The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-02-20
BEAVERS FALL.
The: Might Before-A Confession of the
Crime-A Review OF the Circum-
stances Of the Murder.

MADISON, lnu., req. lO.-JOnn w. DeaVers
was hung in the court yard at - o'clock to
day for the murder of John w. Sewell, oil
Indianapolis, on the night of November 3
1877.
THE CRIME.
The crime for which Beavers was nung
was one of the most cold-blooded murders
on record, ard certainly could not have been
otherwise than premeditated, as he had am
pie time to think it over. He had been in
correspondence with John w. Sewell, OF In
dianapolis. for some days in reference to the
purchase of some property in Ripley county
which was in the hands of the murdered
man. Beavers made proposition to buy it,
and the offer was accepted, and, to close the
bargain, Beavers sent for Sewell to
come down here and sign the
papers and receive the money. Beavers
met him at North Vernon, and together they
started for the place on Saturday afternoon,
November g. About III O'Clock that night a
Mrs. Gray, a woman living near Liberty
church. in Republican township, about IA
miles from here, discovered bright light in
the church, and giving the alarm the neigh
bors soon gathered around, and entering the
church found that fire had been built in
the center of the floor, and that the body
of murdered man was in the fire.
The flames were hottest near the
head of the man, and hole had been
burned through the floor at that place,
and his face was so badly burned as to be
unacceptable. He presented most repul-
sive picture, with torn clothing, covered
with clothed blood, while all around him
were evidences of a struggle. Near his head
was limestone weighing five or six pounds
and this was covered with blood and hair.
The skull of the murdered man was found
to be fractured in several places, and it was
evident that mis- murderer intended to make
= r
began. Nothing was found on
his person whereby be could be identified,
save an express receipt made out in the name
of Walker, and receipt for load of coal.
Word was brought to this city !theS next
morning, and shortly before noon Coroner
Matthews repaired to the scene and held an
inquest. At this time the identity of the
victim was not known, and it was only after
several days that it was discovered. and only
then when John w. Sewell, Jr., of India
napolis, came down and recognized the re-
mains of his father. Surrounding the body of
the murdered man large crowd naturally
assembled, and in this crowd was Beavers,
who stepped up and, after taking q look at
the corpse, remarked, Somebody gave him
a hell of humping" His actions excited
the suspicious of several present. and he was
asked to explain his whereabouts on the
night OF the murder, bat be could give no
was in several places, in all of which he GER
ta:nly could not have been. He was then
arrested by Constable Smith for
the murder, but maintained the ut
most compOSure, seemingly being
either confident of acquittal or having
no care for his fate. Messrs. Kirk and Smith
were employed to defend him, but the evil
dence was so clear against him that the jury
returned a verdict of murder IL the first de-
UEn and five InnN fha rNvnra le nawrN
This was on the 18th of December, and
Judge j. Y. Allison pronounced the death
sentence in the presence of a crowded court
room. When Beavers heard the sentence, it
Is said, he turned pale dropped his eyes and
COMPRISING his lips trembled slightly. This
however, was but mOmentary, and
soon recovering himself he main
tanned stolid composure and walked
from the court room to his cell as if he were
following the ordinary avocations of life.
From that day until the last moment he
preserved the same composure, which. how
ever, may be accounted for by the fact that
at no time has he expected to be called upon
to pay the death penalty, as only few days
ago he refused to have his photograph taken,
as he said be expected to escape, and he did
not want his pictures TO be following
him around the country. During his
confinement he made two attempts
10 escape, both of which came
very nearly being successful, but were
frustrated by the vigilance of Sheriff Nugent
and his assistants. He has repeatedly said
that if il became necessary for him to die he
would die game" and that he would not
hesitate moment, but would walk upon
the scaffold and adjust the rope as IL it were
an everyday occurrence with him. This was
said when he not only had hopes of escape,
but when he and his attorneys thought
either the supreme court would grant him a
new trial or the governor would commute
his sentence to imprisonment for life.
THE DEATH KNELL.
Shortly before IL o'clock yesterday morn
ing the following dispatches were received:
INDIANAPoLIs, Feb. II.
Clerk Of Jefferson Circuit Court:
You are notified tn at the supreme court has
this day affirmed the judgment Of the court
below In the case of Jonn Beavers VS.. the
Attest: GABRIEL SCHMUCK,
Clerk Supreme Court.
INDIANAPoLIs, Feb. IA.
To John Roberts:
The judgment Of the court below is affirmed.
G. A. BUsKIRK.
This settled it. For the past few days the
feeling had been one of expectation. Every
thing was feverish, and doubt and uncer.
tsinty ruled. There were those who said
there would be no hanging in Indiana, and
Others said Beavers would expiate his crime
upon the gallows, but the news from
Indianapolis spread over the city like
wildfire, and a sudden hush fell upon
the place. Business men spoke
of the event as being the most serious and
solemn that ever occurred in the county,
and while the majority believed that he
would ultimately hang, but few were pre-
pared for it.
NO HOPE FOR YOU.
= When Sheriff Nugent received the news
he first informed the Revs. Charles Tinsley
and David Stivers, and the three went to-
gether to announce il to the doomed man.
Upon entering the cell Mr.. Tinsley said
"Mr. Beavers, we have bad news for you"
"Well, what is it?' asked Beavers, turn
ing deathly pale and trembling visibly.
There is no hope for you" replied Mr..
IL