Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-10-12
Remarkable Murder Trial just Closed
in Indiana.
oNvlcTloN OF REV. W. Z. HlNsHAw
70 Motive why lie Murdered his
beautiful Young wifc-Canclusivc
Circumstantini Evidence.

10. II nshaw. and assessed his punishment
Il Imprisonment FOR life. Hinshaw was
convicted OF the murder OF his wife, and
the case il remarkable for tho apparent
absence OF any motive for the crime. as
wei as the high standing or the parties.
The murderer Is a tall athletic young
man. His wife is said 10 have possessed
grace. youth. beauty, ylvaclty Of tempera-
inent, aud all the ondowmcnls to make
man happy. Thcy owned farm OF IA
eros and some money and occupied their
own house at Bellville n short distance
from panv.lle. They were highly respected
and lllushaw was the ordained minister
Of a Methodist church. to whion he had
been called by the petition OF the con.
Rrogation on account OF the ponularity oi
10th hinsef and wife THOR outward
homo life was most exemplary. and no
motive could 10 conceived for the crime
For a considerable time aftor Mrs Hin
shnw's death there was no suspicion rest
inr upon her husband. Tho funeral was
attended by hundreds OF reoplc living In
the nelghhorhood and the sermon was
preached by n retired minister living In
close proximity to tho ulnshAws In
which the young pastor was made the OBJ
ject Of deep commlsoration and oNprca-
slons OF coincidence and sympathy
on the night OF the murder Mrs Hin
shaw had been found lying dead Mt the
back door OF hcr home. She had boon
shot through tho head. The motive. o.
explained at tho time. wan robbery. Hin
shaw hnd seventeen kulfr wounds and
two runHhot wounds, md had 10 be car.
rled Into the house by nclEhbors
Those nrc in brief ihc circumstances
TINT confronted the judicial Mowers when
tho chnc was taken mp FOR Investigation.
The story Of tho cr'mc Is thusi
STORY or THE CRIME.
Some time last january Rev. iIinshaw
began "a conduct a series OF protrncted
meetings az tho different churchca In hia
circuit and hero success followed him.
AS usual lie had finished ,iie meeting at
StilcsNiile ana was preparing 10 70 TO
another place. lIo and his wife drove
To their home In Bel!villc ono night
There Is n dispute az 90 what occurred
on that trip home, but as lIinshnw IA tho
only living witness. his statement must
be accepted He denies having any quar-
rel with his VITO They got home about
10 o'clock. Mrs. Hlnahnw went Into tho
house through tho back door ana he put
his horse In the stable and then went
into the house nc and his WHO talked
until about II o'clock The subject OF
their conversation, according to tho state.
ment OF some OF his friends, was tho
nmlly troub'os Of her parents. Her
mothor wanted TO como and 1.-Two with
her and so dld the father. Hln5haw. ne
oOrding to the story he tod. was will
ing that the mother should mike her
home with the wife, but objected 10 the
father.
About 2 O'Clock In tho morning. accord.
ing to tho testimony Of MIR Hinshnw be-
fore the coroner, he was awakened from
n sound sleep by n pistol shot and Mt
the same time he said no heard hts wife
moan, and then say that she was shot.
The cry Of hla wife and the report OF tho
pistol were simultaneous. His trousers
were hanging on the headboard OF tho
bod when he was awakened he saw
two mon In the room. one was tall and
slender. The other was shorter aud
heavier, As he epr1nR from the bed there
was another shot. In lnps time than IL
takes to record IT, 1insbnw was gran
ping with ono OF the aHsailants. Hts
wife must have rr7nn'ed with tho nthar.
but or this he claims to know nothing,
for he WIS busy with the rohber, In the
struggle his wife got hnd or him and
said. "ts thip YOU VIM" HinRhaw had
They fought IN two or three rooms. out
OF the back door acrpgs tho stroet 70 n
anot near the barn or Samuel Tnchrr.
was shot and stabbed aud lost
so much blood that he was compelled 10
rclcaeo tho man he had hold OF, and tho
two got away, Illnslnw fcl IN tho road
near Tlnchers house. but got 20 HE fest
and staggered down the street past his
own house toward the office Of Dr. strong.
but he could not make II. and again foil
IN tho street, whore he was found by aomc
Of the nelEhhors md carried 10 his house
GOSSIP AT WORK.
Tho story 10 seemingly n plausible ono
In every detail. Had Hlnshaw been n
man of discretion no would doubtless now
be free The principle OF the "pcryorse."
however. operated In his case, ~ IN the
case OF so many men who are slrcwd IN
covering up tho tracks of thulr crime,
and his own conduct soon led 10 gossip
among the Villagers which connected hls
name with the murder. Tile FIRST act
leading to mischioyous reports was the
freedom Of tho young PASTORS intercourse
with n number Of girls, and his remark
ably speedy recovery from tho ohoclt OF |
his wifo's death. This revived tumora
IF something approaching a scandal IN |
which no had beon engaged before tbs |
tragedy.
During Mrs. Hnshaw's absence from |
home on visit to friends the pastor was
'onhncd TO his home with illnoss. a small |
girl waited on him, This child was sont .
away by HinHhaw md told TO go TO his
1cighhor. Tincher. while he received tho
,aro OF young woman with whom ho
lhd been seen driving In buggy some /
imo before. Mrs. Tinchor was inclined
% treat tho matter IN an angry spirit,
iut was restrained by her husband, who /
her not TO speak Of the occur
'ence because IIlnshaw was s-eir pastor
tnd they owed II 10 the good name OF
heir church TO remain silent. Enemies
lprang up who began to pry with curious
nterest into the minister's home affairs.
1 developed that Hinsbaw had been told
short time previous TO the tragedy
perhaps the niGht before-that no ought
lot TO allow his wife 20 visit certain
ioune on tho ground that there was q
'oung man there. Hinshaw laughed al
his story but IN private IL said 10 have
approached her with It. and said some
larsh words. one point OF interest in
with his life developed anothcr
nd ms the feeling grew detectives took
~ the chse, stimulated by the reward
'fered for the arrest Of the murderers
THE PASTOR ARRESTED.
one OF the detectives arrested tho min
ster. BY advice Of his attorneys HinBhaw
an immediate hearing. The de-
eutive was unable to bring proof. and
he prisoner was discharged. This aroused
he recruitment OF his friends. ana the
detectives were compelled 20 lenvo the
eighDorhood for fear Of bodily violence
The examination was held before the
oroner. and hero certain statements were
made by lilnshnw which were afterward
feotivcly used to weave the web OF
uilt around him. IIlnsbaw wns jubliant
( his arnulttal, and assumed an air OF
raggadoclo. This iired the spirit OF many
Who thought such an airoclous offensc
hould not 20 unpuuiHhed. In Danyillo sta- |