The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-11-30
The Wanderers Dying Statement. as Given TO
q FellOw-COnyict-A Journal Reporters
"reminiscences Of a Startling Crime.
How Walton Was Killed and O. NJ. Gar
rett'S Connection with the Murder.
The Latter's Arrest, Trial. and Acquittal, and
Subsequent Lynching-0ns of the Most
Sensational OF Indiana Tragedies.
A STORY OF BLOOD.
Aaron Frazier, the Murderer of John NJ
Walton. Dies in Prison.

Aaron Frazier, the Murderer of John NJ.
Walton, Dies i'm Prison.
Louisville Courier journal, Goth.
AT 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon Aaron Fray
ier completed his sentence 1t the JefIersonville
penitentiary for one Of the most atrocious MUIR
ders ever committed in the Hoosier State. he
was sent MP for life from Decatur county in
September, 1852, for the killing of John Walton,
q wealthy old farmer. who lived at a little vii
lsge called Adams.
About six weeks ago Frazier was taken with
typhoid fever. and just as he recovered con-
sumption set in. He sank rapidly, despite the
efforts of the physicians. and at 8 o'clock yes.
tsrday afternoon he breathed his last on a couch
at the prison hospital.
A convict In the penitentisry who was present
at the trial and knew the parties concerned in
the tragedy. related thu particulars TO a Courier
Journal reporter last night.
Emma Arnold was a beautiful girl, = no lived
with her parents on a small farm near Adams,
Ind. She had two lovers, both Of whom were
widowers-John Walton and Oscar NJ. Garrett.
Walton was about ~ffty-two years of age and was
worth about 5000, 600. besides owning one Of the
finest farms in Indiana. His hair was cray, his
face wrinkled, and at the time it looked as if he
would not live long. Everybody in the county
knew and liked him. and no needy person ever
appealed to him for assistance and went away
emptyhanded. The fair Emma did not want
Walton for a husband. but she had q longing for
his money. Garrett was her favored sutton, but
he was a worthless, dissolute fellow. who had
been involved in all sorts Of bad scrapes, and all
he had to offer her was q life OF poverty. and
perhaps no end of trouble.
While pretending to receive only the visits OF
Walton. Miss Arnold met Garrett secretly. and
at length they arranged q plan by which they
could get Waltons money and still be married.
Emma was to tell Walton she would be his wife
when he came the next time, and they were to
be married. Then she was to put poison in his
food, a little at O time, so ss to kill him slowly
and not excite suspicion.
Everything worked well as far as the mar
riaee was concerned, for the poor old man read
lily fell into the trap laid for him. The poison
with which the murder was to be committed
was procured, but the woman's courage failed
her at the last moment, and she refused to adj
minister il. In the meantime she continued 10
meet Garrett secretly. Their intimacy grew 70
be neighborhood talk, aad hnaily AZ reeckeo tne
ears of the husband. He resolved 10 say moth
ing to his wife about it until he was sure it was
true.
One evening Walton informed bis wife that
he was going To ST. Omer. TO be absent several
hours. and he started down the road. apparent
ly on his journey. Garrett soon put in an ap-
psarapce, aud SO confident were the guilty pair
that Walton knew nothing of their intimacy,
that they went boldly TO the womGn's bedroom.
Walton slipped noiselessly into the house and
with bis own eyes he witnessed his wifes un-
faithfulness. Notwithstanding his advanced
age Walton was a big, strong man, and lie pro-
naa1aA o n LinG Garraff from shn hauCn Mra
Walton pretended to faint, and after recovering
che seemed to be so repentant that Walton
agreed to forgive her IL she would have nothing
more to do with Garrett This she readily
promised, and everything again went smoot
for q time.
Mrs. Walton, however, kept Garrett well sup
piled with money from her husbands pocket
book. Garrett was not satisfied; he wanted
all the old mans money. and he proceeded forth
with to arrange a plan by which he might OBJ
tain it.
In the little village of Adams lived a colored
man named Aaron Frazier, who conducted a bsr-
Der shop. and having served a term Ia the prison
for grand larceny, he did not bear a very good
reputation. Garrett lad decided that Walton
must die, and finally he selected Frazier as the
very man TO kill him. The remainder of the
story Is best told in Fraziers own words. the d.
Alect eliminated. as he related it to George
Elder, q fellow-convict, a few hours before bis
death:
Garrett came to my shop one day in Febru-
AIRY, 1867. he QaQ n DOttleO Il huitky viii uADns
which ne passed to me frequently, and although
/ did not like him before, L concluded be must
be a pretty good sort of a fellow, after all.
Finally, he made known the object OF his visit.
Walton lived far from any farmhouse except
Garrett's. and il l would slip in and kill him, no
one would be any the wiser. For this work he
was to pay me $50, and Mrs. Walton was 10 give
me another $50. You know $50 Is a
who never had that much at one time
in his life. Well, L agreed after some persua-
sion. 1t was arranged that a dance was 10 be
gwen at CARROTS the next night, go he would be
able TO prove an alibi. Walton was in the haelt
of sitting at a window at night and reading the
newspapers. Mrs. Walton was 10 have the cur
tain pulled aside SO I could have a good view or
him. and / was to blow out his brains with q
musket.
Garrett gave me a bottle of whisky and sent
me off to do the murder. Sure enough, the cur
tain was pulled aside, and there sat The poor old
man looking SIS innocent as could be. L raised
the gun I'd fire, but my heart failed me when /
thought of how often he had loaned me money
and helped me in many ways, and i lowered IL.
Then i went back TO the haystack where | had
hid my bottle and took another drink. This
made me drunk, and l returned. and. aiming at
the old mans heart, I fred 1 waited long
enough to see him fall with the blood streaming
from his heart, and then | ran TO the haystack
and hid my gun. Hurrying quickly back 10 the
house. / assisted 10 placing the body on the be-,
appearing to be as sorry as the rest OF them.
No one knew who did IL, and there was not the
slightest clew.
zone day / got drunk and went about town
boasiing that | was the murderer. They ar
rested me, and | made a clean breast OF IL.
Garrett and Mrs. Walton were arrested.
The former got q change OF venue 10 Jennings
county on account of the bitter feeling against
him 10 Decatur, and at the trial he was &C
Quilted. Then be returned to Greens5urg,
where we were in Jail. The sheriff was ready
for him with o warrant. charging him with at
tempting to rob Hiram Stanley, q farmer. and
he was again placed in Jail. 1t seems that not
long before o masked man had entered Stanleys
residence and commanded him TO give up his
money or be killed. The old man very coolly
said, Go over TO that bureau drawer and get it
yourself The burglar pulled out the drawer
aud was looking through IL when Stanley slipped
up behind him aud split his head with an ak.
Hardly had he done so before be heard o voice
on the outside. which he recognized. TO say:
Hurry up, jim; kill the old man and let's be GO
ing Stanley yelled back that Jim would
probably remain oil night
1.-The first night Garrett was In jail n mob
came, took him out and hanged him 10 a maple
tree in the ~jsil-yard. The next day l pleaded
guilty and was sent I'D for life. Mrs. Walton
denied hiring me. but she was sent 10 the In
dianapolis Penal Institution for Women 10
serve o life sentence. The worst of il all was
that l never got my money for killing the man.
Mrs Walton is now in the prison, aud has
made numerous attempts 10 secure a pardon.