The Van Buren press., 1896-01-25

the murder or Henry Bacon upon the
gallows, is half breed Cherokee, only
10 years old, but in spite of his youth a
desperate criminal. He was tried and
convicted Of horse stealing in this
county some years ago and sentenced to
five years in the penitentiary. After
serving time he made his escape, and
gradually drifted back to Barker town
ship where he had been living before
being sent to the penitentiary. Ward is
also accused of having committed a
murder in Texas. How much truth
there is in this report we cannot say.
After his return to Barker township he
remained in hiding up to the night of
the murder for which he suffered the
penalty yesterday. On that night (Sun-
day, July 90, 1880 Henry Bacon a
young man of that neighborhood, was
foully assassinated while sitting in
church attending divine service-the
fatal shot being fired through an open
window.
Investigation led to the arrest of Ward
and several others as being implicated
in the crime, but no evidence could be
adduced showing the connection of any =
one with the crime except Ward, and
all except he were released.
At the November term of the circuit
court Ward was indicted, tried and
found guilty of the crime-the evidence
against him being very strong-and he
was sentenced to be executed Dec.
81, 1895. Motion was made for new
trial, but was overruled. Then appli-
cation was made to Gov. Clarke for
executive clemency, but after consider
ing the case the governor decided not to
interfere, he, however, granted a respite
till January Gath. No great efforts were
made in Ward 8 behalf, as even those
who were considered his friends feared
him.
His was a most diabolical crime.
Jealousy is said to have been the motive,
while he claimed at his preliminary ex-
animation, to have been hired to com
NIT the deed. If the latter was true, it
would stamp him as one of the lowest
criminals in the annals of crime, for a
man who would commit murder for hire
stands too low in the moral scale to be
deserving of any sympathy.
A Mrs. West, a sister of Ward s,
came down from the neighborhood of
Evansville to see him this week and to
her he told that he committed the deed
on account of an old grudge he had
against Bacon from the time they were
boys, and that another party was with
him at the time of the murder, but
refused to divulge the name, saying it
would do him no good and only get the
other party, perhaps, also on the
gallows, as he stated it would, accord
ing to the charge the judge gave in his
case.
He has been visited by different
ministers for some time and seemed
resigned to his fate.
Ward made a statement to Sheriff
Wood Thursday evening about o clock
in regard to the killing in Texas.
He killed a man named Ellison at
Houston, Tex. last year. He claims
he was justified in the killing as he
thought Ellison was trying to arrest
him. Shot him three times. On advise
of his attorneys he surrendered; was
tried and sentenced to 10 years in the
pen. He appealed his case, but mean
while, on April 1st broke Jail with FIVE
others. overpowering the jailor and
assistants, took the watch, some cigars
and keys from the jailor, and put them
in the cell. Two of the men were
chained together by the neck, so he cut
the chains. Then he intended to go
down and cut the telephone wire, but
found the jailer wife telephoning the
police department so made his escape
over a ten foot wall which surrounded