The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-23
James Stone, One of the Party, Makes q
Clean Breast, and Seven Men Now
Await Their Deserts in Court.
PROSPECT OF A LYNCHING
Work of a Gang of Barn Burners
Infesting Daviess County.
Bishop Rademacher Dedicates st. Jo.
seph's Church at Mishawaka-
The Marion Explosion.
Special to the indianapolis journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Ind, Oct. 22.-James
Stone, the man who was ordered in Gus
tody yesterday by the grand jury, made a
full confession, last night, of the brutal
butchery of the six members of the fam
lily of benson Wratten. He was on the
stand all morning yesterday, and about
noon he was ordered to be placed in jai
until more witnesses could be examined.
Stones wife was placed on the stand,
and she gave some very damaging testi-
mony against her husband. She said he
not at home the night of the murder
until about 4 o'clock in the morning, and
when he came he said he was going to the
spring to get drink. He then returned
to the house and went to bed. Mrs. Stone
said she was up early that morning and
went to the spring. where she found he
had washed his bloody shirt. One of Stones
daughters, who is sick, was examined, and
she corroborated her mothers story. Stone
was again placed on the stand, and, after
a close examination, he broke down and
confessed all. He said: 81 know we will
all be hanged, but 1 am going to tell the
whole truth" He then stated that Grandi-
son Cosby planned the scheme, and that
himself, together with Lon Williams.
White and Gibson Clark, were to
carry it out. They were organized.
and agreed to meet at the Wratten home
at L o'clock Tuesday morning, Sept is.
Their prime motive was simply robbery,
lady, Mrs. Elizabeth wratten, kept s1,2Oo
about the house. and that they must Sc
cure 1T if they had to kill the whole fam
lily. The spoils were to be divided equally
and each one had sworn not to divulge any,
thing. \
Stone claims he did not have a hand in
the killing, but that 1t was done by VIII
liams, Kays, Clark, White and Yarbourgh
He says he arrived at the Wratten place
about a half hour too late. and as he en-
tered the side gate he was met by williams,
who made the remark: ''- you.
Stone, you got here too late TO see the fun
We have killed them all, and had a picnic
with all except the old woman, and she
fought like hell"
He then asked Williams If they got any
money, and Williams said they couldn't
find cent. Stone said Williams and Kays
killed the old woman, and that Yarbourgh,
Clark and White slew Wratten, his wife
and children. They then made Stone go in
the house and lay down in the blood, so If
they were caught that he (Stone) would be-
implicated And they also made him prom
ise to go to the house early in the morning
and spread the news, which he did.
The murder was done with corn knife
and an ak with short handle. He cIaima
that Grandson Cosby did not take part -
the murder, but that he was simply the
leader. and after they had secured the
money they were to meet in an old house
near the Wratten farm and divide the
spoils. Stones story seemed to be pretty
straight, and the clerk issued warrants inn
mediately for the arrest Of Clark, Cosby
White and Yarbourgh
1t will be remembered that williams and
kays are confined in the southern prison
now awaiting investigation. Oficers at
once went to the homes Of Clark, Cosby,
Yarbourgh ard White, arresting them, and
they are now behind the Jeffersonvilie
walls Yarbourgh lives in this city. He
and Stone were taken to the prison last
night The excitement here is so great that
it would not be safe to place them in this
jail or there would be a wholesale lynch
ing. Each man protests his innocence.
This is thought to be the organized gang
which has been burning so many barns in
this county. James Stone has been con-
sidered very good citizen. He is the SON
VI d
is from one of the best families in the
neighborhood. Lon williams is a motor
ious character, and the people were not
surprised at him being implicated in the
murders. William Kays is another GRIM
inal who has figured in several scrapes.
Gibson Clark lives near the scene of the
murder. and has always been held in the
highest esteem by his neighbors. He has
been teaching school, and comes from a
good family. There are several persons
who believe Clark to be innocent and
think Stone has told this on account OF
personal grudge. He is about twentY-flvs
years old, and has wife and two chiS,
dren. John White was always thought to
be a law-abiding citizen, and seemed TO bs
well thought of by all who knew him
He is also a married man. Martin
Yarbodrgh Is a farmer who has lived in
the Wratten neighborhood for several years,
but moved to this city the day before the
murder and secured a situation at the Ohio
& Mississippi railroad shops. He is a
mean-looking man, one who could be easi-
ly influenced to do most anything. The
planner of the scheme, Grandson Cosby,
is man who has been implicated I'm most
every crime on the calendar, and is consid-
cred a very bad man. He was arrested
once for the murder OF Zack Blades, but
on account of insufficient proof he was acs
quilted The public generally believed him
TO be guilty He has served a three-hun-
dred-day term for burning a barn belonging
TO Alonzo Evans, a farmer living near
Cosby's home and has also been tried for
perjury and several other crimes. Stone
told the officers where TO find the bloody
trousers he had worn. and they were found
in the garret of his house. A great deal
of suspicion of guilt has rested on Stone
from the beginning. but not enough to cause
his arrest until il was looked into by the
grand jury. Great trouble is expected when
the criminals are brought to this city to be
arraigned.
Hasfened to the Prison south.
Special 10 the Indianapolis Journal.
LOOGOOTEE. Ind, Oct 22-Grandison
Cosby, John White and John Clark. all re-
siding near Glendale. Davless county, were
brought to this point under arrest to-day
by Marshal cavanaugh and three depu-
ties. OF Washington. Ind The three pris-
oners are implicated IN the Wratten fam
lily butchery. month ago. and were In