte
in the store, and pair of bloody boots fOun
under Fred's bed, as belonging to her sor
She testified with much composure a
though it was an ordinary civil case u
which she had no personal interest.
.... THE SUSPECTED MURDERER
Fred Olds, was next placed upon the witnes
stand, and his testimony occupied the tim
from three o'clock till dark. Your CORE:
pondent never saw so much nerve exhibite
by a hardened criminal as is possesse
by this slight STRIPPING of seventeen
Ha WAS Led to the side of the cOrns