River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-10-26
SEVEN FIENDS.
.ney Were Implicated in the Muir
der of the Wrattan Family.
One of Their Number Confesses, Giving
the Details of the Butehery of an
Indiana Family for the Pur-
pose of Robbery.
ALL UxDER ARREST.

pose OF RobDerSs
ALL UgDER ARREST.
WASHINGTON, Ind. Oct. 24-The
great Wrattan murder mystery has been
solved. James Stone was before the
grand jury Saturday, and after close
examination he weakened and gave a
fun confession, duplicating six other
men. They are Grandson Cosby, Glib
son Clark. John White. Martin Yarbor-
ough, Lon Williams and William Kays.
II win be remembered that the last
two named were arrested several days
ago on a charge of the murder and
placed in the southern prison, where
they are now confined.
Stone claims the originator of the
scheme was Grandson Cosby, and that
their motive was to rob the housc. as
the old lady, Mrs. Elizabeth Wrattau,
was said to have almost $1,000 con-
cealed about the house. They were to
secure the money if the whole family
had to be murdered. Stone says that
he did not take part in the murder;
that when he got to the Wrattan
house he was half an hour late. They
had agreed to meet at o'clock Tues
day morning, September IS. When he
arrived he met Williams coming from
the house and he said: you Stone,
you are too late to see the fun. We
have killed them all and had picnic,
except with the old woman, and she
fought like hi"
Williams was asked by Stone If he
had found any money, when he replied:
mot a cent; could not find any" They
then made Stone go in the house and
get blood on his clothes so he
would be implicated if the rest
of them were. Stone was made
to promise that he would go
TO the house ~the next morning and
bring the news TO this city. Stone says
they all left the house in different di-
rections, and he went home and washed
his shirt in the spring and then changed
his trousers. He told the officers where
they would find the bloody trousers,
and on search they were found in his
garnet, and are now in the possession
of the authorities
stones arrest was caused through his
own wife, who appeared before the
grand jury and testified that Stone
arose in the night and complained of a
violent tOothache and that he was go
ing to dentist to have it extracted;
that he did not return until late
hour. and then being covered with
blood, he asked for a change of
clothes; that Stone maintained that the
blood on his clothes was caused by the
bleeding of his tooth. On inquiry it
was found that no doctor or dentist
had extracted a tooth from Stone.
/ This was deemed strong evidence, espe-
cially when coming from the mans
wife. As soon as Stone was
brought to town the grand jury
went to work TO obtain confession
/ from him. At first he strenuously de-
MED everything, but, being assured
| that clemency would be guaranteed TO
him if he made a confession. he at mid
night yielded TO their overtures.
Rays and Williams killed the old
woman, and Clark. White and Var
/ brough killed the remainder of the
1 family. Cosby had nothing To do with
! the assassination, but was simply a
4 leader He says that they did not get
2 cent
I This is thought to be the gang which
/ has been burning so many barns in
/ this county. Clark. White and Stone
were generally considered good citizens
and are from good families. Each OF
them is married and has children.
Rays, Williams, Cosby and Marlborough
are pretty bad cases and have their
Il,
places Cosby was arrested for the
murder of Doc Blades. but on account
of lack of evidence he was acquitted.
Every man is now behind the walls
OF Jacksonville prison, as it was not
safe to leave them in this city, SO ex-
cited are the citizens.
The following account of the murder
of the Wrattan family, six in number,
was telegraphed from Washington,
| Ind, September 10:
THE most horrible crime ever committed in
southern Indiana must he entered against
Daviess county Dillard benson Wrattan. his
wife, mother and three children were murdered
last night in the most cruel and harharous
way. Tho WTattans resided about miles
from this city in Harrison township They
we're WELT TODD farmers Tho husband was
down with typhoid fever. but must have been
asleep when the horrible deed was com
mitted for he lay On his back his hands
folded peacefully across his breast, with three
ugly gashcs in his forehead Mr. Wrattan 5
mother, aged 81 years was evidently the first
killed. She was lying saon the floor with both
arms broken and a terrible struggle must
have ensued. His wife was also found upon
the floor. and feet from her lay her lit
daughter Stella, aged years The baby !
years old, was found murdered in the kitchen,
and Ethel. girl II years old, had her skull
broken In two places
"The motive for the murder was presumably
money. az il was shown that Mr. Wrattan's
mother had great deal OF il concealed about
the house II was the window OF her room
that was broken open and entered, while
the struggle which ensued awakened The
other members of the family. Old Mrs.
Wrattau had received a pension ever
since she was widow, Just after the war, and
all this money supposed 10 have been
secretsd about the house The drawers OF the
bureau were ransaeked and every place where
money was likely 10 be found bad been dis
turbed Thirty-nne dollars however, was
found which the robbers overlooked. The in
strument o; death was either corn-knite or a
4