Jay County IN Archives History - Books .....Chapter XVI 1896
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 8, 2007, 3:38 pm

Book Title: Reminiscences Of Adams, Jay And Randolph Counties

CHAPTER XVI.

    In addition to the above data it has been elicited and it is the purpose of
this sketch to give to the public some of the unwritten history of the Jay
County robbery.

    Soon after the burglary had been so successfully effected; George H. Moore
was at Winchester on business when he was informed that Mrs. James Hull would be
pleased to see him; he of course called as requested and was surprised to be
told by Mrs. Hull that her husband had left home the day after the robbery, was
now at Marion, Ind., and probably knew something about the case; she furnished
him with a good description of her husband and Mr. Moore, after thanking her,
hurried back to Portland to impart the news to those citizens to whom he deemed
it wise to confide. Among the number whom he told was William G. Sutton, at that
time auditor of the county, who was known as a shrewd and sagacious business
man, and whom he thought would be valuable in assisting to place a true estimate
on the woman's words.

    About a dozen gathered to discuss the matter in all its lights, and
unanimously agreed that Mr. Sutton should start immediately for Marion in a
buggy, accompanied by James T. Stanton. They began their wearisome trip on one
of the most bitterly cold nights and with instructions to arrest Hull, if found,
without process. We who now can settle ourselves in a well heated, well lighted
and elegantly furnished palace car, can illy imagine the the slow porgress amid
dark, dismal and foreboding surroundings, that was made by those two determined
citizens as they pluckly urged their horses over the rough, frozen road. By 9
o'clock the next morning they had reached their destination, and after making
guarded inquiries, located a man who fitted exactly the description furnished
them. They arrested him and started to return home, when their prisoner
confessed that he was Hull; that he had been invited by those committing the
robbery to join them in their nefarious operations, and gave his captors to
understand who had given him what knowledge of the matter he possessed, and that
he was willing to assist in running his would-be confederates to earth. After
accepting his proffered aid and making arrangements for him to meet Mr. Sutton
at Dayton, Ohio, where Hull stated all the parties lived, except William
Brandon, who resided at Union City, Ind., they permitted him to go. A full
report was made of the above, and the meeting resolved that W. G. Sutton should
go to Cincinnati, Ohio, call on the chief of police, secure a first-class
detective, disguise and proceed to Dayton, there to meet Hull, who had already
gone to Dayton, and by urging another robbery and giving plausible excuses for
not assisting in the first, had succeeded in ingratiating himself in the
confidence of the entire gang, except Barker, who was conceded to be the smart
one of the lot. The plan was executed and the detective secured the necessary
evidence to convict the suspects by means known only to the profession. The Jay
County sheriff was notified by wire, and by the next day had arrived at
Indianapolis and soon had a requisition from Governor Oliver P. Morton on
Governor John Brough, of Ohio, for the parties wanted.

    After various difficulties had been overcome at Dayton, such as getting rid
of habeas corpus proceedings, etc., the prisoners, Barker, Johns, Bell,
Blackburn and Barker's mistress, Etta Smith by name, were escorted to Muncie,
where the prisoners were confined.

    The successful prosecutions that followed were due to the untiring efforts
of the writer of the first sketch, Judge Jacob M. Haynes, at that time judge of
Jay Court of Common Pleas.

    The trials were conducted singly, and on the part of the prosecution with a
degree of success that speaks for itself of the care, ability and vigor that
were used by the principle attorney for the state.

    The venerable and honorable lawyer referred to is still one of the most
prominent of Jay County's residents, and when talking of his experiences in the
above cases shows a memory remarkable for one of his years.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

Reminiscences of Adams, Jay and Randolph Counties

Compiled by Martha C. M. Lynch

Ft. Wayne, IN: Lipes, Nelson & Singmaster

Circa 1896


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