The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-01

DIR. Gray, the Murderer, Is Nervous,
and Asks for Onfatea

JEFFERSONVILLE,I Ind, Dec. 31.-Fore-
thought on the part of the authorities of
Green county, Indiana, prevented DR..
Ephraim f. Gray from becoming a victim
of mob violence, and had the murderer of
Lizzie Skinner been detained in Bloomfield
the scene of the crime, the second lynching
to occur in Indiana within a week would
have been recorded instead of the story of
Gray's arrival at the Jacksonville Reform
atory at 1880 o'clock yesterday morning.
Gray walked with dropped head into the
waiting room of the institution sank into a
chair, buried his face in his hands and
sobbed Superintendent Hert and Assistant
Superintendent Garvin took the man in
charge. To Superintendent Hert DR.. Gray
was no stranger He had been the physi-
clan Of the Hert family at Bloomfield for
years. Not one word escaped from Gray. He
nodded recognition to Superintendent Hert
AS soon as he had been placed in a cell
in the new hospital he removed his coat
and vest and threw himself on cot. Soon
afterward he seemed to be sleeping.
a Courler7JQurnal reporter called to see
tapped on the cell door. Gray did not
awaken. He was called several times and
ne slowly arose and came to the grating
Gray, in almost a whisper, said:
II have nothing to say"
Ing uoCIor seemed 10 be suffering intense
~ tbs hand swept over his face repeated
~. his eyes were swollen. To Assistant
superintendent Garvin he said:
am so nervous"
Dr.. Sharp happened along, and he inquired
OF Gray how he felt.
The pain in my head is very acute. Can't
you give me an opiate?' he asked.
Gray $ hand clutched at his black string
tle ana then he began rubbing his face,
nl a7i .. gazing through the window of his
cell into the open air.
Sheriff Mclaughlin, who brought Gray to
the ReIormatory, says that PROFESSIONALLY
ne would have been hanged by a mob, as
ne ana the prisoner We're pursued across the
country.
1t was known to everybody in Bloomfield
mat the physician was infatuated with Mrs.
Skinner, who was a grass widow of more
than ordinary beauty, aged only twenty-five
years. Gray had forsaken his family for
her, and most of his time he spent in her
company. Mrs. Skinner few days ago told
Gray she never wanted to see him again.
OF late he had been drinking to excess and
gambling. 1t is believed that he is a slave
to some drug, although to DR.. Sharp he de-
MED that he was. GrayS appearance how
ever, in the opinion of DR.. Sharp, justifies
the SuppOsition that he is fiend for opiateS.
The presumption is that Gray had been on
protracted spree, and when Mrs. Skinner,
OF whom Gray was jealous, disappointed
him after promising to meet him, and he
learned of her intention to go to Bloom
ington Thursday afternoon at lis o'clock,
he determined to kill her, and when he en-
countered her on her way to the station
stabbed her in the left breast, severing the
thoracic aorta, the nstabbed her in the right
breast and next severed her jugular vein
with surgeons knife after which he wiped
the blood from the blade on the victim
wrap and surrendered to the officers Since
his arrival at the Refo~matory he has ex-
pressed no regrets.
DR.. Gray is intelligent looking. and has the
reputation of being good physician. He
has always been more OF less diSsOlute. His
age is about thirty-five years. He is slight
ly built and not tall. His mustache is light
and thin. He wears it trimmed close. His
hair is light and he is nearly bald over the
forehead