The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-03-24
RARBAROUS MURDER.


BARBAROUS MURDER.
BOY KILLED IN JACKSON coUNTY-A COLD
FLOODED BUTCHERY-THE MURDERoUs
FIENDs TWO BRoTHERs-TAEY BETRAY
EACH OTHER.
Jackson county is again fearfully excited
by the smell of human blood. Her old in
stincts for vigilants and tree-hangiDg are
powerfully wrought upon, but there seems
TO be chance that the administration of
justice may be allowed to be carried out UNI
der the process of law. The Bloomington
Banner gives all the particulars:
John Hines, or Peterson, was boy of
about IL or Is years of age, sparely built, and
was subject to fits. He was German, and
spoke English very imperfectIy. He was
seen in and about Houston on Friday,
March 8, having with him horse which
he rode. At Buffalo, he gave his name as
John Hines, and said that his parents re-
sided near Madison At Houston, he gave
his name as John Peterson, and reported
that his parents were dead, but that he had
relatives living in Brown county. be evil
IDENTIFY was not altogether of sound mind,
or else was prOpOsely given to prevarication.
He was last seen alive about Friday noon,
i'm company with James and Alexander
Fleetwood. 1t was known that he had - 80,
but, excepting that he would sometimes
talk of wanting to buy forty acres of
land, be gave no one reason TO sus-
pect that he had any considerable
sum of money upon his person. AS
stated before, this boy's body was found
in Salt Creek, badly bruised by blows from
some heavy missile, and the neck was Sc
verely gashed on both sides, the main arter-
les being completely severed. 1t was evident
that the man had been murdered. From
evidence adduced, strong suspicion fastened
ona Alexander ElQat wood
brothers, living in the neigbborhood, but
not sufficiently pointed to justify the coro
ner in issuing a warrant TOR their arrest.
But "When rogues fall out honest men get
their dues" is a saying that bids fair to be
verified IN this case. 1t seems that some
disagreement arose between the two Fleet
wood brothers, James andAlexander and on
Wednesday last tie former appeared before
ESQUIRE John w. Goble, and filed an affi-
davit, charging his brother, Alexander
Fleetwood, with the murder of young
Hines. A warrant was Immediately placed
in the hands of Constable VIM. Engle, who
promptly arrested the accused. A hearing
was had before Esquire Goble, in the Olive
Branch meeting house, which was densely
packed with an excited multitude OF men,
women and children The examination was
concluded late Wednesday night, mittimus
placed in the hands of Constable Engle,
who, with few guards, straightway started
with the prisoner for Brownstown Jail. The
party had proceeded but short distance,
when the prisoner prop sed to the men who
had him in charge that if they would hold
him at Houston until Thursday morning, he
would
TALE UNFOLD AGAINST HIS BROTHER JIM,
such as would implicate him directly in the
bloody deed, and that he would take them
to the very spot where young Hines was
murdered, and show them the blood-staine
ground. Accordingly he was taken back, and
kept under guard all night. On Thursday
morning he filed the proper affidavit, and
then, in company with large crowd. he led
the way to an open field on the old George
Lutes farm, and halting at a spot some 60
yards from where the dead body was found,
he scraped away some loose dirt and grass
with his foot, disclosing a spot of ground
thoroughly saturated with blood. James,
VINO was present with the assembled multi
tude, was forthwith arrested, taken before
| Squire Goble for hearing, and committed TO
the charge OF Constable Engle for deliv-
cry to the jailer of Jackson county.
| Immediately after the trial each of the pris-
oners had his hands tied behind his back,
and an additional rope fastened to each arm,
to be held by the guards. Each one was
| then placed on horseback. Charles w. Con-
| ner and David Daver acted AS side guards to
James Fleetwood, one on each side OF him,
| while William Hunsucker and Levi Spur
geon occupied positions by the side of Alex
| ander Fleetwood. Constable. William
Engle took a position as advance guaru and
| captain of tho squad, and Thomas Brown
| brought up the rear. All the men were
mounted. In the order given, the start to
i Brownstown was made. Considerable
/ trepidation was manifested by the prisoners,
lest some vigilance Commute, bent upon
an errand OF justice, and remembering
how exceedingly slow our courts
and judges have been to afford
protection TO community by melting out ade-
quate punishment to criminals guilty of
| high crimes, should claim them as lit sub
jects to lie seized, tried, condemned and ex
ecuted by the higher law as administered by
Judge Lynch. But no vigilan! Is appeared
BY eight O'Clock at night, the party had pro-
| ceeded to point short distance this side
of Henry Jackson's residence when all OF a
sudden, a desperate attempt to escape was
| made simultaneously by both prisoners.
Both jumped from their horses at the same
moment, one of them dragging one of the
guards to the ground. Before the guards
fairly realized the situation one OF
the prisoners James FIeetwood-had
escaped into the woods. The night
was dark, and nothing could be
seen or heard OF the direction in which he
had gOne-and as the remaining prisoner
| Alexander Fleetwood-was struggling des-
poIdtoly 70 escape, Sno Buafus uulteu 10
| subdue him. DE was at length brought
under subsection, and replaced upon his
horse. For additional security his feet were
bound under the horse. Coming as far as
Levi Bridgwater's, II was decided that Con
ner and Brown should return TO raise the
alarm as to the escape of one OF the prison
ers. With two lass guards, it was deemed
advisable to redouble precautions against
any farther attempt at escape by tile pris-
oner in char ke OF the REMAINING guards. "A
rope was therefore eli -.IdrI ~ ais fels
Il r-r. rIr- PLACED AROUND HIS NECK, a1nf
One end of which was held firmly by Con
stable Engel, who now brought up the rear
Hunsucker and Spurgeon occupied posi-
tons aside guards, and DAver, armed with
a formidable white oak club. took the &C.
vance, In this condition., the ride was re-
sumed. the guards fully determined thai
they would deliver Alexander Fleetwood