The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-10
FRANK CoRyELL,s CRIME.
Murdered Mrs. Ellen Hanks I'm the
''Heathen Nation"

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
SEYMOUR, Ind, Oct 9.-Frank COryell,
a notorious character, called Mrs. Ellen
Banks to her door last night and e1nptied
the contents of a shotgun into her abdo-
men. The scene of the crime is in the south
west corner of this township, about seven
miles from this city. Coryell has been
frequent visitor at the Banks house, and
the neighbors say that he sparkling
Mrs. Banks, whose husband has been an in
mate of the Insane Asylum at Indianapolis
for the past ten years. Last Tuesday
night Coryell called at the house and re-
manned all night. Wednesday morning he
became offended at Mrs. Banks and, before
leaving the house, cursed her and slapped
her in the face. Last night Mrs. Banks
and her thirteen-year-old daughter Viola
who resided with her on the farm, were
awakened at o'clock by a rapping on the
door. Mrs. Banks got up and inquired who
was there, but received no answer. She
opened the door and was shot by Coryell
the gun being held so near that her cloth
ing was set on fire. After the shooting
Coryell picked up his victim and assisted
her to bed. He sent the little girl to the
neighbors and afterwards sent for physi-
cian Mrs. Banks lived until o'clock this
morning. She was conscious until her
death and told those surrounding her bed
that Coryell had purposely shot her. Coryell
3.
died, when he left to so TO his home, four
miles distant.
He told Robert Carpenter the gun was acct
dentaIly discharged and that he had
brought it home with him for the purpose
of killing a mess of squirrels for Mrs
Banks. Viola, the daughter of Mrs. Banks.
says that Coryell came to the house two
weeks ago, intoxicated, and attempted to
kill her with a revolver, but his aim was
bad and the ball could be seen imbedded in
the rough boards of the ceiling. The house
where the crime was committed is one
story log cabin with two rooms, with no
carpets on the floor and the furni-
ture consisting of but two old beds,
Mrs. Banks was thirty-two years of age
and her slayer thirtyfive.
The crime was committed near what is
known as the Heather Nation country
district which has become notorious on ac-
count Of the many crimes committed there.
Several years ago Sam Coryell, brother of
the man who shot Mrs. Banks. shot and in
stantly killed his brotherin-law, Arthur
Beadle, in the church after the services. A
worthless character named Jordan commit
ted a quadruple murder killing a whole
family named Foster, after which he COM
mitted suicide Dolle Belknap placed
Rough on Rats in the coffee pot and poi
soned her foster parents, Fleming Sarver
and wife, a few years ago. All of the above
crimes were committed near the scene of
died this morning Coryell attempted to have
Viola take the gun with which the deed
was committed and hide it. He also re-
quested her to so and ask her mother IL he
tCoryelD could have her (Viola) after she
died. and he also tried to wash the blood
stains on the floor but in this he failed.
Coryell was arrested by Marshal Thicksten
this evening and lodged in jail here. To-
night Coroner James II. Green held the
murderer without bail. Coryell was ar
raigned in his cell and waived examination.
Judge Hoover ordered the marshal to take
him to the Brownstown Jail at once for
safety.