The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-13
EDWARD HoOvER,s CRIME.
He Murdered His Father-in-Law,
Frank sutton, on May 12 1903.

ne HIS Father-tn-Law,
Frank sutton, ON May 2, 1903.
The crime for which Edward Hoover paid
the death penalty this morning was the
cold-blooded murder of his father-in-law,
Frank Sutton, at Hoover's home, 53S West
Maryland street, on the afternoon of May
u, 1903. Hoover had threatened to kill his
wife and she left him, going to live with
her parents on the farm of Frank Shower,
five miles south of the city, on the Bluff
road. She refused to return to Hoover and
that, together with too many drinks,
prompted the deed.
Hoover t~elephoned to his wife on the
morning of the murder that unless she re-
moved her furniture from his house he
would sell it, and requested that she send
her father for it. Sutton drove to Hoover's
home in a one-horse wagon to get the fur
nfture. Assisted by Hoover, Sutton put
most of the furniture in the wagon and
then went upstairs with Hoover to get
some more. Suddenly Hoover drew a re-
vOlver and fired four times at Sutton, each
shot taking effect.
Hoover turned and ran down the back
stairway and up the street with the smok-
Ing revolver In his hand. Sutton, stagger-
ing to the bottom of the stairs, fell dead
just outside the door.
"A detail of police under Captain Kruger
was hurriedly summoned and started in
PuA VI iii IuuTutTeT. hoover WAS
captured on ~Thirty-fourth street. between
Meridian and Illinois streets, as he was
boarding a street car to get out Of the
s e1sY b nmi1s' aft Tne tS capture s t MAS has made mad Just Jus
mitted, and the officers were highly COM
pltmented for their quick work.
~tonville, where his parents lived, and after
seeing them he intended to go on West.
When he was arrested Hoover admitted
that he had killed his father-in-law, but
assigned no reason for the deed. He re-
fused to say anything further.
Hoover married Miss Sutton nearly five
years ago and frequently threatened to kill
her. Mrs. Hoover lived. with her husband
until two weeks before the murder was
committed, when she went to her father.
Hoover then began to drink very heavily
and threatened to kill his wife the first
chance he got. He frequently went out to
showers farm, where his wife was stay
ing, and on these occasions became very
abusive toward her. Mr.. Sutton finally
swore he would get even. That he carried
out his purpose is seen from the fact that
he notified his wife to tell her father to
come after the furniture, and when SUIT
ton arrived he was murdered. The muir
dered man had always been known as a
reliable and peaceable man and was not
of a quarrelsome disposition.
Hoover was indicted by the May grand
jury on the charge of murder and was
placed on trial before Judge Afford. in the
Criminal Court, on June s, 1903. The trial
lasted five days and was holly contested.
Judge Afford appointed Frank Hendricks to
assist Charles McGroarty in the defense,
and John Ruckelshaus and Charles p. Bene-
dict were assisted by s. D.. Stewart, Of No
blesville. in the prosecution.
Hoover first claimed that he killed SUIT
ton in self-defense. but afterward based his
defense on a plea of insanity. The case was
given to the jury late In the afternoon of
June IL. and after taking nine ballots, a
verdict finding Hoover guilty of murder in
the first degree was returned. The Jury
agreed upon Hoover's guilt on the first bal
lot. but IL was unable TO determine the de-
gree of murder until the ninth ballot.
Hoover's attorneys filed a motion for a new
trial, but il was overruled and he was SEN
fenced to be hanged at Michigan City.