The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-03-12
THE ROYALTON TRAGEDY.
Further Particulars of the Horrible
Murder of the Forman Women.
No Definate Ciew as to the Guilty Pnrty-The
Circumstances and Surroundings of the
Crime-$2 800 Reward offered.

The corOner's examination last Saturday in
the murder of she Forman women near Traders
Point ELECTED no conclusive evidence as to who
committed the crime, and it is still involved in
mystery. 1t seems to have been deliberately
planned by those familiar with the ha6its of the
FAMILY, and growing ont of the various theories
as to how the murder was committed, which
was fully as horrible in it's brutality at first
reported, suspicion rests upon several persons.
1t is generally believed by persons living in the
neighborhood that the murderers were the
same persons who made several I'M
successful attempts to rob the FOrman house at
different times during the last three weeks. One
man whom Lucinda FOrman, the youngest of the
murdered women, had recognized is known, and
he lives near Traders Point, but the excitement
is so violent that IL is deemed best by those IN
possession of the information to keep it secret
until there some further DEVELOPMENTS CIV
ing more conclusive evidence of guilt of the
CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE MURDER.
1t was the habit of Lucinda Forman to arise,
according to the custom of people living in the
country, at the dawn of day, and attend
to her duties about the house. The
murder, it seems was committed about
O'Clock Friday morning, which was
the hour she usually went out to feed the stock
ana milk the COW. As the women Kept the house
securely barred and locked all attempts to effect
reason, it Is thought, it was decided to commit
the murder in the early morning when the door
was opened by the younger woman she went
about her duties. Evidently, she had started to
the stable, carrying in her arms several ears of
corn, and was attacked while passing between
two sheds. Her head was severed almost en-
tlraly from her body, and the weapon used was
probably an AK. The aged mother was struck
down in the kitchen, and after covering the
derers to have hastily ate break
1ast before beginning the work of
plundering the house, every room of which
was ransacked in the search for valuabes. Until
within the last two weeks the women had had
5000 about the house. hut after the repeated at
tempts to rob them, it was deposited in Fletcher
q Sharpes bank, in this city, and it is thought
that the murderers failed to find any money, as
small box, containing $11.45 in silver,
house, last Saturday, by Charles Forman, which
is supposed to have been all the money the
women had in their possession.
THEORIES OF THE CRIME.
story which caused some excitement
was in circulation Saturday to the effect
that of generally I'M
wholesome appearance had passed through
Traders Point Friday morning, and had been
observed in the vicinity of the FOrman resi-
dence earlier. He was stranger, and his man
ner was altogether suspicious. He avoided the
PIKE until after passing Traders Point, and
would talk with no one. He noticed by
several farmers along the road, was traced
within fve miles of this city, but nothing further
10 hhoWn dpouI nlin Inc general theory, now
ever is that the crime was committed by people
living In the neighborhood, or some at least
familiar with the habits OF the family. If the
murderer was stranger, the crime was
executed, it is claimed, under the direction Of
others There are many vague and wild theories
regarding the matter. The excitement is at
nigh heat, and should the evidence point CON
elnslvely to the guilt of any person, no time
would be lost in lynching him. Upon the ad-
vice of the coroner, Charles F. Forman. son and
brother of the murdered women, has offered, in
benalf or the family, n reward of $500 for the
arrest and conviction of the murderers,