Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-30
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A vineennes Qnd.) special says:
sheriff John A. Padgett, Of Shoales,
Martin county, Ind, arrived here Mon
dsy snd announced that he was alter
John h. Archer, . former citizen OF
Martin county, who is charged with
Murder committed four years ago near
Shosles. Your correspondent Was told
by Sheriff Psdgett that about the time
Of the commission Of the horrible crime,
which Is almost unparalleled in crimi-
nal history, Archer lived with his
wife, . deserving woman, on a
well-cultivated farm near Shosles.
His brother, Samuel Archer, who was
recently arrested for demonstrating
Thomas Archer, Martin Archer, George
Holt, and John Lynch were his nearest
associates, and they carried on their
depredations IN defiance Of law. In
their neighborhood resided young
German named John Il. Bunch. The
Archer cliqse had frequently attempted
to take Bunch into their favor, but
without avail. Finally the Archers
began to regard Bunch as a dangerous
man. and set about scheming TO dis
pose Of him. Bunch was regarded as
an honest, fearless farmer, and his mys-
FERROUS disappearance in April, 1851,
occasion:d great excitement among the
good people Of Martin county. People
suspected that the Archer gang got
away with Bunch. Lost river, q weird,
winding, underground stream, beneath
whose waters many dark crimes have
been hidden, was dragged for the re-
mains Of the missing man.
THE CONFESSION.
Tne passed on. Bunch was not
found. Sunday Mrs. Archer, wife
Of John b. Archer, turned up. She
had been at the poorhouse in Martin
county for several weeks. On Sunday
she told the superintendent that she
knew all about Bunch's disappearance.
She said one day her husband, John b.
Archer, inveigled Bunch down to the
banks Of Lost river and murdered him
and threw him in. When the people
dragged the river, the Archers got
scared and took out the body, put it in
the boiler Of the engine of an old port
able saw-mill, boiled it for two days
and nights, and then took out the bones
and placed them in grave beneath a
coffin. Here the body Of Bunch was
allowed TO rest but few days, when il
was again taken up and placed some
where else, Mrs. Archer knowing not
where. She said all the men above
were implicated in the crime.
Her affidavit was taken by Prosecuting
Attorney Mccormick and warrants
issued for all the above charged with
the murder Of Bunch
Sheriff Padgett this afternoon went
after John Is. Archer, who, Mrs.
Archer said. lived on the farm Of Leroy
Boyd, five miles south Of Vincennes.
Padgett, in company with \ deputy,
approached Archer's home.
ARCHER SHOWS FIGHT.
Archer was making rails. Padgett
showed him the warrant, when Archer
declared he would not 60, and went TO
he house, got his gun, and ordered the
'fficers of the premises. A man and
woman were at the house with Archer
With guns and frightened the officers
way. Tonight Sheriff Padgett has
AIKEN fifteen men and proposes to have
Archer and his companions, dead or
live. Archer deserted his wife after
he disappearance Of Bunch, and by
poverty she was driven to the poor
house,