The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-06-06
MURDER N PERRY COUNTY.

John Byant Waylaid aud Killed by Un-
known PeFsons-Arrest OF the supposed
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS or the AtrOciOus Deed.
Special to the Sentinel:
ROME, Ind, May 28.-Wednesday last John
Byant (better known as John Trigger Byant),
a peaceable citizen living about four miles
northeast OF Rome, while passing from his
dinner to work "a distance of about half
milel, was waylaid and cruelty murdered by
some person CT persons
The particularsare a0Cut as follows: Byant,
who was working il the woods, about half
mile from home came home to dinner, start
ed back to his work aboUt1 o'clock p. m,
passing by the residence of William Dodd,
who was also working in the Stare woods near
him. Byant seeing DOdd at home said
Come, Bill, let Us 90 to work" NO." said
Dodd, Il am not going to work this evening,
must go and get some corn" Byant then
passed or, carrying bucket with bis boys
dinner, who was plOIing a short distance
from Dodd's. Byant. after leaving D0dds
house, had TO pass through some woodland
before reaching the land be was working on.
In this strip of woods some one concealed
behind tree, close 70 the roadside, stepped
out in front of him and shot him in the
breast. This did NOT bring Byant to the
ground. He appears 10 have run off the road
into the bEshes some thirty yards, where he
fell. The assassin coming mp placed the re-
volver to his forehead and shot him again.
Not satisfied with this, be again placed the
revolver TO his right temple and left him "
ing on his back, horrible sight to behold.
Byant not coming home in the evening his
family became alarmed about him, but
search was not made until the next morn
ing when Dock Byants son, about fourteen
or fifteen years old, went over to DOdd's-
their closest neighbOr-and told him that his
IL Let r.sor ~ n
wanted Dodd and some others 10 go and help
look for him. So DOdd, ice Common, Tine
Glenn and George Gately formed the search
ing party. starting to loOE for him.
Emma Dodd, daughter of the searching
party, said she saw Byant's bucket setting by
the roadside in the aforesaid woods. They
went 10 the place pointed out ky the girl and
found the bucket. They then saw where the
undergIowth Wes broken or tTamped down.
Following up this trail thirty or forty yards
they came on 10 the dead body of
Byrant lying on his back.
Squire Whitmer, Of Rome, was called to
hold an inquest on the body, but the decision
Of the Jury did not bring out any facts.
DR.. Wedding secured tWO bullets that had
lodged in the body; the third appeared to
have passed through,
Smith Black and Willard Dweese turned
detectives, and yesterday brought in Henry
Mallory, who Will have an examination to-
Gay tune ZoinJ before squire DnOnan. mere
is pretty strong circumstantial evidence
against the accused, but 1 think not strong
enough 10 bind him over. His father, Tru-
man Mallory, will be arrested by to-
morrow If ne can be found, indIca-
lions pointing to the two being
the muTderers. Mr.. Byent leaves a wife
and five children. No more peaceable man
ever lived in Perry County. He was COW
ardly, never resenting an insult, bat had the
faculty of finding out more than anyone in
his neighbOrhoo6. The supposed cause of
his death was that he knew too much and he
was put out CT the way before the Grand
Jury met.
1t is very hard blow on his poor, sickly
wife, as be was kind father and very good
provider for his family, they are left in a
very destitute condition.