The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-15
FAMOUS MURDER CASE
CHARLES l.. DRAPER'S TRIAL SET
FOR THE 9TH OF DECEMBER.
Denied Change of Venue from jack
sOnviIIe, ILL.,, Where He Is Alleged
to Have Killed G. l.. Hastings.

JACKSONVILLE, ILL.,, Nov. 4.-Charles
L. Draper, accused of the murder March 81
last of Charles L. Hastings in the abstract
office of Judge E. B. Kirby, will be put on
trial for his life Dec. 6 before Judge Shir-
ley He was arraigned yesterday and at
once asked for a change of venue, alleg~
ing prejudice against him in Morgan coun-
ty After exhaustive argument Judge Shir-
ley refused the petition and set the trial
for the day named. In the petition for
change of venue Draper maintained,
among other things, that it had been his
desire to be tried in Morgan county, where
he had lived for twenty years, unless pre-
judice against him should exist in the pub
lie mind, but that he believed such preju-
dice did exist. He asserted that Hastings
was we'll known throughout the county,
had had business relations with many per-
sons who knew him well, and for that rea-
son they would be biased against him. He
was especially severeeen the papers, COM
planning that the testimony before the COR
oner's jury had not been secret and that his
so-called confession had been printed, which
would also add to the prejudice against him.
In conclusion he presented a number of af-
fdavits from persons who believed he could
not get fair trial in this county. In re-
buttal the prosecution presented several
times as many af5idavits as had been offered
by the defense. They were from representa-
tive citizens throughout the city and coun-
ty, who stated a perfectly fair trial could
be had in this community. After lengthy ar
gument Judge Shirley announced his de-
cision and the defendant was taken back to
Jail.
Hastings was a clerk in the office of Judge
Kirby, who, for thirty years, had been in
business VUhnGn hooks
were most valuable. Several years ago
Hastings gave up his position and went to
st. Paul Draper was hired in his place
and a very faithful employe. Failing
in st. Paul, Hastings returned to this city
and applied to Judge Kirby for reinstate-
ment. The judge engaged him and put him
to work iii the same room with Draper
These two men did not get along well to-
gether. An ennlity sprang up between them
and developed into bitter hate, although the
cause of the quarrel was never known. A
little more than a year ago Draper re-
signed, saying he could not remain in the
same office with Hastings and keep his self
respect. For a time he did nothing, and
at last he applied to Judge Kirby to. rein
state him. Meanwhile, however, his place
had been filled and the judge was forced
to refuse him position
Draper, who was first-class real-eState
man, then opened an abstract Office of his
own, His business grew rapidly, for the
work he did was excellent and the service
rendered quick. People wondered how
he did it, as he had no books of his own to
had prepared fell into the hands of his en-
ployer, who says he recognized them as ex-
tracts from his own books. This observa-
ton led to an examination of the books,
and the judge discovered, he asserts, that
the figures in many of them had been al
tered, and that other important changes
had been made
He at once suspected Draper of having
tempered with the books. This suspicion
was strengthened by the fact that Draper
had key to Judge KirbyS office door and
by the further fact that the combination on
the office safe had not been changed since
Draper left his employ So excellent was
the young mans reputation, however, and
SO respected was his family, says the judge
that he had not the heart to expose him.
He determined. though, to set a watch on
Draper. catch him, if possible, in the act of
trespass and then turn him free with some
A detective was put on guard and slept in
the abstract Office for five weeks, but no
abandoned This was in February. In
March last, one stormy night when an ac-
cident to the lighting plant left the town in
darkness, Hastings went to the Office on
some buSneSS-What may never be known.
The next morning his body found with
$50 knife wounds upon 1T and the floor and
walls of the room were covered with his
blood.
known that he had been seen passing
saloon that night, his face stained with
blood. His clothes were found to be blood
stained when the police arrested him. He
denied all knowledge of the murder and his
manner was so cool as to convince even the
police of his innocence, but 1t was thought
advisable to hold him.
He retained Colonel Patrick Dyer, the
noted st. Louis criminal lawyer, and pres
emily he made confession, so carefully and
cautiously written that the hand of Col
Dyer visible in ii. Draper asserted
that he killed Hastings in self-defense The
story told in the confession was plausible
and proboble. and strength is given it by
the well-known antipathy there was be-
tween the two men,
Every artifice OF the law will be used to
establish Diapers Innocence. Besides Col
Ps SG ne Of nag ON elS siae zen John I'm, M
Epler and George W. Smith, of this city.
A. c. Barnes and j. p. Lippncott, two
well-known lawyers here, have been en-
gagged to assist States Attorney Miller