The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-10-31
THE MURPHY MYSTERY.
Additional Particulars of the Killing of
John Murphy in His store at Jackson


Additional Particulars of the Killing of
John Murphy in His store at Jackson
Vile.
Special to the Sentinel:
CRAwFoRDsvILLE, Ind, Oct. 25.-Your cor
respondent has Just returned from the scene
of the murder OF John Murphy, at Jackson
vile, Fountain County, Tuesday night. or
rather Wednesday morning. 1t is involved
IN considerable mystery. Murphy was MUIR
dered in his own sleeping apartment his safe
blown open and a sum of money now esti-
mated at $1,000 taken. Shots were heard
by the neighbors at sometime between 2 and
3 o'clock in the morning. but shooting is
common in that vicinity and no one who
heard the shots imagined a bloody tragedy
was being enacted so close to them.
John Murphy. the murdered man, was
about forty years OF age. and bachelor Hav-
ing been crossed in love at early age, he
had settled down 10 quiet life alone. He
was the owner of a large store i'm the village
of Jacksonville, and was known as a success
full business man. He was a member oil
Company b, Sixty-third Regiment Indiana
Volunteers, and an excellent soldier. He
spent n weary term in a Confederate Prison,
having been captured in one OF the numer-
Gus battles during the Atlanta cam
paign. Through some unforeseen difficult
ty in financial affairs he was forced 10
make an assignment, and at the time OF the
murder he was helping sell out the stock OF
goods. The thieves had entered the room
through a small window in the rear OF
the building in search of booty.
Instead of finding the way easy they Stun
bled over the sleeping man. A struggle took
place and hand 10 hand fight ensued, in
which il became necessary TO silence
Murphy. Dead men tell no tales" A re-
yolver was placed TO his face and bullet
crashed through his head. He fell, back dy-
ing and TO make assurances doubly sure two
more balls were fired into his PROSTATE form,
one through the neck, the other passing
through she heart The weapon had been
held so close TO the murdered man as to
pOwder-ourn large places around each
wound. As telegraphed yesterday the sale
had been blown open and rifled of its con-
tents, supposed to be about $1,000 The dead
mans p0cketb0ok, turned inside out, was
found hv hiA si1a-
Shortly after the CHASTITY crime was discov
ed men began to mount their horses and
scour the country The Alamo Detective
Company was called out and started on the
trail. which led toward this city. IL was
kept nearly 10 this place and lost The tele-
graph used freely and offers OF reward
made for the capture OF the murder and
horse thief but no trace OF him could be
found.
Not clue was left on the scene OF the
tragedy as to the identity of the murderer,
and OF course the detectives are following
blind trail. Several theories are advocated,
one of which duplicates home talent. Al
though names are not spoken, hints are dark.
ly given. No one knows whether the MUIR
der was committed before the robbery or af-
terward.
LATER-A rumor is rife on the street that
pair OF bloody socks, probably belonging
TO the murderer, were found on the premises
to day, aud they were pronounced by the
Sheriff of Fountain County tc belong to
cousin of the murdered man. However this
is only rumor.