The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-01


special to the Indianapolis journal
SHELBYvILLE, Sept. 30.-At o'clock this
morning an alarm of fire was sounded, and
it was soon learned that the alarm came
from house in the eastern part of the
city owned by Mrs. William Henry and oc-
cupied as house of ili-fame the proprietress
being Ida Moore, who goes under the as
sumed name of Kittie Wells. The other
girls in the house were Maggie Wells, who
came here from Columbus, and Flora Gar
rett, from St. Omer, where her parents reside.
The house is a two-story frame, with two
rooms up stairs and two on the first floor
with q wood-shed attached. The house was
undoubtedly set on fire, the flames first ap-
pearing in the wood-shed or kitchen.
Flora Garrett and Maggie Wells retired
about o'clock, sleeping in the back room
upstairs. The door between this room and
the front room was locked with paddock
From the kitchen stairway up into the
back upstairs room, in which was no win
dow. The stairway, in case of fire, was the
only escape from the room. In the front
room down stairs slept Kittie Wells and
Nelson Purdum, and Immediately east of
this room slept Herman Tormelia, whose
room was under that of the two girls up
stairs. The flames spread so rapidly
that the two girls could not
get out of the burning house, and
both were burned almost to crisp Pur-
dunn, Tormelia and Kittie Wells made their
escape from the fast burning house. leaving
the two girls upstairs to perish in the
flames.
When the citizens learned that two unfor-
tunate girls had persisted, their suspicious
were at once aroused that the two victims
possibly had been murdered and then the
house fired to cover up the terrible crime. A
post mortem examination was held by DR..
Robins and DR.. Kennedy. The body of Flora
Garrett has the appearance of being stabbed,
one cut being found across the left arm and
two gashes across the left side. A
long dirk-knife, opened, was also
found. Many persons believe that
murder and arson have been committed but
there is no authentic evidence to establish
the former. The coroner began an examlna-
ton this afternoon, and will continue the
taking of testimony tomorrow. Katie Wells
stated before the coroner that the two girls
burned had in their possession considerable
money. Tormelia stated that he and one of
the girls, about midnight, had a row, caused
by his taking from off her neck a
gold chain. This was not found
Also that yesterday stranger came TO this
city, and meeting him and Tom Smith,
asked for Hardeback's saloon; that during
the afternoon this stranger called at the
Wells house and attempted to kiss one of
the girls and while there stated that that
fellow with black mustache (meaning Pur-
dum) would not wear it much longer. Last
night Purdum and Tormeia went to this
house together, and fearing they would
have trouble with the stranger, Purdum
wore a false mustache and whiskers The
stranger was not there, but there were pres
ent Fred. Flohr, Clint. Farley, George
Lawrence and Charles Wilson, who left be-
tween 70 and o'clock. The more plausi-
BILE story is that the house was set on fire by
some one unknown, and that the stairway
being burned away, the poor girls had no
means of escape. Public feeling runs high
and many express their belief that a great
crime has been committed. Pur-
dunn and Torlnelia were held
under bond for their appearance
tomorrow. 1t is expected that some new
developments will be made tomorrow. The
terrible sensation is shrouded III mystery,
but it is hoped that the truth may be discov-
cred soon.
Ida Moore was raised in Greenfield, is
about twenty-five, and quite handsome.
The two girls burned were aged about
twenty-four. Miss Garrett is niece of
Oscar NJ. Garrett, who was hung by mob at
Greensburg. The bodies are here waiting
for their relatives to arrive. A great crowd
thronged the coroner's Office this afternoon
Theories About the Atkinson Murder.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal
LAFAYETTE, Sept. 30.-Oxford is still great
ly excited over the Atkinson murder, and
rumors are current, not only in Oxford, but
in this city, that point the finger of suspi-
cion towards woman-not that she did the
deed-although there are number who be-
lieve that it was woman's work but that
she may either know something about it or
is connected indirectly with it. Under the
extraordinary condition of affairs at the At
kinson home and in Oxford, occasioned by
the murder of the young girl rumor has
been reaping harvest. 1t has been busy in
lifting the curtain and revealing the history
of family.
The name of milliner, Mrs. Frank John
son, living on the north side of the public
square, has been linked with that of Mr.. At
kinson in an unenviabe light. The woman,
it is said, was particularly obnoxious to the
murdered girl, who on one occasion is said
to have expressed her opinions pretty freely
about her to the family of Mr.. Atkinson.