The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-23

and Guy Van Tassel who Baney says fired
the fatal shot that killed Mrs. Hinshaw.
were convicted Feb. 20, 1895, shortly after
the tragedy, of hlching a keg of whisky
from Kiefer's wholesale house in Indianap-
oils. Baney is about twenty-eight years
old. Van Tassel five years younger. kid
Whitney was sentenced for burglary and
grand larceny Feb. II, 1886. He is about the
same age as Van Tassel. The police officers
here say that all are crooks of a dangerous
type and that they have been in trouble
before. indianapolis is the home of the trio.
Van Tassel denies Baneys story vigorously
as does his alleged companion in the rob-
berry and subsequent murder. There are a
number of very important facts which are
not disclosed, as the attorneys fear that to
make them public just now would defeat
the ends for which they striving-the
establishment of HinShaw's innocence and
his complete vindication.
J. o. Parker who was associated with
Senator Hogate in the trial with Duncan,
Smith & Hornbrook, Of this city, has
worked most earnestly to prove his clients
innocence, even in the face of an adverse
decision of the Supreme Court. Most of
his time has been spent away from his
Danville home since the confession was
made two weeks ago and his neighbors
were very curious to know what new de-
velopments there were in the famous case,
but he went quietly answering ponted
questions guardedly Monday he was here
all day, returning home at midnight. Yes
terday morning he returned and after
spending long time at the office of Dun
can. Smith & Hornbrook, left for Michigan
City, where he now is While here he did
not disclose what steps will next be taken.
Mr.. Parker consental to tell the very in
teresting circumstances that led up to this
confession.
TIPPED OFF" TO WARDEN HARLEY.
About a year ago a prisoner in the Michi-
gan City prison told Warden Harley that
he had received a partial confession from
Noah Baney with regard to his knowledge
of the crime. This prisoner was George st.
Clair, of Higgensville, No. who was sent
| from Laporte county for grand larceny
| about two years and a half ago. I'M
mediately Warden Harley communicated
with Messrs. Hogate and Parker. They
went to Michigan City and after a con-
! ference with them Mr.. Harley decided to
| humor St. Clair, who said that If he were
| permitted to be in the society of Baney he
| could get the whole story out Of him.
| They were put together firing the boilers.
| This threw them much in one another's
company and secured to them privileges
for which the prisoners strive. They were
| treated about like TRUSTEES" were out as
early as 4 o'clock in the morning and
seemed to get along together very we'll.
One morning they took advantage of their
liberties broke into the bicycle shop, Sc
cured a ladder and with it scaled the walls.
That was Dec 16. 1895. They were retaken
by the guards that night. The episode re-
suited in both men being sent back to their
! former work and also had the effect of
convincing Warden Harley that St. Clair's
! story was a ruse whereby he hoped that
he and Baney might be able to escape, and
| that the alleged confession with reference
| to the Hinshaw case was fake"
! Some time afterward John Wilson, who
| had been cellmate of Baney, was dis
! charged from the prison, having finished
| his term. Before going he wrote a note to
| another prisoner telling him that Baney
! had confessed to him (Wilson) For some
time the prisoner who got Wilson'S note
| was SILENT but the facts finally leaked out
and came to Warden Harleys ears This
! cided to send for Messrs. Hogate and
! Parker. They went to Michigan City. st.
! Clair was called in. He declared that if
| he were confronted with Baney he would
! prove that the latter did know all about the
! crime, if he were not himself guilty of
| brought from his cell; he was somewhat
! startled as st. Clair gave up all the in
formation Baney had conhded in him.
! Baney was then given to understand that
! Wilson'S story, corrOborating ST. Clair's
was known and that it placed him in a
! dangerous position, to say the least Asked
| if he cared to say anything Banev replied
| that he did and of his own will made the
confession recorded above in writing.
BANEY'S STORY CORROBORATED.
Mr.. Parker says that he has followed
every detail of Baney's confession to the
| end and finds that he is corroborated in
every point except as to one, which has
not yet been fully investigated. At Chicago
the attorney found it true that the
| three had been there. Mr.. Hodges, whose
buggy Baney claims to have borrowed, has
since been killed in an accident on the c..
II. & d. Railroad but his family corrobo-
rate the story in detail They remember
| for instance, that it was used to drive to
| the WOrkhouse by Baneys mother and fath-
| er, and recall other Incidents in connection
| with the loan of the vehicle. Mr.. Parker
| has not yet ascertained whether Baney's
account of the place Van Tassel and Whit
ney spent the night in this city after COM
| mltting the crime is true, but In every
! other particular he has found evidence to
support the story. From his Investigations
! Mr.. Parker is convinced that the entire
| story is true and that it solves the Hinshaw
murder.
| The attorney said that he had not vet
| decided just what further steps were to be
| taken. Hinshaw's friends at Danville who
| have had an inking of this development
! were predicting yesterday that the minister
| would soon be released. This, of course,
| could only be accomplished by pardon
| from the Governor until the men now ac-
! cused are indicted, tried and convicted Of
| the crime for which Hinshaw is now pay
| ing the penalty. Governor Mount and Pri-
| Vate Secretary Wilson were both away
| from the city yesterday and nothing could
| be learned as to whether the Governor has
! given the extraordinary story any cOnsid-
| Grafton and to what he would do were
| an application made TO him for pardon
HINSHAW HAS HEARD THE STORY.
The convicted minister is aware of the
| efforts that are being made in his behalf.
His brother and attorneys have been in
Michigan City frequently of late and he
| now feels that his story told before the
| trial is about to be proved true. Baneys
| story comedies to very marked degree
! with that told by the minister at the cor
| oners inquest, both with regard to the way
! by which the house was entered, where
| the scuffling took place, where the shots
| were fired and where the cutting was done.
| ticulars. Hinshaw'S story was that his Wife
! first awakened and that her screams and
! the shot of the revolver one or both to-
! gether, startled him from his slumbers.
| Baney's story is that they both awakened
| and began the outcry before any shots Were
| fired.
| At present Hinshaw is employed as pho
| tographer in the prison. 1t is his duty to
| make pictures of all new prisoners re-
| ceived beside which he assists in taking
| measurements and making up records by
| the Bertillon system He is in better spirits