Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1893-10-26
SEVEN .FIENDs.
They Were Implicated in the Muir
der Of the Wrattan Family.
One OF Their Number COnfesses, Giving
the Details of the Butchery of an
Indiana Family for the Pur-
S.& pose Of Robbery.

tue DGtAuS 81 Tie OutClAcEy "a OLA
Indiana Family for the Pur-
tE& pose of Robbery.
ALL UNDER ARREST.
WASHINGTON, Ind, Oct. 24.-The
great Wrattan murder mystery has been
solved. James Stone was before the
grand jury Saturday, and after close
examination he weakened and gave a
full confession, duplicating six other
men. They are Grandson Cosby, Glib
son Clark, John White, Martin Yarbor-
ough, Lon Williams and William Rays.
twill be RENE N bered that the last
two named were arrested several DAYS
ago on charge Of the murder and
placed in the southern prison, where
they are now confined
s,., 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 Wrattan,
was said to have almost $1,000 con-
cealed about the house. They were to
secure the money if the whole family
had to be 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 att 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"
Williams was asked by Stone if he
had found any money, when he replied:
Not "a cent: could not find any," They
then made Stone go in the house and
get blood on his clothes so he
would be implicated if the rest
of them We're. 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 d.
rections, 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 a search they were found in his
SoAACCy dAO orc AOW AL CAc pOSSGSSlOu
of the authorities.
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 a
violent toothache and that he was GO
ing to a dentist to have it extracted;
that he did not return until late
hour, and then being covered with
blood, he asked for a 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
from him. At first he strenuously de-
MED everything, but, being assured
that clemency would be guaranteed to
him if he made a confession, he at mid
night yielded to their overtures.
Rays and Williams killed tho 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
cent.
This is thought to be the gang which
has been burning so many barns in
this county. Clark, White and Stone
We're generally considered good citizens
and are from good families. Each of
them is married and has children
Rays, Williams, Cosby and Yarbrough
are pretty bad cases and have their
names on the criminal docket in several
places. Cosby was arrested for the
murder Of Doc Blades, but on account
of lack of evidence he was acquitted.
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 e-s.
The following account of the murder
of the Wrattan family, six in number,
was telegraphed from Washington,
Ind, September 10:
1.-The most horrible crime ever committed In
southern Indiana must be entered against
Daviess county billiard benson Wrattan his
wife, mother and three children were murdered
last night In the most cruel and barbarous
way. The Wrattans resided about miles
from this city IN Harrison township They
were we'll TODD farmers. The husband was
down with typhoid fever, but must have been
asleep when The horrible deed was Com
mitted for he lay on his back. his hands
folded peacefully across his breast, with three
ugly gashes in his forehead Mr. Wrattan's
mother, aged 81 years, was evidently the first
killed. She was lying upon the floor with both
arms broken, and o terrible struggle must
have ensued. His wife was also found upon
the floor: and feet from her lay her little
daughter Stella, aged years. The baby. 3
years old. was found murdered in the Kitchen,
and Ethel, a girl II years old, had her skull
broken in two places.
1.-THE motive for the murder was presumably
money, as it was shown that Mr.. Wrattan s
mother had great deal Of it concealed about
the house 1t was the window Of her room
that was broken open and entered, while
the struggle which ensued awakened the
other members Of the family. Old Mrs
Wrattan had received q pension ever
since she WAS widow, just after the war, and
all this money was supposed to have been
secreted about the house. The drawers OF the
bureau were ransacked and every place where
money was likely to be found had been dis
turbed Thirty nine dollars, however. was
found which tho robbers overlooked, The in.
strument OF death was either corn-knife or o
Ratchet, or both"
Struck by = Train.
CHICAGO, Oct. PA Lake Shore &
Michigan Southern passenger train,
drawn by engine No. AGO, bore down
Sunday evening on buggy on the
Twenty-seventh, street crossing, COM
pletely demolishing it and instantly
killing one child. Ella Bahr, aged 8
years. John Purple, the driver of the
buggy, and Irene Norris, aged years,
were badly hurt $H
b Killed Himself.
CHICAGO, Oct. 24.--J. T.. Knapp, Of
Lincoln, Neb., who. said he had been
robbed of $1,000, strangled himself in
the police station with his trousers.