The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-24
The Recent Sensational Developments
as to the Killing of the Old Couple.
The Arrest Of Emma and George, Children
of the Murdered Pair-Some Hitherto I'm
published Facts About the Butchery.

of the AK which was brought down upon the
throat of his victims. the people arose to depre-
cate the almost unparalleled deviltry of the deed
that had ended the lives of two aged and almost
helpless citizens, robbed them of two honored
neighbors and Coles county of two respected in
habitants, whose labor had contributed much to
its prosperity An ak, much used by James
Winkleblack. a hired man who was at the Fleet
wood homestead when the horrible crime was
committed, was found in the we'll, which is near
the house, with It's blade stained with the blood
of Nehemiah and Jerusha Fleetwood; drops of
blood were found on the steps leading to Wink
leblack's room, crimson spots were on his pants,
and pistol containing two exploded shells was
in his trunk. These were accepted by the excit-
ed people who gathered about the house as evil
dence conclusive that Winkleblack had stolen
from his room down the narrow stairway into
the dingy little apartment where the venerable
couple slept and left 1t in flames, with their
blood dropping from his hands and clothes as he
went to the well to put his ak where it would not
tell the story of his crime, aud returned to his
room up the narrow stairway.
The report of the crime WAS borne on the pub
lie breath through thickly settled neighbor
hood with wonderful swiftness, and the farmers
for miles around FASTENED to the scene, and,
moved by the horror of the situation, they
caught up the circumstancal evidence of Wink
leblackS guilt, and only the vigilance OF the sher
if, who would not allow his prisoner to pass into
the hands of mob by any fault of his. saved
WInkleblack's life from being the penalty paid
for a crime of which IL may yet be proven he
was entirely innocent Winkleblack was quietly
moved from Jail to Jail until excitement had
yielded place to reason. He was then tried for
the murder of Nehemiah Fleetwood, and, at the
expiration of year, acquitted.
But Winkelblack was not alone with the aged
Feetwoods the night they were murdered.
Their daughter, Emma. and a little grandchild,
daughter of George Fleetwood, were in a room
adjoining that occupied by Winkeblack. The
report was Immediately foated that Wrinkle
black had been paying his addresses to Emma
Fleetwood, and some believed that the latter's
aged parents had been removed to make their
marriage possible. But this was only vague
rumor which subsequent events proved to have
foundation on fact With the acquittal of
Winkleblack, however the murder of the Fleet
woods was not forgotten Nor was all hope of
dealing justice to the responsible ones aban-
doaed.
There were no marks of struggle, 10 search
ing of the apartment for money or valuables-
nothing but the committing of the murder and
the apparent attempt to conceal the crime by
burning the mangled and lifeless bodies; and it
argued that the perpetrator must have
known his ground and been actuated by motives
that would not exist outside OF a limited circle
The story went forth that the neighbors of the
murdered couple knew more than they thought
1t safe for them to tell The county board APP
propriated considerable sum of money to
defray the expense of following the trails that
might lead to the conviction of the murderer. A
few members of the Fleetwood family were never
cleared of all suspicion. Indeed, it has been
quite generally believed in the neighborhood
that they were responsible for the tragic taking
off of their aged parents. There was something
singularly interesting in the character Of George
Fleetwood and his conduct at that time He had
good understanding, quite we'll improved, to
which he added the advantages of a rather pleas
ing person. He was thirty seven years old, Of
medium height light complexioned with very
light hair and eyes. But his sentiments were
not elevated, and he had not inspired the esteem
of those Of his neighbors who knew him best
He was known not to pay his parents any visits
because Of his affection for them and solicitude
for them in their declining years On the other
hand, he was known to be bitter against them,
but he had been at their home the evening
they were murdered. Emma Fleetwood, whose
name was early coupled with tho crime In con-
nected with Winkleblack. was probably about
thirty-six years ct age, Of slender figure. and
1.-the as a twig. The deep black of her hair and
eyes contrasted with skin transparently white
Her forehead was rather high and finely formed,
but her piercing black eyes seemed unacauainted
with tears and with smiles. But there was
something moro than politeness in her address:
was rather remarkable in apprenticeship a
person as one would turn and look back after
when she had passed Yet two more Of the
eight children born TO Nehemiah and Jerusha
Fleetwood were made to rest under a faint of
suspicion. They were John and Albert and at
that time lived near the old homestead.
There were numerous trails, but they were
followed with difficulty, and fog time with in
different success During the trial of Wrinkle
back his counsel asked leave 60 introduce evil
dence as to the whereabouts of Albert Fleet
wood on the fatal night The latter was not
under indictment. and the evidence was not
permitted. But the neghbors continued to dis
cuss the circumstances about their hearth
stones during the last winter, and though the
daughter and three sons have been reticent on
the matter of their parents death evidence has
continued to accumulate, and the late Charles
ton grand jury called before it about the same
witnesses who testified whom an indictment was
found against Winkleblack soon after the MUIR
der was committed
In the meantime changes have worked in the
neighborho0d whore the murder was committed
eight children, each receiving about $500. Emma
removed to Charleston. where she has resided
ever since. John went to Wichita, Kan, about !
a year ago. and nine months later Albert set off
for Washington Territory, while George, who
lately married second time, remained in the
residence he occupied at that time.
From what source the most valuable evidence
was obtained by the grand jury, and what the
character of that EVIDENCE is. are not KIN own
But when its work was completed Sheriff James
Hamilton was armed with warrants for the ar |
rest of Emma John. George and Albert Fleet
wood for completely in the murder of their par
ents Emma wac first put away in the body of
the venerable courthouse of Romanesque style,
built OF Coles county brick. with brown stone
trimmings and decorations such as age leaves
When she entered the cell she turned to the |
jailer, saying II am innocent; take care of me |
here, and make it as pleasant for me as you |
CAM She still AYERS that Winkleback is guilty |
of the murder of her father and mother, but she |
showed neither surprise nor excitement when |
she was placed under arrest. She talks with her |
relatives freely, and occasionally addresses the |
bailiff to declare her innocence, but not to ex-
press any surprise On one of these times she |
said: s'You never see me weep and might sus-
pect that am not sensitive as to my place, but |
you do not known what anguish suffer-