The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-12
STORY OFADYING CRIMINAL
How Young Couples Life Of Happi-
ness Was Changed 10 One of Misery.
An Infant Shot Dead in It's Mothers Arms.
and the Murder Avenged By the Father
Of the Child-Tragedy in Real Life.

Union Depot Oh the early train from St Louis
| yesterday afternoon a party consisting of
TWO gentlemen and lady, of the former
| appearing 10 be in the last stages of consump-
ton, and the lacy's countenance and languid
movements giving evidence of long vieils aud
poignant sorrow. AS they left the train the
invalid was assisted into the waitingroom by his
companions III travel. and. with the aid OF two
large pillows, was made comfortable as posi-
bic on one of the benches in the ladies' waiting
room. The conversation of q couple
OF sympathetic ladies who arrived on
the same train attracted a Journal
reporters attention more particularly to
the group. and approaching and addressing him
self to the robust companion of the invalid. he
made some inquiries regarding his destination
and identity. The gentleman ADDRESSED proved
to be Col. Sam johnson, deputy United States
marshal of Georgia, and he gave the names of
his companions George Arrow and wife.
When asked If his relations to the other two
were official, he replied that he could not be
said to have Arrow under arrest. but he felt it
his duty to keep him under surveillance though
he had fears that escape could be ac-
complishsd, even If it were meditafed, owing to
the weakened condition of the invalid.
Col. Johnson's story of Arrows life. related at
the request of the reporter, was to the effect
that he is about twenty-five years of age and
lives on farm on the Georgia side, and near
the base OF tho mountain range which divides
that State from Tennessee. He was left an
phan at the ago of nineteen, and upon attaining
his majority came into possession of farm and
several hundred dollars in cash. Soon after
wards he married Mary Rousn, neighbours
daughter and the belle of the rural district. and
went to housekeeping in the old homestead.
tins cd fx,o h,-t ~ ~
two county roads This some eight miles
from the nearest village. and Arrow erected
small store-room and invested his surplus mon
ey in stock Of goods suited to the wild section
in which he lived His popular manners and
liberal dealing soon brought him good custom,
and the prosperity of the young couple became
proverbial throughout the neigh borhood. The
birth of an infant added to the happiness of the
little household, and during the dull days Of
trade the young mother spent much of her time
In the store where, with the infant asleep on her
lap. she and her husband pictured the future Of
their in all the beauty of those roseate tints
which are made alone in the laboratory OF
parents love.
In evil hour however and against the tear
fol protests of his wife. Arrow added a barrel of
whisky TO his stock and secured government Ii
the mountainous section soon began to loaf
around, and the young wife ceased to visit the
store with her infant offspring, and remained in
the mouse victim or constant fore bodings.
AS the store was situated near the dwelling,
every loud word was plainly heard by the wife,
aud she noticed that the crowd which fire.
quented her husbands store was daily becoming
more and moro disorderly. Less than year
had thus passed when late evening Mrs. |
Arrow heard an alteration in the store, and |
taking her sleeping infant from its cradle, she |
fastened to the store and entered by the rear |
door. She saw that her husband was |
quarrelinR with some one who standing |
IN front OF the building, and she advanced /
excitedly to the middle of the long, narrow room
Suddenly there bright flash, followed by |
quivered moment, death-like pallor spead over |
it's face and a low moan escaped its lips. The. |
desperado's bullet, aimed at her husband had /
missed its mark and had buried itself in the |
tender form which lay in the sleep of innocence
in her arms. AS this terrible truth flashed
through her mind, the mother uttered loud
hurried to the PROSTATE form of his wife and
was Mortified to find the infant dead and its life
blood rapidly saturating the garments Of the in
rived they found Arrow in state
of mental anguish which babe fair to
dethrone his reason. He tailed to give any sign
roundinRs. but eazed with vacant stare upon
all that went on around him as if he had no in
feress In the terrible events OF the evening.
from room to room without appearing to under
stand the cause OF the solemnity which per-
vaded the house. Suddenly he seemed to be
struggling with himself TO recall the events,
then there was q look of intelligent remem-
brancs in his eyes. and he bent over the form OF
Recovering himself a moment later. he arose.
took down his rife from the pc es the door
and quickly left the house, going 10 the direction
taken by the desperate. after firing the fatal
shot
The next day passed without any word from
the absent husband, and late in the afternoon OF
the second day it was determined to bury the in
FAINT without awaiting his coming. The infant
remains were laid to rest in the country church
yard, short distance away. and the childless
WAS lifted from the heavy road wagon in which
the remains OF the infant borne to the
grave. her husband appeared at the door and
she rushed to his embrace. in fresh outburst
Of grief Addressing her calmly and without
visible emotion, Arrow said: MARY, the ven
geance of God has overtaken the murderer Of our
babe. Let this be enough to explain my absence
and let this DO forever secret between as"
These words were heard by the neighbor who
bad kindly taken charge of the obsequies and
whom three days later the assassin was found on
the mountain side dead. with q bullet in his
brain, the people knew that the infants death
made into the death of the desperate. and while
avery supposed that he had fallen by the
hand of the man whose home he had deprived
Of its brightest jewel, effort was made to hold
him responsible for the deed before the law.
Instead of acting curb upon Arrow the
terrible ordeal through which he had passed
seemed to drive him to desperation, and an en-
ire change came over him. his associations be-
ng of the most desperate character. In less
han year after the murder of his child, he fel,
luder the suspicion OF the governments officers
md q watch was set upon him. One plight last
summer large box. which feft his store ard
was supposed contain fresh eggs, was inter-
epted by the government officials and the guilt
# Arrow proven. the box was found to
contain several jugs of Illicit whisky.
Early in September descent was
made on the still where the liquor
vas made. and in the fight that ensned Arrow
vas dangerously wounded in the side and
nightly wounded in the leg. He was left at
home for treatment that night and two officers
we're left to guard him, while the other prison !
RS were taken at once to Atlanta The wounded
nan tossed about on his bed with q burning fe-
-ef and his wife made q number of trips to the
aree spring in the rear of the house to get him
ooline drauehts of water. What happened |
Turing the night is not known, but the proba-
iitiss that the guards fell asleep, for when |
hey thought that Mrs Arrow remained longer
{ the spring than usual they went to the
ed and found that she had taken her hus-
and's place in it and that ne had passed out with
mt their knowledge of the fact II useless |