The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1880-02-14
MURDER OF JOHN G. F. BROWN.
Arrest OF Joseph W. Wade, the
ParamOur Of Brow Wife.
Mr. Brown Confesses at Last That
Wade Killed Her Husband.

Wade Killed Her Husband.
Her Confession Makes Her Guilty of Cover
ing up the MurJerer's Tracks.
On Friday night of last week Captains
Splann and Campbell went 10 the country
to look after horse and buggy. They
found the same in the possession of far
mer, about two miles east of the city, on
the National road The horse, blanket
and lap robe were covered with blood and
they suspected that some one had been
foully dealt with Soon. after daylight next
morning the body of man was discovered
about one-half mile north of the National
road, on the Belt railway.
After the discovery OF the body, toll
gate keeper and other zpersons living in
the vicinity, recognized the body as that
of John g. f. brown, GARNER who lived
five miles east of the city.
Upon the officers at the Central station
being notified, CaptainsS plann and Will
hanson at once went out to where the
BODY was found. By careful examination
of the clothes of the dead man they found
evidences that the body had been dragged
from the buggy to the place where it was
found. The coroner was notified and he
ordered undertaken Kreglo to take the
body in charge, and it was removed to his
establishment on North Delaware street.
The officers held a consultation and it
was agreed that the circumstances pointed
very strongly to Joseph Wade, saloon
keeper who had been living with Mrs.
Brown, wife of the murdered man, fer sew
eral months; during time that Brown
was serving out a years sentence in the
penitentiary for receiving stolen goods.
Officers Case aud Schmidt were ordered to
90 to the Brown farm and arrest Wade
which they did. -
Wade is % years of age, and came to
this city from Tennessee In 1864, about five
months ago. He kept saloon at the ter
minus OF Virginia avenue, but sold it and
has since been living with Mrs. Brown on
the farm. Mrs Brown was afterward taken
into custody.
cember 81, and was not at home long be-
fore he noticed an intimacy between Wade
and his wife. He often said to friends that
he feared Wade would kill him. On the
night of the murder Mrs Brown sent the
two oldest children to neighbors, telling
them that she and Wade would come after
them. That was the last time they saw
their father alive; in about an hour after
the children had been at the neighbor's,
Mrs. Brown and Wade came over. Mrs
Brown carried fiddle and Wade carried
the child. Wade played the fiddle for
some time, Mrs. Brown insisted upon re-
turning home early as she said she was
afraid the house would be burned. By an
examination of the Brown premises, spots
of blood were found about the house. Mrs.
Brown has been testifving before the cor
oner during the week, and, although at
first denying all knowledge of the murder
has at last made a confession which ap-
pears below:
CONFESSION OF MRS. BROWN:
was at home last Friday evening. February
6, 1880. Ny children came home at O'Clock.
We had supper at about $3.50, and as soon as
they ate their supper sent tie two oldest Off
after them; also told them that maybe Wane
would come with me- wehad supper in the
Hs thee chiinren: While we &ere still at the
ssRs ssPea Brown sS s to let him buggy % tnas
that A Smith ~ soid G i him IMsds5 that Dr.. Long
wanted to buy his horse, The horse was not
Wades for nae nad Sp1gnt ign f IL o. him no Ior saoM s,o
the horse was too small. and he gave Wade
permission to sell it, Brown asked Wade why
he had rather go in the buoy. So Brown
gave him permission to take ~. Then Wade
went and nitched the horse 60 the buggy. II
was hardly dark yet-just about twilight. My
little girl wanted TO go out, and took her out
the back way, back OF the ash hopper. Wade
had not come into the house from hltching the
horse when Itook my little girlout; before this
1 had gathered up some OF the d1shes but had
not washed any yet. The table was sitting in
ont. Brown was standing By the table whit
tling an ak hanule. He had on an old every
day coat, but don't know whether he had on
his hat or not He almost always wore 1t In
the house and out. AS was coming in at the
kitchen door, which is on the south side OF the
house went aToan4 f Wd 5ne east enc od tn9 mouse
when heard the noise heard no words,
but a dull sound as IL from q gun a long way
/ had lust passed the southeast corner of the
kitchen with my child in my arms. kept on
till l got to the north gate heard no addf-
tional noise. The front door was open. The
buggy stood nearly opposite the gate; the
horse which was attached TO the buggy stood
with his head to the east. When got to the
and the buggy, buta little west Of the gate. 1
said, "Joe, you amt gone YETI" 1t was then
sssn to Smiths d to play the addIs He called out,
"Co back with that child.' I ran In
the house with the child, and she
here darling, till ma comes back" | closed
the front door and went back to the front gate.
When first went to the gate Mr.. Brown was
gate and his head toward the buggy, close to
the hind wheel. The buggy robe was under
him, and the blanket over him, SO that
could not see his head. After took the child
In and returned Brown was still groaning, as
he was when first came to the gate. 1 said,
Darling, this Is what love will do" and
threw his arms around my shoulders. He
said, "I love every hair OF your head better
than my own life." Mr.. Brown was still
groaning, and he Joe) said: "Shall l hit
him?" said, mo" He said, 81 shall have
hit him or use my knifes / said sOh, my
| God, no; don't touch him. Let me take him
| In the house." / had not SEEN his head, and
didn't know he was SO badly hurt. Wade said,
eNo, this has got to be finished;v and added,
''you go into the house and take that child
In" The child had got hall way to the gate
took the child with me-. 1 was screaming and
! crying, and the child said, "What, ma, what?
and began crying. told her some one killed
her pa, but did not tell who. II closed the
door when vent in. Wade 4ame in and
! the cap was produced and Witness identified
1t as tile one she gave Wade at bis request.) /
/ asked what coat he wanted. Brown had no
| oyercoat He said: "The one Bfowu had the
evening before" He did nottell where he was
going with Brown. he said he was going over
turn, and he said: "Just as y roIf as can get
4 back. he told me 10 clean M t6e things and
| remove the blood at the Il to him
! couldn't. He said: you had better" / got
down on myknees and begged hin to bring the
i body back into the hoqeo, and Earned down
the bed He said: Never mitd, dear; Ill
mss ss5s q nS s4n sn xss nss as
(Wadel SAID: "No.p took ibid o1him (Wadel
and begged him not to take BxoWuaw way and he