The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-08-18
In A CHARMED HOUSE
OLD STORY OF BLOODY CRIME RE-
vIvED BY THE HOLMES CASE.
Narrow Escape Of a Capitalist from q
House I'm Tennessee Where Ten
People Had Been Murdered.

Va hiohS oidOOhCdA Is known tnau the
wholesale murders now being attributed 10
Holmes. but that there is nothing new
under the sun in plots and fendish crimes
Is conclusively proven by the authentic
story OF a charnel house in the east Ten
nessee mountains. where men and women
were murdered for years and year,, ana
their bodies either burned or buried, while
their murderers walked. not only unsus-
pected. but respected. through the land
heard 1t around campfire one summer
night about three years ago. while hunt
ing in the Cumberland mountains. As the
morning dawned 1 went with eagerness,
at the. Invitation OF our guide. to see this
charnel house. where human lives had
been ruthlessy sacrificed TO appease the
greed for gold With Its windowiess walls
ana severe style OF architecture the hovel
Was ureary ana uninyltlng enough an itself.
The house was low. one-storied struc-
turc, originally erected a smokehousc for
the curing OF country hams, but subse-
quently converted into a chamber OF death.
At the time OF the murders there was situ-'
ated In front OF IL, bit about nifty yards dis
tsnt' cemmodious frame house, built in
the old southern style of architecture.
which secured roominess at the cost OF c0xi-'
ness. but that dwelling had been destroyed
by fire and only the blackened, totterlng
cnlmneys remained 10 mark the ante-bellum
nome OF the man who was probably guilty
OF more murders than any man that ever
walked on Tennessee soil
James Allen was this mans name He set
tied in the neighborhood about 1870 and a
rev years after that began 10 run a road
mouse Tor the accommodation OF men travel-'
SO happened that the house was located at
spot which made IL very convenient 10
travellers passing either north south or
east ana west by the two big roads that
crossed each other near that point
Aliens family consisted of his wife and
Two grown daughters. who were considered
those fn -.
very accomplished girls. and were certainly
attractive enough in face and form. j. 1873
ana 1917 considerable excitement was Gre
ated In the neighborhood by the discovery
OF OIL and spectators began TO pour into
the section from Knoxville and Nashville.
hoping 10 find gusher.
THE LAST VICTIM.
Among those who struck a paying well
was one DIR. Hickman. OF Nashville. and
the product of his well, hauled forty miles
over the mountains to McMinnville and
thence by rail to Nashville. began TO make
him rich. Every six months he made a trip
to the capital OF the State TO receive pay
ment for his shipments the amount some
times approaching SO 900. On each OF these
trips he made it convenient to stop. going
and coming, at the Allen house, and as
early as the second trip Hickman had fallen
ary and io in spirit Of conence he
told the family what rich thing he was
making out of his oil fields and how hc
the next trip loaded down with gold.
When the too-conhding gentleman stoppeq
at the house about six months afterward
on his third trip 10 Nashville he was lit
orally received with open arms. The young
ladies were most attentive and almost at
fectionate. and the visitor was nattersd
promised with the greatest pleasure TO
stop with the family for several days on
his return.
in Nashville detained him for more than
a week longer than expected, and the Ale
Lens were not nun ne nieht After
partaking of cold lunch he was informed
by the host that the house was crowded.
nsse far b ma excep IN the stone house
which had been fitted up specially for the
accommodation Of travellers in just such
emergencies. -
Seeing no other alternative Hickman aon-
scented, and the host led the way with q
lantern. The door was fastened by a pad
lock and cltsp which Allen unlocked, tell
ing his companion that he would find q
comfortable bed within, threw the door open
and directed him to enter.
AS soon as Hickman stepped inside the
landlord pulled the door shut and quickly
locked It, Seized with an awful fear OF
something he knew not what, Hickman
sprang to the door and yelled loudly to the
landlord.
The heavy walls of the room merely ech-
oed his cries in hooking confusion OF
sounds. and all was dead silence without
More and more crazed with fright, the inn
prisoned man pounded on the rough door
with his fists until the blood came As time
passed he grew quieter, and began to think
of some way to escape Fortunately, ne pad
a box OF matches and he cautiously struck
enc of these. By it's feeble light he madc
some startling discoveries. He saw that
the strong walls OF his prison were without
windows, and the only opening TO the place
was the door through which ne had entered
now closed and securely fastened
Not satisfied, however. Hickman struck
another match and began TO walk around
the room close to the wall ana .nis nnany
ner AS he held the sputtering match ABOVE
him it's fiickering rays revealed a sight that
literally froze the blood In Els veins.
A CHASTITY SIGHT.
Lying in pools of clotted blood. their arms
around each other, were the forms OF a
man and woman. BY the light of another
match Hickman discovered several small
holes, or openings. in the walls of the room
just above the bed and on a dead line with
the sleepers- He later that these holes
ran all around the room at regular inter
walls, and at once OWNED the purpose for
which they were used.
Though appalled, at the situation Hickman
resolved TO escape the death for which he
ingenuity or bravery. Feeling thai nothing
more could be gained by an investigation OF
the apartment he sat down in corner TO
quietly await developments. Shortly after
midnight he saw through the little port
holes on the other side of the room the
reflections from the rays OF a lantern. and
this warned him that his would-be murder
ers were approaching. The next instant the
muzzle OF a gun was cautiously slipped
through one OF the little holes and the
thunderous discharge that followed almost
deafened him.
Another and another followed. each fired
from different point until every portion OF
the apartment was swept with the leadeR
hail. But the prisoner was on the alert.
and by lying fiat on his back. close UP IN
the fireplace remained uninjured.
He uttered cry or sound throughout
crawled noiselessly to the door, feeling sure
that the fends on the outside would enter
as soon as they thought their dirty work
completed.
He was not mistaken in that. Presently
was being unlocked. Arising from his pros
trate position. he prepared for a desperate
struggle with his foes
Slowly the door opened and swung in
ward. AS IL did so Hickman stepped behind
IL and saw the landlord enter with gun In
his hands. his wife following with a lantern
TO guide their footsteps. As they passed the
portals of the door the quick-witted and
desperate prisoner kicked the lantern from
the woman's hand. throwing the room into
total darkness. and, springing out or the
room. pulled the door TO and quickly locked
It, with the murderous man and his wife
on the inside
He knew what to do ami there was not =
moment 10 lose. Stealt1ily securing his
horse from the stable. he mounted the ami
NAL and rode az break-neck speed 10 the
nearest settlement three miles away.