The Irish standard., 1893-10-28
A MYSTERY SOLVED,
The Murder Of the Wratten Fam
lily in Indiana Confessed. !,
James Stone, One of tho Criminals, Gives
the Details of the Horrible Crime
The Perpetrators Arc Un-
der Arrest.


Tho Perpetrators Are Un-
der, Arrest.
HE OWNS UP.
!. WAsHINGTONs Ind, Oct. 23.-The
great Wrattan murder mystery mas been
solved. James Stone was before the
grand jury Saturday, and after close
examination he weakened and gave a
full confession, duplicating six other
men. They are Grandson Cosby, Glib
son Clark John White Martin Yarbor-
ough, Lon Williams and William Kays.
It will be remembered that the last
two named were arrested several days
ago on charge of the murder and
placed in the southern prison, where
they are now confined
Robbery the Motive.
Stone claims the originator of the
scheme was Grandson Cosby, and that
their motive was to rob the house, 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: s'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 Ill.,
Failed to Find Money.
Williams was asked by Stone if he
had found any money, when ne replied:
"'Not 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 i'll the possession
of the authorities.
stones Wife Caused His Arrest.
: 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 coothache and that he was GO.
ing to dentist to have it extracted:
that he did not return until late.
nd hoinr s.nvorol vrifh
blood, he asked for 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 tooth from Stone.
This was deemed strong evidence, espe-
cial]y when coming from the mans
wife As soon as Stoue was
brought to town the grand jury
went to work to obtain a confession
from him. At first he strenuously de-
MED everything, but being assured
that clemency would be guaranteed to
him if he made confession, he at mid
night yielded to their overtures.
Rays and Williams killed the old
woman, and Clark, White and Var
NEOuRA h111CA ClAC IC"dAuACA VI WAC
family. Cosby had nothing to do with
the assassination, but was simply a
leader. He says that they did not get
a cent.
Every man is now behind the walls
of Jeffersonville prison, as it was not
safe to leave them in this city, SO ex
cited are the citizens
Discredtt Stones Story.
WASHINGTON, Ind. Oct 24.-Yarbor-
ough, one of the men whom Bud Stone
implicated in the murder of the Wrat-
tan family on the night OF September
49, has admitted number of points
made by Stone. lie admits that
the men had previously planned to
vailing opinion here that Stones state
ment that the six men were present the
night of the murder is not true. Two
of them--White and Clark--can prove
by good witnesses that they were else
where at the time Of the butchery
and it is thought Cosby will be
able to explain his whereab bouts
in an acceptable way. Stone in all
appearances was not aided by more
than one or two others and possibly
murdered the family alone. The blood
on his clothes was not s1neared on, as
he insists, but it is in spots as though it
had splashed on the garments. Stones
wife has been threatened with violence
for having withheld the secret so long
and has been brought here for safety.
She claims she would have revealed all
she knew but for fear of her husband s
wrath.
Death of the Oldest Postmaster.
CHARLESTON, w. Va, Oct. 25.-~J. H.