The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-19
THE CASTLETON MURDER.
Evidence Bringing Henry Forward as the
Man Who Fired the Fatal Shot.

Another scrap of detail relating to the life of
John &. Motif, who was killed at Castleton,
appears Several years ago he was a collector
for the. gas company of Cincinnati, and he
/ claimed an acquaintance with the Gibsons. OF
that city, who have for number of years been
well known in Cincinnati enterprises. When
Mr.. Davidson tried to get him out of
his opium drunk the Saturday preceding
his leaving Noblesvile, Motif said Somebody
is going to shoot me. Who 1 don't know. [
want to go to Indianapolis" Yesterday an i'm
portant witness was discovered, whose testimony
before the coroner shows that the man to fulfill
| Motifs presentiment of danger was Thomas
Henry. In unraveling the several threads of the
| story it is now certain that Henry did not do
the shooting on the railroad track. Thursday,
June % but the following Sunday 1t was on
the first named date another party made the
night hideous with their shots. and at that time
| Mofit was in Noblesville. But he was near Cas-
| Teton Sunday night following.
| The witness referred to is Grin Shaw, of No
| 458 East Georgia street, this city He told the
coroner that about six weeks ago he went to
Castleton to work on VIM. Hartman's farm He
| became acquainted with Henry, and on Sunday
evening. June % met him at the Vertland sing
| ing school. Henry was telling about q
| shooting scrape he had short
| time before coming to the school. He
| said he was coming down the railroad track
| when the ARRAY occurred. Some one" Henry
| went on with his story Jumped from the side
| OF the track behind me, where he had been lying
down, and without word, fired two shots at
me. At the first shot turned around and said,
DO you mean business He did not answer,
but fired again and ran. went after him, firing
| as fast as possible. The man cried as he ram
! For Gods sake don't fire again. l could not
| overtake him and gave up the chase"
| AS evidence of having been shot at, Shaw says
| Henry showed a hole in his hat and small hole
| through his vest Henry said II had my coat on
my right arm and hat in my hand. The shot
| that went through my vest burned my side.
| shot seven times and loaded my revolver again
as ram AS Shaw tells it, Henry had been
drinking dr which suits another account
track enjoyed a shooting froc in firing at every
| thing that appeared as tempting aim. 1t is
known that out of pure deviltry he killed Brit
! Johnsons dog minute two before Mofft
came on the scene, and it was near Johnsons,
Henry says, the man attacked him. Although
| one man saw Motif with revolver short dis
| lance from NobleSville, it is not probable, if
| Davidsons account of his disposition is correct,
| he would use it without provocation. Henry, on
the other hand. is said to be fond of Furnishing
his revolver, and there is theory that he shot
| through his own hat and vest to make his story
| complete He is now in Hamilton county, doing
work as a farm laborer. He is about twenty
| three years OF age. and has no fixed place of
| living Altogether, Henry does not have the rep
| utatlon of an exemplary citizen
Further evidence as to Motifs identity is
| supplied by the shoes which were found, yester-
| day, by ditch not more than thirty yards from
| where he lay down to die They are new. and
suit Davidsons description. His socks were on
| the other side of the ditch. Other witnesses
are to be examined to morrow.