The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-05
THE BLOODY TOWNSHIP
LIST OF MURDERS AND SUICIDES IN A
CORNER OF GRANT COUNTY.
The Indiana Death Roll Contains a
Number of Prominent Names
Fatal Lafayet Collision.
to the 1ndianapolis journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
MARION, Ind, Feb. 4.-The shooting of
Ora Brotherton and suicide of her lover,
young Boxell; the killing of Tacie Mang,
little more than a year ago, by her lover,
Noah Johnson, for which crime he is now
serving life term in the penitentiary, and
the shooting of Lista PECAN by her lover,
George Keplinger, on last Tuesday, and also
the latter's attempted suicide, makes only
part of the record Of tragedies in Monroe
township, in this county. In addition to the
above the following is list of the victims
of that vicinity with suicide:
John Matthews. living near the Van Blu
rem and Monroe township line, was found
dead on the floor of his cabin, with his
throat cut from ear to ear. He was found by
boy who entered through the opening Of
the chimney, the door having been barri-
caded. Matthews's family, at the time was
away on visit. Domestic trouble was the
cause.
George Gardner, one Of the best-known
citizens of Van Buren, township, got up one
morning about o'clock, went to his barn.
tied a rope to a beam and slipped a moose
over his head and then Ieaped into eter-
nifty. His son, on going to feed, found him
swinging lifeless. There was no apparent
reason for the deed.
Stella Knox was persuaded by her lover
to steal some money and clothes from her
employer She was accused of the crime
and, from marks made on the window, her
money and clothes were returned that no
prosecution would follow. She complied
with the request and returned everything.
Not long afterwards she was found in the
barn swinging to the end of a rope.
William Little, with his neighbours boy
and his own, were shooting one day at a
mark from the front part of his home
After few shots had been fired and no one
had hit the spot, Little made the remark
that he would make a center shot He
quickly placed the muZzle of his rifle to his
forehead and pushed the lock back with his
foot and blew out his brains.
Without any reason known to anyone else
his gun, loaded it and deliberately ended his
life with a ball through his head
Elias Hallowell, in midday, sharpened his
Barlow knife walked to the center of an
eight-acre field, lay down between two
rows of corn and cut his throat.
The body of a domestic in the family of
Mrs. George EYeston was found one morn
ing dangling to the limb OF an apple tree
that stood near the house.
A man by the name of Fisher killed HIM
self in this same neighborhood. He was ac-
cused of stealing chickens and a constable
was after him. When the constable was
close on his heels, Fisher entered a sawmill
seated himself on log and blew out his
brains with revolver.
Bill Lowry, a man we'll known all over
the county, was aSSassinated while follow
ing his plow The affair created intense eX-
cltement but no one was convicted. man
by the name of Gordon who had moved to
this State from the South was arrested
but was dismissed. Years later he returned
made confession Of having killed Lowry
These. tragedies have all happened within
radius of six or eight miles, and within
the past few years.