The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-25
STATE NEWS AND GOSSIP.
Additional Details Of the Murder at
Pleasantyille, Sullivan County.
A Spiritualist Manifestation that Opened the
Eyes of the Belieyers-Attempt on
Gov IIamiltOn'S Life.
INDIANA.
The Pleasantville Tragedy-Additional Par
tieulars of the Killing.

The Pleasantville Tragedy-Additional Par
tioulars of the Killing.
PLEAsANTvILLE, March 23-Further particu-
lars in the Meeks-Goodman tragedy are as fol
lows; 1t seems that some two years ago Meekss
sister was ruined and Goodman was accused as
the author Meeks met Goodman in town and
drew brick on him, asking him to kneel down,
but Goodman drew revolver from his pocket
and told AIeeks to drop his brick, which he did,
when they were separated. Then again, after
ward. they met at picnic and came near killing
each other, but were kept apart by mutual
friends. Goodman went West, and has been
gone for something like year. lie only came
back about two weeks ago. He was warned of
Meeks's threats, but replied that he was not
afraid. On Friday Meeks came to town and
borrowed Dr. Jennings revolver telling him
he was going to shoot a dog The
next morning was the township conven-
ton, which Meeks attended and, getting
intoxicated, he swore that he was going to
kill four men before he left town. He mentioned
a young man by the name of Bedwell, and
others He said Bedwell would never live to
drive his team home. While friends We're try
ing TO get Bedwell to go home Meeks went into
Wood d Howards store, where he saw Goodman
sitting with his back toward the door. He
walked up, put the revolver to his back and
fired, the ball passing through the body and
lodging just under the skin in front. Goodman
rose and clinched Meeks. In the scuf1e they
Knocked down the stove both falling to the
floor, Goodman on top. He wrenched the re-
voVer from Meeks, and placing it to his fore
head, fired twice both balls passing clear through
Meeks's head, then shot him in the chest, killing
him instantly. Goodman got up and, saying,
Boys. l have killed him" walked out on the
platform IN front Of the store, and fell. He was
carried to DR.. McDowelfs office. where he now
is, not being able to be moved. He may recover.
Meeks's body lay at the uudertakerS shop all
night no one, not even friends, watching with it.
Faulty Spots in Spirituafist Manifestation.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, March 24-For several
months past the subject of spiritualism has been
the all-absorbing theme in this community, and
many very remarkable developments have been
made by the medium, Mrs. Jennie Speed.
Seances have been held nightly, first at the resi-
dence of one believer and then at another Elk
element ran high for several weeks among some
of the strong believers, and Sunday night, while
holding a seance at the residence of lady in the
city, purse of money, containing about $50,
was dropped in the circle, and it was said to be
a sum of money which had been buried four
years ago by a man who died about that time.
The spirits informed those present that this
money must be applied on the taxes on the prop
erty of the lady i'll whose house the seance was
being held. An inspection of the coins revealed
the fact that one more of them had been
coined in 1881, one year after the man died who
was supposed to have hidden the money. The
conversation with the spirits was carried on
through a trumpet in dark ROOM but on Mon
day night a complete exposure was made of the
trick used in the seances and now there are a
larger number of people in this city, recent con
verts to spiritualism, who are done with it for
ever The woman medium has played it very
smoothly on her dupes, but her occupation is
gone now