The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-27
THE HINSHAW MURDER
AN INCIDENT IN THE CASE RE-
CALLED BY EX-CHIEF POWELL.
Was Asked to Send n Detective to
BeIIviIIe-Baney's story Part
Iy COrrobOrated.

In 1895, when Mrs. Thurza Hinshaw was
murdered, George w. Powell was superin-
tendent of police in this city. He had some
experience in the case which has never
been made public until now. Mr.. Powell
asked yesterday what he thought of
the confession Noah Baney has made inn
plicating Guy Van Tassel and kid Whit
ney. Mr.. Powell said that he had consider
able faith in it, based on one or two cir
cumstances.
THE morning of the murder" said Mr.
Powell, "a man came to the station house
who said that he lived in the vicinity OF
the tragedy and knew something that
might prove valuable. He wanted me to
send detective to Bellville. 1 was not
particularly impressed with his appearance.
He struck me as a man who wanted to
play detective and get part of reward,
allowing some one else to work up the
case. Afterward 1 was sorry that l paid
so little attention to him. He told me that
the day before the murder Hinshaw was in
Stilesvile, where he went into a grocery
store. Some one asked him if he could
change a $40 bill. He replied that he could.
pulling out leather pocketbook and exhib-
iting roll of money. Hinshaw made some
remark about $50 being all the money he
had. The man thought that murder was
committed by one of those who overheard
this conversation and saw the money.
was so little impressed with the man that
let him go. Hendricks county was OF
course, outside our jurisdiction and while
1 was always willing to aid in any possible
way, l could not send a detective out of
the county. AfterWard another man, who
claimed to live in DanvIlle, came to me
with a hypothetical question asking me if
L would not believe that Hinshaw killed his
wife under circumstances which he de-
scribed, /, of course. did not compromise
myself by passing an opinion on a hypo-
thetical case. This man was the first to
ever suggest that the minister did the
deed
Long after Hinshaw was convicted I
had occasion to be in Jeffersonville on bus
mess. A friend suggested that we visit the
prison. Warden Hurt was showing us
about when he suddenly pointed out a pris-
one question l would like TO ask Hinshaw,
Mr.. Hurt, said l, the story that man told
me the morning after the murder coming
back TO me- The warden arranged 1t and
1 talked with him perhaps three-quarters
Of an hour Without asking Hinshaw lead
ing questions that would give him hint
OF what l was driving at he corroborated
the statement that he had exposed his
money in Stlesvile, saying that he had $50
or $50 with him at that time. This con-
WINGED me that it was possible some one
saw the money and planned the robbery
there"
Asked if he believed that Hinshaw was
guilty MIR. Powell replied: Until that con-
Versation with the man L had always
thought the circumstances were very
strong against him. although there was one
thing always lacking-a motive for the
crime. In the trial the lawyers could not
find it, and when it came to the Supreme
Court It not dug up by the judges
versed in Analysing evidence, and they had
TO go outside the record as you might say,
to presume there was q motive After
my conversation with the man L doubted
his guilt. 1t is my judgment that there
is at least very grave doubt as to his
guilt
I'm the story that man told me he spoke
of the buggy that the section hands saw
in the neighborhood. This would be cir
cumstance corroborating Baneys confess
sion / have known of the efforts that
were being made to establish Hinshawa
innocence, but was not in a position TO talk
of ii before"
Hinshaw still asserts that he is not gull
ty Sunday afternoon the ringing of the
prison bell at Michigan City gave notice
that three convicts had escaped. Hinshaw
was in the hospital attending a sick con-
Wet AS a great shout went up from the
prisoners behind the walls in greeting to
their escaped friends Hnshaw said
May God strike me dead. my kin and
my friends, If / ever leave this prison with
ont the stain of crime wiped from my
brow AS God is my Judge, l will never
attempt to escape until the world says:
William HinshaW, you are not guilty OF
numbering your wife. A great wrong has
been done you.
In an interview he asserted later IN the
day that ne would not accept a pardon.
but that when he leaves the prison IL must
be in such a way that all the world Will
acknowledge he has been wronged.