The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-11
SEARCHING FOR EVIDENCE
Morgan County Grand Jury Still After
the Gravestone Decorators.
Two Brazil Women Engage in q Bloody Fight
Purdue Foot Ball Kiskers Presented
with the Cup-0ther State Items
rwo Suspicious CHARACTERS.
Story Of the Clayton Cemetery Sexton
McMorris's Queer Talk.

Story Of the Clayton Cemetery Sexton
McMorris's Queer Talk.
Special 20 the Indianapolis Journal
MARTTNsvILE, Ind. Dec. 10-Several
witnesses have been before the grand jury
during the past ~forty-eight hours who
should be able to throw considerable light
on the recent dissertations of soldiers
graves John Lukenbili. of Clayton. was
here Friday and appeared before the
grand jury TO tell what he
ing investigated. He is the sexton
of the Clay ton cemetery. In an interview
he said: The Monday after the election
Lester Stone and / were making q grave in
the cemetery. Stone was doing the mason
~ work and l was shoveling dirt. While
We were very busy two men en-
tered the cemetery. They walked leis-
urely about from grave TO grave
reading the notices on all the head
stonea Although il is not an unusual
thing for men TO visit the cemetery. their
actions were such as TO excite my wonder
menk. After sauntering around for some
time they walked M to where we were
working. After addressing us they merely
asked: lis the deceased to be given an
Odd-fellow's b~uriall" We answered that
he was. They then moved on and walked
out of the cemetery.
Ibid you know the menf" was asked.
No. i had never seen either of them be-
fore that / know Of"
DO you think they were from the neigh
borhood of ClaytOnp'
NO, for 1 believe 1 know every one who
lives near Clayton, and i didn't know
these men,"
'Can You give their descriptIonG"
Yes. The two men. while talking to us,
were within a few feet. but we were very
busy and | aid not notice them as | would
under other conditions. But l did notice
this: One of them was unusually tall. lie
had o clean-shaven face and broad shout
aers. The other was inclined TO be short,
and wore q mustache that was of q sandy
color. There was nothing In either mans
dress that particularly attracted atten-
ton"
do you think those men had any thing
10 do with the desecrationlo
THINKS THEY WERE THE MEN.
IL do. The dissertation occurred that
night. and the next morning 1 saw what
had been done. Those two faces immedi-
ately returned to my mind. and their being
unknown and their actions being suspicious
caused me TO believe that they had no good
purpose in coming to the cemetery"
Columbus McMorris. the Hall druggist.
was also in town yesterday. He and his
brother Frank were the ones that Dick King
said William York told him were particle
pants IN the dissertations York has since
sworn that he reported nothing of the kind
regarding the McMorris boys. Columbus
was in a laxative mood. and did not hesi-
tate TO answer all questions that were
asked of him.. He said that the grand jury
and the people are chasing after rainbows
when they seek to lind the decorators In
the Democratic party. Pm tell you they
were Republicans"
"who were the Republicans, then. who
did itf" was asked.
"Idon't know. But many of the Demo-
Gratis who have been secretly charged can
prove alibis. and / don't know of any DEM
connected with such a disgraceful affair.
of many Republicans who are not
above suspicion. and / would not
be SURPRISED were 1t proved some of them
did II AS far as i am concerned In the
matter. i can prove q complete alibI. The
dissertation at Wilbur. Monrovie and Clay
ton was done on Monday night. On that
night attended the ratification at Mon
rovia with six other Hall boys. including
by brother. 1 got home about
1880 o'clock and. after remain.
ing in my store q half hour alking,
went TO bed. Ny wife and Daisy Curtis
were at home when l went in. and they re-
marked. You're in early tonight When
i got back from Monrovia the painting had
been done on my store front. The word
'heoelism' was painted there, and the let
ters were still dripping. The seven of us.
went TO Monrovia in two vehicles. q spring
wagon and q carriage"
What did your wife mean several days
sfterward. when she said to you in public,
'you see, il you'd been at home tina night.
you wouldn't have gotten into troubief'n
"She didn't refer to the dissertation, but
n difficulty i got into with o friend On Fri
day night previous when / was not at
home.n
He condemned Dick King severely as q
worthless Republican and as one who con-
eocted the whole story about Bill York's
statement accusing the McMorris boys.
McMorris further said: III am innocent of
having done any of the dissertation work
and. moreover. an eager hat the criminals
be found. After the grand jury gets through
Its work i shall start q private investiga-
tion and see what can be done"