Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1893-11-02
A MYSTERY SOLVED.
The Murder of the Wratten Fam
lily in Indiana Confessed.
James Stone, One of the Criminals, Gives
the Details of the Horrible Crime
The Perpetrators Are Tn
der Arrest.
he OWNS UP.

WASHINGTON. Ind, Oct. 2S.-Ihe
great Wrattan murder mystery mas been
solved. James Stone was before the
grand jury Saturday, and after a close
examination he weakened and gave
fuh confession, duplicating six other
men. They are Grandson Cosby, Glib
son Clark. John White, hrastin Yarbor-
ough, Lon Williams and William Kays.
II will 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
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 Wratta an,
was said to have almost 81. 200 con-
cealed about the house. They were to
secure the money il the whole family
had to DE 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"
Failed to Find Money.
Williams was asked by Stone if he
had found any money, when he replied:
mot cent; could not find any," They
then made Stone 90 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-
rectious, 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 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
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 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 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
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
nfscrodft stones Storv