The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-28
Shot Lentz and Gaines Cut
His Throat, According to the
Story Told at JeffersonviIle.
SUPPOSED MURDER At MUNCIE
ALBERT ROBINSON, ACROBAT, NET
DEATH Il A PECULIAR MANNER.
Police Arrested the Dead Mans Wife
and Her Understanding for u
Brother-in-Law of Robinson.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
JEFFERSONVILLE. Ind. Aug. a.
oliver Thomason and John Gaines, ar
rested and brought here for safe keeping
charged with the murder of Frank Lentz,
have both admitted their guilt. Thomson
was the first to confess and said he and
Gaines had planned to rob Frank Tyer's
distillery, near Bedford, on the night of
July 4. They went to the Lent place for
a buggy and were met by young Lentz as
they drove out of the barn.
shot Lentz when he came toward then
and then the men grappled. Lentz was
getting the best of the fight when Gaines
leaped from the buggy. and, Selling Lentz
by the hair, drew his head back and cut
his throat from ear to ear. The men then
took the buggy, drove to a small lake two
miles away, where they washed their
clothes and turned the horse loose. Gaines
said Thomason's story is true.
Thomson and Gaines were arrested July
Z. Gaines was released on / 1000 bail and
Thomson was brought here to avoid q
possible mob. Deputy Sheriff Mack Stone,
of Lawrence county. and Assistant Super
intendent John Alley were present and
heard the confession, Thomson having in
formed Assistant Superintendent Alley that
he had an important statement to make If
Gaines were present. Thinking Thomasor
would confess a dispatch was sent To Salem
and Gaines was rearrested. The men mere
ly nodded when they met in the prison.
Gaines seated himself beside Thomson on
the couch while Thomson told the follow
ing story:
son Wadnac6ar Tune o7 Gaines and
I met near my fathers home and planned
to rob Frank Tyres apple brandy distillery,
one and one-half miles from Frank Lentz's
home, which was four miles south of Bed
ford. and just across White river. We
procured a number of empty jugs and bot
ties and planted them in the woods near
Lentz's. Saturday night, June 30, at 10
O'clock Gaines and | met at Lentz's gate.
Gaines went into the stable and hitched up
Lentz's horse and buggy. 1 stood guard
outside. Gaines came driving out. He was
On the right side of the buggy. As he
turned the horse to let me climb into the
buggy and / was walking behind the rear
wheels a man came dashing up on a
bicycle. 1 recognized him as Lentz. or
dered Lentz to halt; Lentz got off his
buggy. l told him to come nearer.
"Lentz approached; Again 1 warned
him. Still he pressed toward me. 1 shot.
Lentz reeled to the right clutching at the
gate post. L tried to fire again, but my
revolver did not work. Lentz, who had fall
len, arose with a stone In his hand. which
he hurled at us. Then / grabbed Lentz.
but he was the stronger and bigger man
and was getting the best of me when
Gaines jumped out of the buggy, seized
Lentz by the hair just over the forehead,
pulled his head back and cut his throat
from ear to ear.
Then we got into the buggy, drove two
miles south and abandoned the rig. We
turned the horse toward home, and there
it was found the next morning by it's
owner. We crossed a field to a lake, took
off our clothes, washed them, bathed our
selves and then separated, each going
home. That is all. Judge Martin may
have no mercy on us, but 1 nave spoken
the truth"