The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-11
WHAT ONE SLEUTH DID.
An Interesting story in Connection
with the Glenn Case.

Who gave Peter wilkins the money!
was a query that became a standing jest
in connection with the Glenn murder case.
Wilkins was a private detective. 1t was
popularity supposed that he was an agent
for Mrs Glenn in getting evidence for her
defense and that he knew more than any
one else what became Of witnesses for the
state that We're mysteTiously spirited away.
There was a young man named Johnson
who was wanted. Wilkins located him in
Rush county and secured a subpoena from
the grand jury. Before he started he was
handed letter for the young man. After
reading the subpoena he handed the letter
TO Johnson. The young man opened it be-
fore him. Wilkins was completely surprised
to see that it contained large sum of
banknotes, beside a letter. Johnson did not
appear in answer TO the summons Instead
of that he suddenly left Rush county. The
state wanted Johnson very much at the
first trial and it is believed that had he
appeared to testify conviction could have
been secured There was a hung jury.
Wilkins explanation of the circums lance
of the letter was received with ridicule and
in speaking of it, people sarcastcally asked
who gave Peter wilkins the money!" The
question was dinned into his ears day and
night. He was suspected of giving comfort
and aid to Mrs. GLEN and so strong was
the public sentiment against the woman
that any one who was suspected of believ-
ing in her was himself looked upon as be-
ing little better than a criminal Wilkins
lost all his friends and there came time
when the only employment he could get
was working on the streets with common
laborers.
1t is claimed after all these years that
n lNy
misunderstood and that in reality he was
doing some of the shrewdest detective work
of his life in the effort to bring conviction
upon the accused murderess and her ac-
completes. man who was intimately ac-
quainted with every detail OF the famous
case said yesterday that Wilkins was play
ing a double game, and while he appeared
to be VOL king for Mrs. Glenn and her at
tor sor he was in Tsality work,
very interesting story in connection with
Johnsons disappearance. TO make it in
teligible ii is necessary to briefly review
the tragedy and the states theory OF 1t.
On the Saturday afternoon of the murder
Squire Wiley, who lived west of the city.
was driving to town. What is now known
as Michigan street was then a country
road. There was a ford at White river.
West of the river d road led north along
the bank past Cold Springs. Squire Wiley
had just crossed the ford, when he met a
buggy driving west. In it were Mr. and
Mrs. Young and Mrs. Glen. A little further
he met another buggy in which "Syke'
Hartman was driving alone. Behind him
Squire Wiley met Crave Hartman trudg-
ing along the dusty road carrying a shot
gun. The Hartmans. "Syke" and Grave
Ii must be borne in mind, were Mrs. Glenn S
brothers. Squire Wileys testimony was
most positive. That was the last time Mr..
and Mrs. Young were ever seen alive, so
far as the state could prove, although two
other witnesses who could not be found
when they We're wanted. told around town
that they had met the buggies that after
noon Just after Squire Wiley saw them. In
the second story, however, both Hartman
stopped to allow Grave to enter. The two
witnesses were unacquainted with the Hart
mans. but described them accurately. The
witnesses lived in the country and noticed
naturally that Grave" Hartman was hold
ing a shotgun between his knees.
GRAVE" IN THE THICKET."
The two buggies turned north and drove
along the bank of the river until Cold
Springs was reached. Here Mr.. Young
turned out and drove to the brink of the
river. A moment later the other buggy
passed. stopping long enough for Grave"
Hartman to alight. He crept toward the
river and concealed himself in a thcket of
iron weeds, which grew at that point as
high as a mans head and dense enough
to conceal company of soldiers. "Syke"
Hartman drove on up the river and waited
for his brother TO appear, after the awful
accomplished. When Young pulled up at the
river it was the states theory that he and
his wife and Mrs. Glenn alighted. On some
pretext or other Mrs. Glenn induced Mrs.
Young to walk up the river with her. Mrs.
Young felt that something was wrong, but
sought TO throw off the forebodings that
darkened her mind. AS she walked beside
the plotting murderess she glanced uneasiy
back from time to time. but was reas-
sured by seeing her husband sitting on a
log with his back TO the patch of iron weed
thirty feet away. All at once the crack
of a gunshot startled the wife. CHANGING
around she saw her husband tottering for
ward and recognized Grave" Hartman
running back to conceal himself in the weed
patch. Just what happened when Mrs.
Young reached the side of her dead hus-
band can never be known, but 1t is the
theory that she recognized the murderer.
II was no part of the original plot TO kill
Mrs. Young. II was the intention for the
shooting to be done from the iron weeds, but
as the distance was too great Hartman
crept nearer, believing that he could fire
the shot and get under cover again before
the woman could see and recognize him.
II was the intention for Mrs. Young and
Mrs. Glenn to return TO town In Young