The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-29
A SMALL CLEAN OF HOPE
For Mrs. Walton, Who Is Serving a
Life Sentence for Murder.
Aaron Frazier, the Negro, Makes an Explicit
Denial of His Former Statements I'm
plicating Her In the Crime.

Readers of the Journal will remember the hor-
rible murder of John Walton, near St. Paul, Ind,
about year ago, for which Aaron Frazier,
colored man, now serving a life sentence for
the crime, and Mrs. Walton a similar sentence
Tor being accessory to it. Walton, who was
well-to-do farmer was killed by some unknown
person while sitting in his own house, the shot
being fired through a window. Aaron Frazier,
a negro, was arrested for the crime and made a
full confession, in which he said that he had
been hired to commit the murder by o. NJ Gar
rett, neighbor who had been on terms of
intimacy with Mrs. Walton. In Frazier's first
confession, and in his subsequent statements be-
fore the grand jury for several weeks, he did not
accuse Mrs. Walton of any completely IN the
crime, but in his last statement before that body
he said that she and Garrett planned the murder
and he executed it. She was arrested, and after
a long trial couvicted-Fraziers testimony
doubtless having the greatest influence In secur-
ing this result-and sentenced to imprisonment
during the remainder of her life. The fact of
her intimacy with Garrett was developed during
the trial, but the evidence, aside from this and
Frazer's confession, was not strong Garrett it
will be remembered was acquitted by a jury
In Jennings county, where his case
was taken on change Of venue,
and few weeks later, while imprisoned at
Greensburg for another offense, he was taken
from the jail by a mob and hanged. The TRACE
dy then dropped from public notice as two of the
participants were in prison for life, and a third
dead.
FRAzIER's ENUMERATION OF MRS. WALTON.
The excitement over the murder and subse-
quent convictions has been renewed, however,
by the following letter, which Frazier recently
wrote to Dr. ]. L. Wooden, a prominent gentle
man of Greensburg:
'INDIANA STATE PRISON SOUTH, I
May ID, 1888.
"Dr. ]. L. Wooden.
"Dear sir-Since have come to this prison,
and have had time to carefully think over the
awful crime of killing John Walton, can now
begin to realize what terrible act have done.
1t appears almost like dream to think that
could be induced, under any circumstances, to
kill a good man, neighbor and a friend; it was
whisky that made 1t possible, but that does not
justify the crime.
habeas corpus trial of Mrs. Walton, and at the
time testified in court on her hnal trial, was
led to believe. and did believe, that to save my
own life it was necessary that should make It
appear that Mrs. Walton was connected with the
murder OF her husband.
''Mr Garrett told me what should say took
place between myself and her that evening
when went home with her from my house, and
John Mckee and Mary French were along; and
he induced me to tell that conversation and to
testify to it on her trial He told me II said
thai 1t would help me, for every one would be
ready to believe she helped kill her husband, and
If / did not do it they would hang me sure.
When Garrett was killed 1 was fearfully
excited, and up to the trial of Mrs. Walton la
bored under great excitement. Life is dear, and
l am sorry say testified against Mrs. Walton,
as to that conversation. just as had been told,
believing 1t was actually necessary to save my
life by laying the blame on her.
t'Many people know that / told them before
this last trial of Mrs. Walton that she had moth
ing to do with the murder of her husband in any
way, and had testified to that before Squire
Fugit and the coroner, and that was the truth,
as | expect to answer to my Maker on that great
day. The talk I testified about when going
home bsreheaded with her one evening, about
putting Jack out of the way, was all false in
every particular.
''Mrs. Walton never spoke to me on the sub
ject OF killing her husband, and in way, by
word or act, did she ever intimate that she had
any idea that he would be killed. AS act of
justice to Mrs. Walton and her children, and to
atone for the great wrong done this family, and
to ease my own conscience, 1 make this state
ment to you, as have done to our chaplain and
others. and would ssk the jury that tried Mrs
Walton, and Judge Bonner, who has dealt so
ney and Mr.. Miller to do all they can to release
Mrs. Walton, for she is innocent of the crime of
which she was convicted.
81 cannot write, and have asked a friend to do
this for me. l have felt very bad since testi-
fled against Mrs. Walton, and you may publish
this in the county papers make any OF it
you please, hoping 1t may help right the wrong
have done her.
"You have been my friend, and wanted to
tell You this before l came away. Yours
speetfuly, AARON FRAZIER"