The Indiana State sentinel., 1893-07-05

Surrounded by the members Of his
household, his aged father and mother
and his brothers and sisters, William
Kline, the man who was so brutally as
saulted and who has been battling be-
tween life and death ever since the fatal
blows were struck, died at his home in
Brightwood at 30 O'Clock F:ids y
morning
His death was not unexpected; in fact,
il was known at u o'clock Thursday
night that 1t was only a matter Of a few
hours. He had been in an unconscious
condition for two days and at the time
of his death was lying in a stupor. His
death was painless and the only intima-
ton that the band of anxious watchers
who gathered about his bedside had that
he still lived was a few long drawn
means which escaped his lips a few mo-
ments before he breathed his last. He
made no statement and If he knew the
name of the person who assaulted him
the secret will be buried with him.
Thus ends one Of the most remarkable
tragedies ever enacted in or near Indian
apolis With the kiss of his wife still
warm upon his lips and the voices of
his innocent children ringing in his ears,
and unconscious of the great danger
which threatened him, William Kline lay
down to sleep at his pleasant little
home in Brightwood. 1t was about 8
o'clock in the morning and the idea of
any danger or a lurking assassin await
ing a favorable opportunity to murder
him never entered his mind. Outside
the sun was shining brightly and his
children, with hushed voices, playing in
the yard near the window of the room
where their father was sleeping after
hard nights work, never suspected that
he would not awake to know them again.
His wife moved about the house with
noiseless step for fear Of waking her
husband and all was peace and content
ment. She left the house for few mo-
ments and during her absence the crime
was committed.
The murderer entered and, picking up
a hatchet which was lying on a table in
the kitchen, sneaked into the bedroom
where Kline, unconscious OF the great
danger that threatened him, was sleep
ing. A blow with the hatchet, followed
quickly by another and another until
the helpless mans skull was crushed and
the deed was done. With the cry of his
victim ringing in his ears the red-handed
murderer left the room and unlocking
the front door made his escape. No one
saw him leave and there is no clue to
his identity.
1t is not known just how long the
crime had been committed before II was
discovered. Mrs. Kline heard means
coming from the room where her hus-
band was supposed to be sleeping and
upon going to investigate made the hor-
in an unconscious condition her husband
lay on the floor behind the bed. Blood
was on everything and the room pre-
sented a terrible appearance. Her
screams soon brought a crowd of neigh
bors who assisted her to lift her hus-
band on the bed and some one hastily
went after a physician, who announced
shortly after his arrival that Kline was
fatally injured. He rallied, however, and
cover, but he took a turn for the worse
and died after one week of suffering.
After working on the case for some
time the detective department was
forced to acknowledge that the mystery
was beyond its power to solve. Detec-
tives, after all, are but human and with
out one clue TO work on they could ac-
complish nothing and the murderer will
probably never be discovered unless he
chooses to make a confession.