The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-31
THE TWOCLUBS FOUND
THEY WERE Used BY JOHN II.
HAINEs IN KILLING HIS WIFE.
He Evidently Regretted His Deed and
Had Tried to Revive the Poor
Woman.

The weapons used by John r. Haines in
killing his wife, Delilah, Wednesday, were
two clubs, one two feet long, weighing
about six pounds, and having large knot
on the end. The other was somewhat short
err and lighter The blood-stained blud-
geons were found yesterday morning by
William Emf, one Of the party that was
searching for Haines's weapons. Yester-
day ii was reported that Haines had been
seen about the place as late as 3 O'Clock
Wednesday afternoon, and 1t was also said
that his body was still warm when found
by the neighbors. although rigor mortis had
set in when it was cut down by the cor
oner. In addition TO this, II was learned
that Mrs. Haines was discovered lying on
the floor wrapped up in comfort taken
from bed on the second story, her head
supported by a cushion from the rocking
chair. In view of these facts, ii Is said, the
most plausible theory of the murder seems
to be that Haines and mis- wife had quar-
rel early in the morning. and that he left
the house with his mind full of rage. BY
some chance-perhaps design-he entered
the woodshed and got the clubs and re-
turned to the house, intent upon murder.
Neighbors think he probably entered the
sitting room, where the wife's body was
found, and struck her with one of the
clubs from behind. knocking her to the
floor. stunned and unconscious. Then. in
the fury OF mis- passion, the Infatuated man
rained blows upon his wife's head and
face. Leaving her bleeding and uncon-
scious. they think he then replaced the
clubs in the woodshed and went about his
work. 1t is said. that Haines was only
dangerous when thoroughly aroused and
that his wife, when he was angry, fire.
quently went TO one of the neighbors, where
she would remain until he had time to
away it seems probable that Haines re-
turned to the house, possibly repentant,
and hoping he might find the injuries in
fiicted were not fatal Upon seeing that his
wife was dying, the man then went to the
upper ROOM got a comfort, which he bound
about her form and then placed the cush-
ion under her head. There Is but little
doubt that if medical attention had been
given the poor woman in time her life
might have been saved. But Ha.nes proba-
bly, feared to arouse the neighbors, fearing
Then Ii seems likely he wrote the letter
which was found When cut down it was
his person. He had evidently washed his
hands. 1t is probable that he mad deter
mined upon self-destruction at the time
he wrote the letter, and there is no reason
TO doubt his statement that the murder
was committed between and 10 o'clock.
He probably wandered about all day, real
izing that either suicide or death at the
hands of the States hangman was inevita-
bic. but he was afraid to die, and therefore
put off the deed as long as possible.
When the hour for the children to re-
turn from school drew nigh, and the dam
ger of discovery was imminent, he went
to the stable and deliberately hanged him.
self. Haines first hung his cap upon a
harness peg, when he climbed into the loft,
tied the rope to one of the Irafters. adjust
ed a slip-knot about his neck, swung off
from the loft and let himself down the
rope, hand over hand. until il was taut,
and then death by strangulation followed.
AS his neck was not broken. he evidently
did not jump from the floor of the loft.
Another thing that goes to indicate that
ne did not hang himself until a short time
before the girls got home is the fact that
hot fire was burning in the stove. 1t
may have been that Haines heard his wife
complaining of the cold (as she did after
Mrs. Irwin arrived), and that he built a
fire, hoping she might live. 1t is believed
that Haines's passion had passed away, or
he would not have taken the trouble to
cover his wife with comfort and then
replenish the fire. as he did. The true his
tory of the tragedyfwill of course. never
be known, but the above seems to be, the
generally accepted theory.
sympathetic neighbors remained with
the sorrowing children Wednesday night
and prepared the bodies for burial Mrs
Haines died on pallet in the sitting
room, which Mrs. Irwin had prepared after
her arrival. When Haines's body was cut
down il was carried toI the house and laid
on the floor beside that of his dead wife
Both bodies were afterward put in the
parlor, side by side. Yesterday the scene
at the house was very pathetic The
young girls and their brother were almost
inconsolable at the loss of their mother
who had always been tender, loving par
ent.
John r. Haines was veteran soldier
and was member of Garfield Post, G.. A
r. He was fifty-nine years old. while his
wife, Delilah, would have been ffty-five
June l. Three of twelve children that were
born to them are dead. The others all live
in this State, and arrangements for the
funeral will not be made until the remain
ing members of the family arrive.