The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-11-01

WASHINGTON, oct. 25. - Special
James Stone, commonly called "Budd,"
has made a second confession.
This time he completely exonerates
the parties whom he implicated in the
first confession in the Wratten murder
on Sunday morning. Just after Stone
had made his first confession he was
taken to Jacksonville for safe keeping.
Yesterday he stated to Deputy Prose
cutor Hastings that his first confession
was in the main untrue-that he alone
was guilty of the atrocious crime, and
that he had no accomplice.
He says that he and Martin Yarber
last summer spoke of robbing the house
but that Yarber backed down.
Following is the astounding story of
how he committed the deed:
Aiming himself with a small AK and a
corn knife he proceeded to the house
at 10 o'clock. He looked in at the win
dow and there saw Mrs. Wratten NOV
ing about in her nightgown, ministering
to the wants of her sick husband, who
was down with typhoid fever. He then
knocked at the door and Mrs. Wratten
coming to open it, he informed her that
he had a case of violent toothache and
asked her if she could not furnish him
with some panacea. Mrs. Wratten in
formed him that she had some wizard
oil. and as she brought it to him he
struck her to the floor with the corn
knife.
He then rushed into the room where
Mr.. benson wratten and the children
were. Ethel Wratten, the elevfn-year-
old girl who survived the terrible blow
she received that night for several days,
first awoke. and recognizing the mid
night assassin, exclaimed:
Bud Stone. what are you doing
here?"
Scarcely had she uttered these words
when he struck her down with the AK.
He then turned to the poor, helpless
father and struck him a fatal blow
on the forehead. Next he turned his
attention to the small children, both
of which he killed outright.
In the room of old Mrs. Wratten
there was no light, and as no noise
was heard within. he supposed her to
be sound asleep. He tried the door that
led from Mrs. wratten's room to hers,
but he could not force it. He then went
around the house and forced the window
by breaking ii in with his heel
Here a terrible struggle ensued, for the
old woman was as strong as in her
prime In attempting to ward off the
blows both her arms were broken and
one OF them nearly severed from the
body, but she soon yielded with a ter
rible scream that could be heard half
a mile.
He now passed through the rooms in
which his other victims lay. Mr.. and
Mrs. Wratten were both still living, but
delirious. He gave them the final blow
which sent both into eternity.
He then concealed the instruments of
death i'm a woods near by, where they
have. since his confession, been found.
Stone did not get any money; in fact.
he says after the tragedy he did not
care for money. Stone then went home,
took a change of clothes. hid his trou-
sers between the plastering and
weather boarding of his house and then
went to the spring where he attempted
to wash out the blood stains from his
shirt.
He was the first at the Wratten home
stead the next day and gave the alarm
OF the murder. He was a pall-bearer
at the funeral and assisted the under
taker in dressing the bodies for burial !:
I'm fact, he made himself generally use
full the day after the murder at the
Wratten house.
He says he has been forgiven by the
Lord for the deed and is a happy man.
He wrote the following letter to his
wife and children:
Dear Cecilia, Sallie, Ezra and Harry:
don't think l will ever see your faces
again. Raise these children to fear God
/ can tell you that today 1 am happy
In Savior's love. / sought Christ yes
terday evening and all last night. I've
found Him precious to my soul and am
ready now to die and / am a happy
man. Please meet me In heaven. all Of
you. Tel Ceceha TO write me soon as
she gets that She done just right i'm
telling the truth on me to the grand
jury. She saved her soul and mine, too.
Pray me, Cecilia. Goodbye.
JAMES +. STONE"
IL is reported that when the constable
went TO arrest Stone he invited the
constable i'm to family prayers, after
which he said he would go with him.
His wife has been brought TO Washing
ton for protection, as she feared vio-
lence from the notorious gang TO which
her husband belonged. II Is fortunate
for Stone that he is in Jeffersonville or
he would not last long.
JEFFERSONVILLE, Oct. 25.-Special
James Il. Stone, who confessed TO the
murder of the Wratten family, has al
ready discovered the meaning OF his con-
fession and the enormity OF the crime.
He is very nervous. and not infrequently
has he asked the officials Of the peniten-
tiary permission for corridor exercise.
instead of solitary confinement, which
he now undergoes.
SO heavily is the matter weighing upon
his mind that some fear is entertained
that he will never be taken from the
penitentiary alive, and rather than un-
dergo a trial he will attempt suicide.
The prison officials have been notified to