The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-15
Sage He Was Induced to Stand Trial
for the Murder of Mcdonald by
the OiIy-Tonsued Patterson.
AN ALLEGED DEFALCATION
LATE AUDITOR OF HARRISON COUN-
TY SHORT IN HIS ACCOUNTS.
other Natural Gas Explosion at
AndersOn-GeneraII Indiana News.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

SptCidi 10 the luuidHapOuS journal.
DANVILLE Ind, Feb 14-There is now
condition resulting from the trial of John
Sexson, of Thorntown, who was last Fri
day found guilty of the charge of killing
Mcdonald, at Thorntown, in August, 1894,
and sentenced to prison for twenty -one
years, that is peculiarly strange, throwing a
new light on human nature and showing
how one man may be controlled by anoth-
er, either from friendship or fear Sexson
all through the trial bore himself with re-
markabie bravery and ease. He was cool
on the witness stand, and when he came
into court to hear the verdict of the Jury
and receive sentence he was evidently in
happy mood, and he heard the sentence
which is generally believed to be quite Sc
we're enough, without a change of express
.sion
7. S. Adams, one of the attorneys for the
State in the case, sent word to Sexson that
he would like to have talk with him. On
Saturday Sexson said he would like to talk
with Mr.. Adams. who, in company with j.
x. Little. one of the jurors who found Sex
son guilty. and John Taylor. deputy sheriff.
went to the jail Mr.. Sexson greeted Mr.
Adams Pleasantly and said he had no feel
ing other than one Of friendliness toward
him, as what he did In the prosecution was
simply his duty. They talked in general
about the trial, and Sexson sighed and said:
1T is hard to have to go to prison for a
crime of which one is not guilty. / did not
kill Mcdonald"
Mr.. Adams expressed no surprise. as he
had felt all through the trial that there was
something being concealed.
Tell the story said Mr.. Adams
Sexson drew a long breath, looked at the
floor thoughtfully for minute, and said:
Cnarley Patterson struck the blow that
killed Mcdonald"
This caused a sensation, and Sexson was
induced TO tell all the story. He said that
patterson wanted to whip man named
sutton, and the night of the murder he
(Sexson) and Patterson were in Smiths sa-
loon IN Thorntown. When they left, Pat
rerson took, with him piece of gas pipe
in court, and which the State claimed had
neen used II dealing the fatal blow. AS
they sytt Went ut down the street Patterson took
IT, handing the gas pipe to Sexson to hold
while he drank the beer. This was in front
ORear had testified that ne had seen Pat
terson and Sexson together. the latter hold
terson finished his beer. he threw the bot
they saw Mcdonald, and Patterson Pat ori'' called allied
and then Mcdonald walked away and, as
he turned. Patterson struck him with the
b spe bns the pea and e ne fell Just as
State had claimed that the blow was struck
Then Patterson said to Season:
I'VE are in for this now, and If / am con-
victed for this will hang, because my repu-
tation is bad here. Now, Sexson. you say
that you did this in self-defense. 1 viii
swear to the same, and will get others to
do SO, and your reputation is good YOU
will be acquitted, and neither of will
To this proposition Sexson consented and
In the evidence before the coroner, before
Guided, Sexson told the story that Patterson
put in his mouth for the sole purpose of
aIi waid ee & ne s,t SeTson that
would be acquitted.
While Season was confined in the Boone
would urge him to stand by the story |
told you and you will be all right" Lately,
ana has besn IN % has as
time and since Patterson's arrest he has
urged him to stand by that story.
Mr.. Adams asked sexson If ne had the let
that morning as he was making his prepa-
rations to go to the penitentiary. He had
showed them, however, to another Srisoner.
Season told him. Sexson contili.ed his
story that, after the blow was struck, they
went down the street and hid the gas pipe
under the church where 1t was found
When asked about a statement that was
used d, IN the sa trial about anocking some one
he said that they were then talking about
the pitcher, of a ball club which was to play
words had haen ,,sed opiit tb otiaa rHsse
son,a one h,,t $50, 90 s;d ~ th s'' sS7aIlst
I III tia 81; &c., S IA Saiu ICY nau MOI.
~ Eva sai5 that SIhs;snui,99Iw lifan-
W. aronsr the a. "a us ms esru wa peio h
incaI court he had narinrayy hi u Th ene
was no trace Of emba rra ssrrant IN rac,tinsr
tho dataiIs and ha could rnaLn :, a. ..I,i.lns
ton of the power by which Patterson wove
the web that would bind Sexson SO strongly.
The story produced a profound sensation
and will further compiicate matters in a
case s, ,hat - nov YET az an enc.
daring Man is not nlaced bevond D Pat, arn a
lie has been arrested numerous times but
mas always escaped with Light jail SEN
Frankfort once. and the manner of 1 bis es se
cape not discovered for some time. He
was brought TO DanvllIe to testify in this
case IN cnans, as rev weeks ago he was
arrested charged with breaking into Wei
shan store at Ihorntown, and has since
peen conhned In the Lebanon Jail. The few
days he was confined in the Danville jail
last week ne broke several locks, and when
tne oincet siaf.eu 70 lebanon win MN ne
w iiae iuS opJeNe-" no one hliows, uiiiess