The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-09-30
THE INDIANA STATE sENTINE THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 9o1875

entered both paths at once and after a short
search two young men, Brandon and Wool
man. started back with a sudden shrek and
called the compaDy's attention to
FRIGHIFUL SCENE.
The body of the murdered Alice was ~
ing under the thorn bush, the head turned
to the right and the clothing in confusion
and somewhat torn. Her head was terribly
mangled and covered with blood, and the
skull had evidently been kicked in by
| some ruffian's boot. In all there were seven
teen cuts about head, face and neck. 1t was
| clear, from the appearance OF the ground,
| too that the poor creature had made bold
struggle for her honor and her life. She lost
the second in protecting the first. Whoever
the brutal murderer might be, he had not
succeeded in his 6endish purpose, aud 1t was
| no doubt through fear of detection snd
punishment that he had resolved to take her
life and forever seal her lips. The effect
of the terrible tragedy upon the cit-
Zens, when they were fully awake to its
| awful enormity, can hardly be described.
| The victim was a sweet-tempered, defense
| less girl, vino had fallen in just such strug
| gle as appeals most strongly to the SYM
patty of men and women, and demands the
| heaviest retribution tor the conqueror. The
circumstances OF the case pointed to Shell as
the guilty man, and are given clearly Ia the
testimony that follows before the
| coroner's jury. All the people
| in the surrounding district were in
the widest state of excitement, and very
early began muttering omiDous threats of
vengeance upon shell before even the case
had been investigated at all. The body OF
the girl, with large escort, was conveyed
to Huntsville, the nearest town to Bell Cen
ter, aud there
THE INQUEST
was commenced before Squire Jones on Fri
day afternoon. The countrymen for miles
around in each direction had focked
to the scene, determined to act sum-
marily on the first shadow OF proof.
James Shell had been speedily taken To the
BellefOntaine jail on suspicion, there to
await the result of the inquest. He wsstirm
and psssionless, and presented a bold front
TO the barricade of hateful eyes and the
threatening whispers Of suspicion that were
heard in all directions. He stouIy as
serted his innocence and wondered that l. 9
should be accused of the crime. His wife
Mslinda was the first witness called and her
testimony is given in full in all its terrible
reality.
THE woMAN's CONFESSION
MaInda Shell, being first duly sworn,
says; That she is % years of age; know
James W. Shell he Is my husband. went
to the reservoir on Wednesday last with
my husband, James w. Shell, my two little
girls and one boy, and Allie Laughlin. We
started from home a little before eight in
the morning. Mrs. Laughlin had gone
with us about two weeks before, and Allie
told me when we went again that she would
like to go with US; that she had never been
there. told her we were going again, and
that would let her know. i did let her
know Tuesday morning by sending her
word with my little girl, that we were
going to start early next morning, and for
her to come down that evening If she
could. She did not come down that eve
ming. My husband took us that way In the
morning and got her, and went to the res
ervoir. We got there about IL o'clock. We
ate our dinner before starting out plumming. |
He had told me that morning that would |
have to stay where he told me; he said If
did not he would kill me when came home
at night. This was before we started, and
after he had gotten the buggy. He
WAS MAD AT MR.. LAUeHLIN.
and said he was going to have revenge.
This was the evening before we went to the
reservoir, after had sent word to Allie by
the little girl. I believed that he would
carry into effect the threat made against me
il did not obey him. He had made threats
against me before. He drove the wagon
into where we ate dinner, and told me
must stay there. He told me this after
dinner. He told Allie that Linn would
stay here and pick hszlenuts; that she Linn
could not go well with the children, and that
they would gopluming. They went together.
She went very willingly. They started in
south westerly direction from where the
wagon was. They were gone at least two
hours before saw either OF them. / heard
no hslooing while they were gone, excepting
once thought heard two men haloo.
am not sCre whether it was down IN
the woods or the men at the mill.
In about two hours or more
SHELL CAMB BACK TO THE WAGON ALONE.
He came back in a different direction FROM
which he went away. When he came back
he spoke and said to me: "Hss Allie got
back yetg' 1 said to him, "Oh! my good
ness mol Where is sbe7" He motioned his
finger to ne to come TO him. did so, and
he said: ST have killed her." 1 said:
"Oh! you haven't killed her have
you?" I commenced crying and was going
TO scream. He then told me if I"peeped"
BE would knock my brains out with "a club.
then said, 'oh, you have not killed her,
have yvou?" He says, "don't you 'Deep!
Your life lies in my hands," 1 said, "oh,
Jim, what did you kill her With" He ssio
he took the butcher kni1e from home and
his jack-knife, to make out that two men
had stabbed her. then said to him, "Jim,
did you really kill herr" He said he did; he
SLdO''ou uoT anu ctdupou uoT DfdlHo OUT
with the heel of his boot / asked him what
be did with the knives. He said he had
thrown them away; that he had washed his
hands and the heel of his boot in the creek.
He had done this before he came up. 1 saw
BLOOD ON HIS SHIRT,
and asked him what that was, and he said |
"Linn, there was little blood there" and
that be had ''rubbed a plum over it," When
he led the horse out to the road he put his |
hand up to his face and said: "There is no
Just soon as lie came back he put me and |
the children in the wagon and started |
us homo. He told me to 90 |
right straight to Mr.. Laughlin's |
and tell them che was lost, III
l did as be eTdered. He said he would go