The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-09-02
Murder That Startled the People of
Hendricks County and Resulted I'm
Arrest OF Rev. w. e. Hinshnw.
TRIAL TO BEGIN THIS WEEK
REVIEW OF THE TESTIMONY TAKEN
BY THE CORONER AT DANvILLE.
The Preachers Account OF the killing
Prosecution and the Defense.
special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
DANVILLE, Ind, Aug. H.-To-morrow
the September term of court convenes and
the first case to be called for trial and,
it is believed the only case that will be
tried this term, is that OF the State
VS.. William e. Hinshaw, charged with
the murder of his wife, this case being set
for Wednesday. When the people of the
little town OF Belleville were aroused that
bleak morning last January and were horri-
fed with the terrible proof of an awful
murder they little thought that the out
come would be one of the most noted MUIR
der trials in the history of the State, with
great central figure in the parsonage
Of Mr.. Hinshaw, who was then feared to
be near deaths door from wounds received
from the same burglar that had murdered
his wife, and who was then receiving the
sympathy of the entire people. His story
OF assault robbery, murder was accepted
and the entire country was aroused. Sew
erai arrests were made, but the parties
were able to give accounts OF themselves
the night of the murder. Mr.. Hinshaw
could give no description that would lead
to Identification. Weeks passed. during
which time Mr.. Hinshaw was at his home in
Randolph county recovering from the
wounds which he had received. Meanwhile
the investigation was pressed by the COR
oner. assisted by detectives Rumor began
to make ugly charges against Mr.. Hinshaw
At first they were hardly mentioned in an
open tone. They were whispered around
and public attention was again aroused
to the highest pitch by the arrival of Mr..
Hinshaw in Danville, accompanied by a
Winchester attorney. while detective
warrant charging Mr.. Hnshaw with the
| crime. Mr.. Hnshaw coming under the
| promises of his friends that he would
agree to the fullest and freest investiga-
| tion. the detectives agreeing that he would
not serve the warrant pending the investi-
| CATION. At Danville Mr.. Hinshaw secured
| Hogate & Clark additional counsel and
| the afternoon Of his arrival the coroner
| resumed his investigation, Mr.. Hinshaw
| being ON the witness stand all afternoon
| The examination was conducted by ]. o.
| Parker, who is now retained by the de-
| fense. Mr.. Parker was then acting as
counsel for the coroner. In the afternoon
| 54 questions were asked Mr.. Hinshaw and
| his statement, under oath, as taken from
the coroners papers, is thus:
He and his wife lacked but two weeks
of having been married eight years at the
time of the murder. The night of the
| affray they had held church at Cherry
| Grove, some five miles from Belleville. On
| returning home he and his wife talked two
or three hours. and it about IL O'Clock
| when they retired. At this point Mr.. Hin
| shaw was taken through close examina-
| tion concerning the house and it's furnish
| ings. The 271st question asked was:
Now coming back to this Wednesday
night of the trouble, you may tell just how
| that occurred, the best you can. in your
own way, as story
HINsHAw'S NARRATIVE.
To this, Mr.. Hinshaw replied: II al
most dread to begin because 1 can't tell
it as a story, Brother Parker. A story is
connected, and 1 can't tell this connected
ly. Well. the first 1 remember was my
wife's voice. and ruslting and the noise
of revolver. 1 don't know which was
first. 1 can't tell you. 1 was awakened
by one or all of these things almost at
the same time, and 1t seemed I was very
wide awake. Just as the report of the re-
volver died away. or a moment later, my
! wife called out in excited voice. She
| didn't scream, but she spoke excitedly. I
| believe she said: oh Lord, / am shot,
| or something to that effect. These all
occurred in rapid succession, and the next
thing / knew that / can tell / was in a
scuffie. / remember seeing more than one
man. He wasn't right over the bed. L
don't believe this man took bold of me-
L think the man that took hold of me
took hold near the door passing into the
east room. AS for the scuffie and what
| occurred, don't remember much about it,
It's been dream except this. 1t appears
| to me that the larger man was the one
that stayed closest TO me-"
Here he was interrupted by several ques-
tions. BY large man he meant the heavy
set man. There was lamp burning in the
room. He thinks his wife pulled down
the curtains before they retired. The night
was somewhat cloudy, although the moon
| gave light. When he awakened, he saw
but one man and has no recollection of
seeing any other man then, how he
| got out Of bed the first thing he remem-
| bered was that he was in a scuffie, but he
| did not think 1T was the man whom he
| first saw with whom he was scufiing. The
| man first seen was tall. slim man. The
| other man was heavy set.
| Mr.. Parker then asked: NOW. when
| you came in contact with this man near
| the east door, what followed?'
Mr.. Hinshaw replied: 1T don't remem-
ber Brother Parker / think we simply
grappled and lodged was about the way
| of the attack"
You would get hold and then let go?'
Eyes. sir. / am sure he would not let me
hold him. and L didn't intend to let him
| hold me-"
| Mr.. Hinshaw then said, in answer 20
| questions, that they fought into the east
room and then into the dining room. He
was not sure they were in the kitchen
| They fought out of the dining room into
the east room. but he did not know which
door they fought through to get into the
yard.
Mr.. Parker said: Then you would not be
able to say positively how you got into
| the yard?"
mo. sir
Returning to the west room do you
remember OF hearing your wife say any
| thing or hearing her engaged in any way
| with the other man."
"T don't remember of hearing my wife's
| voice only one time after iyst heard II
| Mr.. Hinshaw then said that he thinks he
heard his wife's voice in the dining room.
| When he and the man fought through the
| gate into the street. he does not remember
which went through the gate first. He
| touched the man last on the east side Of
the street. near Mr. Tinchers fence.