The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-01-20

senu IL 10 MS Vile, who had sent for It. Mr..
Flemming, a clerk, came in then, and Mr..
Corwiu addressing him said "Tell this
gentleman of the Sentinel what you know
fe ABOUT MY CHARACTER"
The deputy clerk, somewhat confused,
said: 81 think the course Mr.. Corwin has
pursued was a sober, honest, Straightforward
one, and Mr.. StilweIl's has not been what it
ought to have been. The impression that is
already about the indictment is false.
/ am deputy clerk and was formerly clerk
of THE county.
Mr.. Corwin during the conversation would
frequently say, II can not, can not see how
4 the people have become so preiudiced against
me-" / asked him if the pistol went off
while he was upon the counter, and if he
would describe the manner in which the
shooting was done. He responded with an
imation. and repeated the details of the af.
impress the listener. A description of the
room just now will be of help in describing
the murder. The building fronts to the east,
and the office of Mr. Corwin is about twelve
| by twenty. five feet: the counter comes out
from the south wall, about three feet from
the front and rounds near the center of the
room. Making the two openings in the
railing of wire above the coCnter face direct
| ly TO the front door. About half way back
there is partition and door from the op-
posite wall from the counters. Just in front
of this partition is an ordinary desk. And
now to the description of the ARRAY as he
gave it.
THE CHIEF ACTOR RECeUNTs.
"When Mr.. Stilwell entered, was sitting
just behind and inside the curve in the
counter, and looking through the opening
that is to the left. he came up to this OPEN
ing, and menaced me with something or
other, and drew his pistol at the time.
told him not TO shoot, and reached over to
catch hold of his arm, when he rushed
around to the other opening as though to
get an aim at my back. 1 jumped
back TO this place and managed to catch his
pistol hand, and by this / scrambled over
the counter, and we both went up against
| the wall between the desk and partition.
was pressing his pistol hand down when it
was discharged, the ball passing through my
coat opposite my right pantaloOns' pocket,
(here he showed the holes in his clothing)
and struck against a key. i then shot him
twice and he tell to the floor"
The deputy sheriff showed me the key and
the bullet. The key is large brass door
key, and bent in the center from the force of
the bullet. The bullet entwined itself
around the key and of course did not pene-
trate the flesh, although he feels soreness
at the spot where the force caught his leg.)
! Frequently he would exclaim while ia k
), horrible to talk about" and he would walk
up and down the room hastily and in an evil
dent state of excitement. He displayed no
other signs of uneasiness except in his walk,
and when he stopped he appeared perfectly
cool and calm, as though nothing of verv
great moment had happened. In speaking
of the dead man he always called him
''Tom." "If the people," he said, "only
knew how Tom Stilwell had bullied and
threatened with pistols they would not be
so prejudiced against me-" There is some
thing behind this that originated the quarrel
that people don't know of; but after
this is over i will tell them. There is a
man"-pointing to a young man in the
office-"that Tom Stilwell drew pistol on
once. These men in the Office know him,
and they know that
Z" MY LIFE WAS CONTINUALLY THREATENED.
"Now, here is letter in my blotter that
wrote to the Journal when / saw their tele-
graph to this city in regard to the indict-
ment, and would have mailed it, but heard
that reporter of that paper was in the city
and would be around to see me, and then
l expected to give it to him, but after the
affray / didn't either mail it or give it to
him. He then turned around and said to
his clerk: "Take copy of this for the re-
porter of the Sentinel"
| To The Editor ofthe Journal:
| GENTLEMEN: was surprised at your special
. rom THIS place, InaJ appears IN tO-QayS issue,
in which my name appears pretty freely, and ny
which great injustice is done me as well as the
relatives of the late Allen Makepeace. l hope
you will do us the favor to ascertain the facts in
this matter, and TO aid You in so doing, here
with enclose you list of the names of the grand
jurors also the name of the prosecutor, to whom
: beg to refer YOU, As to my agency in
procuring the indictment against Still
T traitor of ths estate sfae of Allen MaSepeaee had
claim against Stilwell, upon which suit has been
commenced in our circuit court, and which am
hp Sb &c fO 10
OF the claim. The facts are that Stilwell and
some of his friends, feeling that lift were charged
that was instrumental in procuring the indict-
ment-it being well known that We are not on
the best of terms-it would appear that he was
would be looked upon as gratification OF
T malice on my part, and sway public opinion in
has $1,000 ~ So fysnr,y adSIt that
am sorry for Col: Stilwell. and hope he may be
able to satisfactorily explain to all concerned the
alleged deficiency I'm the funds of the late first
national bank ofthis place.
/ hope you will be fair enough, before going
and when you know the truth of it, do the rela.
, tives of Mr.. Make peace, and myself justice ac-
cGE SgngsSi Yours very tr1T ngs f CoRw,s
Joel Stafford, prosecuting attorney; A. w
Thomas deputy; James Hazeleth; foreman
Common, Jos. Smith, Raddall Biddle, VIM. Van
deTader, VIM Cox. Benjamin 2il po F. Johnson, S. s
ANDERSON, Jan. IA.
l asked him where he got his pistol, as
none of the evidence before the coroner's
jury explained that point. He said: at
was with me; / had it in my pants pocket
You see had been warned that he was GO
! ing to shoot me, so procured the revolver
and carried it with me; it was Smith d
Wesson five. chambered revolver, of the
larger size."
I bid him good lay, and assured him
that the Sentinel's great object was to pub
lish the facts in all cases, and in that way be
genuine newspaper. He politely let nft
out and asked me to call again.
CoRwIN or THE BANK BUSINESS.
Later in the day returned to Mr.. Corwin
for word of explanation upon the much
, mooted bank deposit business. asked par
ticularly the status of the $4,000 deposit
''That is as valid as anything ever was.
was appointed administrator, and swore to