The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-09

pauy, but claimed to have parted company
with him some distance from the spot where
the murder occurred, to continue his jour
ney on foot.
coNFEssING THE CRIME.
During his imprisonment at Indianapolis
Stout continued his nouchalant attitude and
was stolidly Indifferent to his fate when told
by the officers who were to remove him to this
county that the outraged citizens would
probably wreak summary vengeance upon
his head and lynch him upon his arrival at
the dead mans home. On the way over,
however, he weakened and confessed to Mr..
Marshall, narrating the story OF the crime
with all its sickening details nthe most UNI
feeling manner. He stated that he had
killed the old man for his money in order
that he might enjoy himself with the pro-
ceeds of the robbery. First, l hit him
twice over tine head with the club" said he
coolly, "but as that didn't fetch him, [
grabbed the gun and shot both barrels into
his head" The murder committed, he adj
mitted rihing the pockets of the murdered
man, taking his watch and chain and
few dollars in money, gfterward COW
ering the mutilated remains with
the brush heap and starting for Indianap-
]
visit to the city he had had a very pleasant
visit and he had anticipated much from the
journey from which he was then returning.
AN EXCITING EPISODE.
At Thorntown, on the return trip, the
officers were notified that mobs had organ
lied at Colfax and Washington to lynch the
| prisoner and thinking to Illustrate the
designs of the lynchers, they left the train
and started by carriage for Charlottesville.
Darlington, the home of both the parties to
the tragedy, was about midway between
Thorntown and their journeys end, and was
reached at about IL o'clock at night. Not
withstanding the lateness of the hour, in
telligence of Stouts approach had reached
the town in some way, and the officers found
the streets alive with vengeful citizens
clamoriag for the prompt execution of the
murderer, and the carriage was instantly
surrounded by the frantic populace, many
of those present favoring hanging tine
wretch without further delay. A leading citi-
zen addressed the crowd at length, counsel
ing good order, and his arguments were
| allowed to prevail He argued that Stout
| had already confessed, and the law could take
but one course, which seemed TO satisfy the
| people. The crowd insisted, however. that
Stout should be taken up to the town hall
and questioned in the presence of the people
concerning the crime and his motive for COM
hitting it, and to this, after some parleying
the officers agreed The murderer was placed
upon the platform, surrounded by citizens,
and questioned by DIR. Hopper.
Did you kill Taylor DUNBAR was asked
Il guess l did, - was the cool reply, given
unfiinchingly
| What did you do it for2''
| n cd i
came the curt reply, and to an additional
| question Stout admitted to robbing the body,
and again reeited the story of the crime.
Believing that it would be unwise to leave
their prisoner at Darlington, the officers de-
termined to continue the Journey. and re-
sumed their places in the carriage. short
distance from town they were halted by a
man at the TOP of hill, who apprised them
of the fact that large crowd of the citizens
who had listened to the murderer's confession
had procured DISCUSSES and stationed them
selves short distance below the foot of the
| hill for the purpose of intercepting the party
and lynching the culprit A hurried con-
sultation was held, and plan devised by
which the ambush was avoided. The bars OF
a fence were let down and the party drove
across the fields some distance to another
road along wntch they proceeded without
further moIestation, although they were ptIr-
sued a short distance the mob, when they
discovered the escape of their intended VIC
| tim.
MORE THREATS OF IYNcHING.
Arrived at Charlottesville, Stout was lodg-
ed in Jail, where he remained until removed
to Parke county for trial. For the first day
or two after his incarceration there were
strong threats of lynching, and double
guard was placed on duty about the prison
night and day The strength of the jail and
the determined attitude of the authorities
discouraged the conspirators however, and
no organized effort was made to defeat the
| process OF the law.