The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-02
CONFESSION OF A GHOUL.
George w. Mason duplicates Indiana
Medical CoIIege-west's History.

George w Mason. the ghoul arrested
Saturday morning, has made a statement
in which he admits that he stole bodies and
disposed of them to the Indiana Medical
College. Masons story is the first by any
of the ghOuls under arrest to implicate the
Indiana Medical College. Mason gave De-
tective Manning the following written
statement yesterday:
81 have known William Moffitt for eight
years. About six or seven years ago Mof-
htt, Cantrell and myself went to the In
sane hospital cemetery and got body.
We made two trips to this cemetery. One
gone when we opened the grave. The
body that We got was delivered TO the
Indiana Medical College. 1t was taken to
inside on the floor. Moffltt carried the
body into the building. L stayed in the
buggy on the outside Two or three days
paid me $40 for my share for both trips.
The next trip, / think, we went to what
is known as Round Point Cemetery. Mof-
fit and colored man were with me. We
Indiana Medical College. We put it on
the floor of the college the same as before.
About two or three days afterward L got
s. for my share of the work Moffitt paid
me. These trips were made about four
years ago. We used a two-seated wagon.
Moftitt always sat on the rear seat with the
bodies.
This statement was made after Mason
had talked with Rufus Cantrell, who was
brought over from the Jail. When Mason
was arrested he denied the charge made
been made He claimed he had never
heard of Rufus Cantrell until the latter was
arrested. When Cantrell was brought from
the Jail and the two men were allowed to
talk privately Mason then turned to the
detectives and said that he might as well
make a clean breast of the affair He
pany with Cantrell, Hampton West and
William Moffitt.
PAID BY MoFFITT.
Mason said that one night three years
ago while he was drunk he was approached
by Moffitt, who asked him to accompany
them on a grave-robbing expedition. Each
time they made a trip, he said, he was paid
for the work by Moffitt The latter and
Hampton West are now out bond.
In the arrest of Hampton West the de-
tectives have taken into custody a queer
character. The old man has a peculiar
history, they say. AT the time of the ar
rest it was said that West had been in
trouble before on the charge of killing
man. 1t now appears that West is the
man who killed the best d man in
Mudsock."
The older members of the police depart
ment, when they had refreshed their mem
cries, spoke readily of the murder of the
best man in Mudsock' by Hampton West.
The latter, about twenty years ago, was
operating small saloon across the Marion
county line, near Fishers Switch, or
'Mudsock," rs 1t was known in those days.
One day in the early spring notorious
character named Alb Lynn walked into the
saloon and declared that he was .'the best
d man in Mudsock. He offered TO
whip every man in the saloon to corrob-
crate his statement. West, who was behind
the bar, took up the challenge. Walking
from behind the counter, West picked up
bung starter and assaulted Lynn, striking
him on the head and crushing his skull.
Lynn died shortly afterward West was
arrested for the crime, but was acquitted.
Further history of the man is also told.
1t is said that West came to Franklin,
Johnson county, before the close of the
civil war and became such notorious
character that in short time the residents
of. that place warned him and his brother
to leave. The two West brothers left and
settled in "Mudsock." 1t Is said that West
was a member of "Stonewalr Jackson
bodyguard during the early years OF the
civil war. Just prior to one of the battles
fought near the Vii ginia line West and his
brother. 1t is said, deserted the Confed-
crate army, coming North. Since his set
tlement near Fishers Switch West has
borne a bad reputation.