The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-26
Officers and a Great Crowd of People
Led Merry Chase Over Part
of the City.
TRAIL LEADS TO SOUTHPORT
Supposed Blood Stains Found at
Various Places.
Hounds Are the Ones That Trailed
Stone, the Murderer of the
Wratten Family.

With their long, slim bodies extended to
the fullest length and their gaunt noses
close TO the ground, a pair of thoroughbred
bloodhounds were put upon the track of
the murderer Of John Watterson yesterday
morning. The animals are the property of
w. a. Carter. Of Seymour. and were brought
to Indianapolis at 10 o'clock yesterday by
the owner.
Late Sunday night superintendent Powell
and Chief Detective Splann decided to send
for the dogs. Since the news of the awful
murder of Watterson first reached the ear
of the chief of police he has scarcely closed
his eyes in sleep, but has spent every min
ute in devising some plan by which the per-
petrator of the deed could be run down.
In fact the entire police department is
alive to the urgent demand for sthe appre-
hension OF the murderer. and every con-
ceivable effort and plan is being put forth
In this direction. The bloodhounds set upon
the track yesterday are those used in trail
ing the slayer of the Wratten family in
Washington county. They are sleek looking
animals. typical of the Southern breed of
hounds and are not at all ferOcious or I'M
calmly in appearance. Mr.. Carter went at
once to the corner of Tennessee and Sew
enth streets, the immediate vicinity of the
murder Superintendent Powell detective
Dpldlil, Odpldll OdIlpDell anu ubIecIlNcS
AIccsun and Kinney led the way to the spot
where the body of Watterson was found.
Here over a hundred people quickly gath
cred. Carter and his son held the dogs by
stout ropes and were careful to allow them
full play. Around the gruesome piece OF
land where the life blood of poor Watterson
had ebbed out and from where the murderer
had made his escape the hounds shifted and
skulked for some minutes. Soon they found
something interesting and as soon lost it.
For ten minutes perhaps they wandered
apparently aimlessly about the locality and
then jack the chief trailer of the pair,
started east the vacant lot. Lucy
followed, keeping closely at his heels. They
reached Tennessee street and stopped y
small clot of blood had attracted their at
tention. Only an instant did the animals
tarry, but with tails tucked and their noses
to the ground they set out across Tennes-
see street to the alley leading to the rear of
Hall place. Reaching the fence in the rear
of No. one of the dogs attempted to leap
the high boards. The feelings of the officers
were peculiar for the hound was attempting
to clear the exact spot where the murderer
had endeavored to climb the fence. In the
meantime the other hound had gone on to
No. 40 Hall place. With sniff at the
blood which streaked the gate, the dog
leaped the fence Instantly the other animal
was over and both went directly to the
closet where the bloody knife was found
Sunday morning. On the floor there was
yet large blood stain, but the dogs paid
no heed to this, and started around the
house TO the front, leaving the yard and
taking a course directly north to Ninth
street. They traversed this thoroughfare
rapidly to Delaware and then changed the
course to Seventh street. Mr.. Career fol-
lowed one Of the dogs while Captain Camp
bell and detective Thornton kept pace with
the other. The owner of the animals was
convinced that the right trail had been
struck. Although it was nearly thirty-five
hours old he claimed unlimited confidence In
i the dumb sleuths and followed on. Hun
dreds of people were attracted to the un-
usual scene. but kept a safe distance. The
route from Seventh street lay chiefly in the
northeast portion Of the city. At least
dozen thoroughfares were Travelled over in
GLIDING Hillside avenue, Bellefontaine
street Malott and Clifford avenues. At nu-
merous houses the trail brought up abruptly
at the gate or the doorstep. In one instance
the dogs stubbornly refused to leave the
house Of cOlOred family on Hillside ave.
nue. The place was investigated and the
detectives learned that the man OF the
house had on Sunday visited a colored
physician The doctor. however, stated that
his patient was suffering from a nail that
had penetrated his foot. On Christian ave-
nue.; near Delaware street, and ut the nome
OF DR.. Lewis, the dogs were attracted to
something about the gate. A clot Of some
red substance suggested blood, but the Dhy-
stefan was positive that he had dressed no
wounds Within the last two days. In q
number of instances these red spots where
found were held by the officers to DE
blood. The route taken until Delaware
-fts l., ,I,l
circuttOus and puzziinS. The dogs crossed
| and recrOsSed the street but always keenly
acute to the scent. AT times they were
eager and then grew dilatory South on
| Delaware street the unusual procession
| moved about noon.
Residences occupied by physicians seemed
| TO draw the particular attention Of the
| hounds. This feature went far toward
| STRENGTHENING the opinions of those who
| had faith in the trail Ii led to the belief
| that the murderer. wounded and weak, was
| searching for medical attention. hut had
| occupied by physicians. In front of the office
| of DIR. Long, corner of Vermont and Della
ware streets. another of the alleged blood
| stains was detected and again the trailing
| hounds brought up. but only for q brief
! spell. They would circulate about the yard
! ana then take to the sidewalk. The pace
! kept up was half run or trot. except when
| the dogs would seem to grow confused.
! From Vermont street south TO -. Vim
cents Hospital the trail was evidently
| cold" The dogs trotted along without
| any particular clew until they reached the
| hospital. Here the scent seemed TO grow
| warm" and the officers for a moment
! were elated. The theory that the murderer
/ he'd sought admission TO the hospital sug-
! gested itself strongly, but dispeled
/ when the hounds passed on. The chase
! was continued on Delaware street to the
! J., NJ & L railroad, and there without hes
itatiOn the bruteS turned To the railroad
| track and started toward Southport. The
! officers and a portion OF the curious crowd
/ followed. anxious to see the conclusion of
| the strange trail
Two miles from the city the dogs left
| the track abruptly and turned to the
! woods. They ran along the fence until a
| particular point was reached and then
/ ieaped over. Here the master of the ami
| stopped TO rest and perhaps sat upon the
| cent fire could be detected. but the dogs.
| after seeming the ashes, returned to the
| railroad track. Then the trail was studi-
| ously followed for mile after mile. At times
I in the center of the track and then on the
| outside edge OF the ties the intelligent
/ brutes appeared to ind some peculiar scent.
| Superintendent Powell returned 10 the city
I with detective Thornton and secured the
/ light wagon owned by the police depart
/ ment They then drove back after the pur-
I suing party. The superintendent, although
/ ne had little confidence in the scheme. was
I aver 10 give the dogs every advantage,
/ and instructed his men to follow them
wherever the trail might lead. At 40
| o'clock the crowd drew up at Southport.
where IL was plainly evident that the dogs
| had ended the chase. They Nvhincd pite-
Ously and ran at random about the little