The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-26
A STRANGER MURDERED.
A Tragedy at Z'onsviIle Resulting in
the Death Of an Unknown Man.
Arrest of Three Tramps in This City on
Suspicion of the C~rime-Their Protesta-
tiOns of Innocence-Their Story.

A telegram was received yesterday afternoon
by the superintendent of police from townsville
requesting him to arrest three tramps coming
In the direction of this city, who were suspected
of having murdered a man who had been found
dead near that place yesterday morning. Cap
cain Campbell ana Seargeants Colbert and Don
nelly, last evening about 6 O'Clock, arrested the
three mon on the Lafayette pike, near the city,
and they were lodged in jail on the charge of va
grancy until further information could be OBJ
tanned from louisville. The men gave the
names of George P. Huntington, Edward John
soE and George WaldrOn.
Only very meager particulars Of the supposed
murder could be obtained. In a telephone con-
versation with the officers at louisville, it was
learned that the dead body of a stranger was
found beneath the c., l., St. L. & c. railroad
bridge over Eagle creek, near that place, yester-
day morning, and he had evidently been MUIR
dered during the night. There were two ugly
holes in the front of his head, besides several
smaller wounds about his face, which had been
inflicted by some heavy, hunt instrument. The
man was not known in louisville, and nothing
could be found about his person indicating his
name or his home. The murdered
man is described as being rather
small, Of light complexion, and rather well
dressed. 1t 10 claimed that the night before he
was seen In company with the three men now
finder arrest in louisville, and no one could be
found who had seen him alone at a later hour.
Vhe circumstances were OF a character to throw
suspicion around the three men, who were
known only as tramps. The message requesting
the police IN this city to arrest them, described
one of the number as having a flesh wound in
the back, where he had been shot.
WHAT THE PRISONERS SAY.
The men were interviewed at the police sta
ton, last evening, by a Journal re-
porter, Immediately after their arrest. They
tell a very straightforward story, and from
their manner of talking seem unconscious that
they were suspected Of having committed q
murder, They claim that they had been travel
Ing with Barnum's circus as canvassmen until
IT reached Cincinnati, last Monday, when they
left it and started to Chicago. They state that
they were in louisville on Thursday and waited
there until evening with the hope of being able
to steal a ride on an east-bound freight train
which passes through that place about8 O'Clock.
They mad succeeded in secreting themselves in
one OF the freight cars and were joined by q
d eirnhS' P TS6 st Tn e was noisy D0i't oon@sct
led to the discovery of their
hiding place by the station agent, and they were
driven out OF the car just as the train was about
to start. The three men then, after a short con-
sultatiun, decided to come back to this city and
again join Barnum's circus. They started opt to
wax, but a short distance out from townsville
sat down on the track, and they sat there until
a freight train came along and wrecked them.
ONE OF PIE MEN HURT.
They were sitting on the cross-ties, and did
not know that a train was near until Hunting
ton was knocked out into the ditch. His
back was very badly injured, and GER
tainly has the appearance of a man
who had come violently in contact with
a moving train, his clothing being completely
torn out In the back, and a rather large area Of
skin is missing. He was, however, able to walk,
and they proceeded on their way to the nearest
farmhouse, where they we're given permission
to sleep In the stable during the night.
Huntington was able to walk, only in
q very slow gait, yesterday, and they
did not reach this city until even
ing, when they were arrested. The men claim
Ehat after injury OF Huntington it was their in
tentton TO try TO get him in the city hospital
here until he fully recovered, while Johnson and
Waldron intended to join the circus again to-day.
They described the man who was put out Of
the freight-car with them as being very tall, of
dark complexion, and in no way bearing any re-
semblance to the description given of the man
who was found dead.
The coroner OF Boone county held an inquest
over the body of the murdered man at louisville,
yesterday, and last evening it was decided to
hold Huntington, johnson and Waldron on sus-
picion. An officer was sent after them, and they
were this morning taken TO Boone county, where
they will be lodged in jail to await preliminary
examination.