The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-10
RECALLS AN OLD MURDER
DEATH OF LOUIS LINN, WHO KILLED
"Hi" MINNICK YEARS AGO.
story of Man Who Went Wild
Pace That Finally Led
to the Prison.

Louis Linn. aged sixty-seven years, died
suddenly at the City Hospital Monday
evening at o'clock. He was admitted TO
the hospital the previous Friday. Coroner
Brayton ordered an autopsy held yesterday
and ii was learned that death had resulted
from a complication of heart and kidney
disorders.
Louis Linn was a well-known character.
He was born in Pennsylvania and came
here about thirty years ago from Chicago,
where he had been engaged in operating a
bus line. This he had disposed OF and he
had good deal of ready cash which he
spent lavishly in fast living. He was then
a man in his prime and inclined to be
very fast. He made the acquaintance of
Lizzie Douglass who afterwards lived on
West Market street at the corner of the
Big -Four road. Linn assisted the woman in
furnishing the house in style that in those
days was considered extravagantly lavish.
their marriage that they began TO have
trouble. Some said the trouble resulted
from I-inn's abuse. He was hard drinker
ana at such times was dlfncult 10 deal
with. Others said that the woman, having
got hold of most of Inns money, was
willing to let him go.
About this time another man began to
figure in the domestic troubles of the Iinns,
and 1t cost him his life The man was
Hiram Minnick He was previously on the
city police force and bore good name:
But he drifted into an association with bad
women, which proved his ruin, and lost
him his life finally. He left his respectable
wife first 10 marry Maria Mabb. She had
been divorced from her husband. Minnick
and the Mabb woman did not get along
and she secured a divorce from him. Min
nick then began to spend ms time about the
Douglass resort and it is said was the cause
of the final and serious trouble which
caused Linn TO leave her. Mrs. Linn, or
Lizzie Douglass IA she known, Sc
cured divorce from Linn and 1t was an
nounced that Lizzie Douglass and Hiram
Minnick were to be married.
One afternoon in the early spring of 1873
or 1874 Minnick and the woman were in her
parlor talking over their approaching mar
riage when Linn suddenly appeared With
scarcely u word he drew a revolver and
fired a shot into Minnicl<'s body. He then put
the pistol in his pocket and walked over to
Washington street into saloon and told
of what he had done. He made no effort to
escape and when the police came allowed
himself to be taken 10 Jail.
Minnick died the. next day at the City
Hospital. The trial of Linn was n holly
contested one. Mrs Linn the divorced
wife, on whose account the murder was
committed. became her ex-husbands best
friend and 1t was her money that went to
pay the best lawyers that could be retained
for his defense. Linn received a life
sentence and was sent to the Jefersonville
pententiary. Lizzie Douglass did not live
but two or three years after this, but dur
ing that time she did all in her power tC
make the prison life Of her ex-husband en-
durable.
After serving. nine years in prison Linn
was pardoned by Governor Porter. Two
wel-known ladies intereceded with the
Governor for the pardon. They had taker
an interest i'm the case after seeing Linn
in prison. He was strong man in the
prime of life when he committed the muir
der but when the ladies. TO whom he was
han entire stranger, saw him in prison, ne
| had the appearance of a man seventy years
old. His hair and beard were completely
turned gray. Since his releu1e Linn has moi
beep able to do much in the way OF work
| During the last two or three years he has
been suffering from sort of paralysis
which lately rendered him almost helpless
| His children and his wife's sisters, who live
| i'm this city did not seem inclined TO succol
| him and two years ago he started to the
| poorhouse. Mrs. Fanny Ross, who live:
with her brother on South Capitol avenue
heard of the old mans condition and gave
| him home. For a while she boarded hin
| and paid for a room on Washington street
where he lodged. Then she made a room
| for him in the house and until he wa:
| taken TO the hospital last Friday gave hin
a home and provided for all his wants
| Louis Linn left four children by his wife
| Lizzie Douglass.