The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1895-12-05

Officers Believe That the "Confession
Was Invented for tho Purpose OF Vent
ing Enmity Against His Pal, who Re-
Oeives a Sentence OF Only Four Years.
FORT WAYNE, Dec. 5.--John G. Stone,
alias "Vinson," has made confession to
Sheriff Clansmier, detailing life of hor-
rible crime. He was arrested with John
Duffy and William Walrath for killing
Deputy Sheriff Harrod Stone is under
ten years sentence. Stone states that he
and Walrath were members of the Bill
Dalton western gang Of bank and stage
robbers. He says he, Duffy and Walrath
killed a man at Kansas City in 1893, robbed
him, but later gave the money to Henry
Donnelly, apolioeman for protection. He
also tells Of a murder committed by him
self, Mrs Stewart, and her son Clarence,
in Cleveland o. The next morning Clar-
ence and Stone killed a boy in the Big
Four yards in Linville.
In Buffalo, Stone, Walrath and one
Burns, saloon keeper, killed wealthy
western farmer who was looking for a
good time The money was divided, and
Stone and Walrath returned to Chicago,
and with their shares started restaurant.
Here Walrath married Stones sister. Mrs.
Walreth died and Stone and Walrath left
Chicago Later Stone returned and was
implicated in the murder of a father and
son named Prunty. Three men are now
serving life sentences at Joliet for the
crime, but Stone was not arrested.
He then tells Of murder at Dunkirk,
N. Y, where Duffy stabbed pal, Buff
Jack" four times, and buried him in the
woods. Another murder was committed
at Union City, Pa, the victim being an
old man named Horton or Norton. An
other murder was committed by the trio
near Youngstown, o., the victim being a
resident of Ashtabula. The last murder
committed by Stone. Duffy and Walrath
was on April 29 1895, on a Pennsylvania
freight train.
When the officers here learned that
Stone confession became generally known
he was hustled out of the city to the Mich
igan City penitentiary to serve term OF
ten years. When Stone made his private
confession two months ago he implicated
his pal, John Duffy, as the leading spirit
In the bloody highway robbery.
This sensational confession was kept
concealed till Duffy was placed on trial on
Tuesday for assault with intent to kill o
posse of deputy sheriffs. The confession
became public too late to have any effect
on Duffy's case, as when the jury retired
ut night the wild tale of crimes had not
reached them. Duffy received only four
years sentence, six less than his squealina
pal, who was implicated in the same crime
Some of the officers are inclined to thinh
that Stone has painted and embellished &
few molehills criminally into mountains
of crime for no other purpose than to vent
enmity against Duffy. Since the death o.
their pal William Walrath, from the eff
fects of bullet wounds received in the bat
tie with the deputy sheriffs here last April
Duffy and Stone have been such bitter en-
emies that they have been kept in differ
ent parts of the jail.
Advices from Mansfield, o., Erie, Pa.
and Kansas City indicate that Stone wa
very familiar with murders committed a
each of these places Denials have beer
received from Chicago, Cleveland ant
Ruffalo