The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-08-08
NO DIRECT EVIDENCE
WILLIAM COLE RELEASED IN THE
WATTERsON MURDER CASE.
John McAfee VIII BE Dis
charged TO-Day-The Hearing in
the Police Court.

ISNCAAdg SOAC was dASCAldl SEd aAd MI
Afee will probably be released to-
day. The hearing was begun yes
terday morning, but was not concluded,
and was continued till 4 o'clock in the aft
ernoon. The affidavits against the two men
are drawn separately, and in the afternoon
when Prosecutor Cady to put
Cole on the stand as a witness against
McAfee the defense objected to the testi-
mony. 1t had been agreed by Cady that
the men should be tried at the same time
to expedite matters. The defense argued
that one defendant could not be compelled
to give discriminating evidence against the
other. Judge Stubbs took the point under
advisement and the hearing of other evil
dence was then taken up. The theory OF
the State is that William Cole, ST., his son
William and wife and McAfee and wife
were all at the residence of Mrs. Amanda
Hatton on the Saturday night preceding
the murder. Lee Hawkins, a colored porter
at Miller's saloon, which is on the front OF
the lot in which Mrs. Hatton resides, testi-
fed that about 4 O'Clock in the morning
folio the night of the murder a spring
wagon was drawn up to Mrs. Hatton's
house and some goods unloaded. The wagon
was driven by Clay McAfee, a brother of
John McAfee. The theory of the State is
that McAfee's wagon was used 10 haul
away the plumber stolen. At an early hour
the same morning Cole was seen driving
on the road near Castleton in McAfee's
wagon.
Of1cer Wheatley. who was one Of the Off
GERS that arrested Cole, said Cole told them
that McAfee was in Evanston and that he
had received a letter from him a few DAYS
before, and that the letter was at the house
or Coles daughter. The officers went past
the house and got the letter. He said Nc
% was about AZ IL AAraA g.. Hav
eral days, but never stayed there all night.
The last time Cole saw him was when ne
We're coming to see Cole. McAfee said
mere was a warrant out for his arrest
for stealing coal. He was visited at Coles
Afee. The day before McAfee left his
brother brought him a revolver and told
taken alive. Cole said be bought McAfee's
morse and wagon from him, and thai was
what got him into the trouble.
Detective Thornton, who arrested McAfee
at Evanston, said he made no objections to
returning and answered all questions with
that the A nightp of e tS SeaT marden Mf he sta sasd
all light, either with his son-ln-law or his
he had preached. He said he did not get
the horse and wagon till the week after
Christmas. He admitted writing the letter
10 cole and said he thought the officers
would be af,er him for stealing the coal.
ME- kim6rough, father of the preacher
at oak Hill, says that McAfee did not
preach at the church there on Saturday
or Sunday night. He was at the church
man named Shelton preached that night.
Patrolman Harris said McAfee's mother
told him that McAfee thought the officers
told his mother to tell him to go and give
himself up and the judge would probably
let him go, as he had nine fellows arrested
by Harris a short time before.
IN Millikan, a contractor. testified that
@hMeSfaar1eee ha6 been employed by him from
worked at his house laying a carpet on
The case against William Cole was dis
missed directly after Police Court con-
yened at night: Detectives Splann and
Kinney were called by the State to detail
Christmas day. Captain Splann told how
they struck the trail of the murderers
Watterson tragedy. and how they travelled
over the northeast part of the CITY until
they reached Malott avenue, where they
became confused. Detective Kinney cor
roborated the statement of his chief. He
that the dogs lost the scent
a haif square from Miller's saloon on Co.
lumbia avenue.
Detective Kinney had worked upon the,
case for several weeks, but so far as he
RmeN no suspicion rested upon the prison
crs. Immediately alter TIE conclusion of
detective Kinney's testimony attorney
Cady announced that the State did not
further, and asked that the case against
him be dismissed. In that stcIid. indiffer-
ent way peculiar to the red man whose
INSN a tIIOuSH Ills NtllS. cole heard
the remarks of the prosecutor and made
no mme He was called to the stand
u tell the story of his relations with John
NcAfee. substantially he related the facts
as they have already appeared i'm the daiIy
papers. McAfee had come to his house AT
Csstleton about the middle of January.
maine three or four days, telling Cole
that he was wanted for taking coal from
sell him his horse and wagon. McAfee's
VIE came out to Coles the day he left, and
IN a conversation with him said:
Mack, you'll have TO get away The off
GERS are, around looking for you" McAfee
appeared startled. and said to Cole that he
YOU'D let MIN have the horse and wagon
TOT y: Cole raised the money and McAfee
left Castleton. Cole saw McAfee two or
three days before Christmas. He (Cole) was
woman named Hatton. in BarrelI alley' He
saw frequently. Cole went to Cas-
Teton on the Friday evening preceding the
WattersOn murder. and did not return nm
I'll the following Wednesday. He went to
Castleton because his daughter was to give
q supper on the Saturday night before
Christmas. He attended the entertainment
that night and at IL o'clock, about the hour
OF the Watterson tragedy. was playing
that while McAfee was at his house Taylor
McAfee came out there. One evening he
saw taylor hand an article over to John.
time he heard TAYLOR say:
Go. now, and don't be ketched." The
witness did not remember having told pa
trolmen Hart and Spears that TAYLOR had
psed the words 'sh Dot your way through"
although he admitted that he might have
done so. He was greatly excited over his
arrest. and might have said many things
OF peculiar significance. The witness de-
tailed the flight OF his son William. in Nav.
with $50 OF his money, and said that the
latter had spent holiday week in Indianap-
oils. He did not hear the young man com
plain of being wounded. and had occunied
the same bed with John McAfee while tbs
latter remained at CastletOn. He did moi
think McAfee was suffering from a wound
Did you ever hear this woman, Mrs
Hatton, speak of the Watterson murder?'
| asked the court.
Yes" replied the prisoner. 1.-TWO or three
months ago I saw her, and she said: Mr..
Cole, what do you think; they are trying
to put that Watterson murder on to John .
CThls reference was to John McAfee)
Detective Thornton testified as to the
route taken by the bloodhounds. Taylor
McAfee, brother of the prisoner. denied
giving John a pistol at Castleton. and
| claimed that the latter had told him tina
he was leaving Indianapolis because the
police were looking for him. He said they
was with his brother on the night of the
Watterson murder. They, with their fam.
lies. attended a turkey supper given by
their mother in Barrel alley. John Nc
Afee remained there al night. and did no
leave the house at any time. Sophia Nc.
Afee. wife of the prisoner. with others. cor
roborated this testimony.
At the conclusion OF Mrs. McAfee's testi.
mony Judge Stubs announced his belief
that the State had a weak case. He saif
way Of evidence could be adduced from th(
witnesses he proposed examining this morn.
ing. he would be compelled TO dismiss the
prisoner. He instructed the officers 90 bring
in Mary Head ana Annie Wade. the wOmeI
who started the Cole and McAfee story. thi.
1 mOTninU These women rPEtfnn1 Vazfe r6a y