Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-10-23

INDIANAPOLIS, IND, October ga
special to the Sentinel, from Washing
ton, Ind, says: AT last the guilty muir
derers of the Wrattan family are in the
tolls of the law.
Five of the suspects arrested and
taken TO Jeffersonville two week ago
were rightly suspected, but 1t WAS not
through them that the heinous crimi-
nails were exposed.
Last Saturday the grand jury ordered
the arrest of James Stone, the man who
came to the Wrattan house early Tues
! day morning and first discovered
the terrible tragedy. His 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 toothsche, aud that he was 60
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
was found that no doctor or dentist had
extracted tooth from Stone. This was
deemed strong evidence, especially
when coming from the mans wife.
As soon as Stone was brought 20 town
the grand jury went to work to obtain
q confession from him.
At first he strenuously denied every
thing, but being assured that clemency
would be guaranteed to him IL he made
a confession, he, at midnight, yielded 20
their overtures He told his story
about as follows:
Knowing that Mrs. Wratton kept a
great deal of money about the house,
| Grandson Cosby. a notorious character
in this county, planned robbery. A
bgang OF seven persons that formed
sort of society for rObber-
les and general hellishness, was notified
of his plan. Their names are Grandi-
son Cosby, Lon Williams, Martin Var
Der, OF this city; William Kays, ofIPike
county; John w. eWhite, Gipp Clark,
and James Stone.
The plan was that Yarber and Clark
should get into the house and commit
the robbery while the others were TO
stand guard. At the time when the
robbery was TO be committed Crosby and
Stone had not yet arrived. Crosby
was in the city Monday evening, and
was so drunk that he got past going
and did not reach the house at all, but
Stone arrived after the murder had
been committed, and because he was late
the other cohspirators wallowed him
in the blood of the victims, and In that
condition permitted him to go home
and that was the nail that fastened
down the lid of their cOffins.
They could not find a cent OF money.
As Stone did not arrive until the six
murders were committed, be does not
know why they killed the Wrattan
family.
All the criminals were arrested and
taken to JeffersonvIlle last night. Will
liams and Kaiys were already In JEFF
fersonvlle prison. Brown, another
suspect who was taken to Jefferson
vile, had no connection with the
tragedy and he will be released. The
excitement to-day is more intense than
ever. Woe to the murderers ii Da-
viess county delegation can lay hands
on them.
The following account of the murder
of the Wrattan family, six in number,
was telegraphed from Washington, Ind,
September 10:
The most horrible crime ever COM
mitted In Southern Indiana must be en-
tered against Daviess county. Dillard
benson Wrattan, his wife, mother and
three children were murdered last night
in the most cruel and bsrbarous way.
1.-The Wrattans resided about nine
miles from this city in Harrison town
ship. They were Wellto-do farmers.
The husband was down with typhoid
fever, but must have been asleep when
the horrible deed was committed, for
he lay on MS back, his hands folded
peacefully across his breast with three
ugly gaphes Ia his forehead. Mr..
Wrattan's mother, aged 81, was evident
ly the first killed. She was lying upon
the floor with both arms broken and
terrible struggle must have ensued.
His wife was also found upon the floor,
and gve feet from her lay her little
daughter, Stella, aged six years. The
baby, three years old, was found MUIR
dered in the kitchen. Ethel, girl
eleven years old, showed signs Of life,
but she had her skull broken ia two
places. she died the following day.
THE motive for the murder was pre-
sumably money as it was known that
Mr.. Wrattan's mother had great deal
of il concealed about the house. The
drawers of the bureau were ransacked
and every place where money was likely
TO be found had been disturbed. Thirty
nine dollars. however, vas found which
the robbers overlooked"