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GIVEN A LIFE TERM.Rev. Mr. Hinsliaw Convicted of Murder.Jury Finds Him Oniliy ot Killing His Wife and Sends Him to the Penitentiary for I.ife.Dahville, Ind., Oct. 3.—Rev. William E. Hinshaw was found guilty last night of the murder of his wife by the jury, who adjudged him guilty of murder in the second degree and fixed his punishment at imprisonment for life in the state penitentiary.The verdict was handed in at a time when tew expected it. The 1,500 people who had listened to Mr. Spaan’s closing argument were beginning to leave for their homes. The deputies notified counsel personally instead of calling at the window *a3 usual. The judge used every means to avoid a rush when the jury came; but few people knew it until Sheriff Bell came up with the prisoner, and then some 300 or 400 people gained access to the court house before the sentence was read. The jury marched in and took their seats. Judge Hadley said: “Mr. Foreman, have you agreed upon a verdict?” Juror Jerry McClain, holding the verdict, sad: “We have.Having passed it to Deputy Clerk Hathaway it was read as follows:We, the jury, find the defendant, William E. Hinshaw, guilty of murder in the second degree, as charged in the indictment, and assess his punishment for life in the penitentiary.As the sheriff led the prisoner in he was pale. His eyes were weak and red. When the verdict was read he never moved. His brother Elsworth, Bitting by hiB side, shed a few tears, while several of his faithful church members, old ladieB in particular, in the assemblage had occasion to use their handkerchiefs.The jury was polled at the instance of the defense and each one answered for himself affirmatively.At the close of Mr. Spann’s argument at noon yesterday but very few people were found who thought the preacher innocent. The inconsistency of his various stories, the blood clot formed front of the murdered woman’s brain, though when found she was cold on her back, and the effort of several witnesses to prevent the facts in the case were plainly shown, and had a telling effect on the jury. The instructions by Judge Hadley are considered all the defendant could ask. It is the unanimous opinion of all that a prisoner never had a fairer trial. The court oautioned the jury about being swayed by any sympathy or personal considerations, and told it it had a duty to discharge to the state of Indiana as well ss to the defendant. The defendant’s aged father and mother heard the instructions of the court, but were not present when the verdict was returned. Their stopping place was a scene of sympathy and pity after the news was received. Both the parents are so feeble that they can hardly climb up and down the stairs and sympathy for them is abundant.The verdict is what the state expected, and will meet the approval of ninety-nine per cent, of the people of this county. They feel that a most henioua crime has been committed, that the rights of citizenship and the good name of the county have been blotted with human blood and that the strict enforcement of the law must prevail. Attorney Hogate for the defense said no further steps would be taken at present.The trial oommenced September 4, ani it has been a hard fought struggle. The best legal talent in the state waB brought from Indianapolis, and the most exciting and interesting trial ever held in this county has just ended. The sentence is the highest a criminal ever received from this court.The murder of Thurza Hinshaw occurred in January. Her husband, Rey.i. Hinshaw, Baid to his neighbors, who were aroused from their bedB immediately after the event, that robbers had invaded the parsonage, shot hiB wife to death and wounded himself with knife and pistol during the fight which followed as he pursued them from the house. Suspicions were aroused, however, and detectives put upon the case. They asked for a postmortem examination, which was reluctantly allowed. The examination disclosed that the bullet had entered the right side of the head well to the back passed through the brain and was taken out at the left side. The body was fpund at the door, and the husband had stated that the victim was in bed when the shot was fired; that she had gotten up, fought with the burglar to the door and then expired. Medical men insisted that the result of the Bhot would have been a shock and the immediate effect UDConaciousness. In other words, the statement of the husband was in conflict with the theory of the physicians.Rev. Mr. Hinshaw was born on bis father’s farm near Winchester. Ind , thirty years ago. ilis relatives in the southern part of Randolph county are numerous and well to do. He was educated in the county schools and at the Portland academy. He fitted himself to be a teacher and followed that .! pursuit for several years during the 1 | winters, working on the farm and x studying during the summer seasonsgregation he was assigned to the church of that village as his first charge. He was popular with the people and with his congregation, and apparently his domestic life wss happy.The state rested its accusation against the young clergyman on the ground that he was leading a double life. It was alleged that he was intimate with a young lady teacher of the village and that on account of this relationship he wanted to be rid of his wife. The character of the wound on her person and of those on his own were cited in proof of this, and the fact that his pistol and razor were subsequently found in the lot was regarded as corroborative evidence. But the community, the church membership and the relatives of the accused maintained faith in his innocence from the beginning. Even the mother of the deceased was among the partisans before and during the trial.GOVERNOR MATTHEWS.Indiana’s Chief Executive in the fcity a Short Time.He Was on Hts Way to Kendallville~ Talks Reservedly Abont His Presidential Prospects.Governor Matthews spent last night in Fort Wayne, a guest of the Wayne hotel. He was on his way to Kendall-ville, for which place he left over the Grand Rapids and Indiana railroad this morning. While in the city Governor Matthews declined to talk about tional politics or the boom that is being worked by his friends in the hope of landing him in the presidential chair The governor said on that point:“While I am thankful to my friends for their good wishes, I cannot say that I am in the field. I have frequently heard my name mentioned of late in connection with national matters, but such expressions have emanated from my friends, rather than from me, as I have not yet reached a position which would justify me in considering myBelf an aspirant for presidential honors. Such aspirations should have a solid foundation, and a political campaign, like a campaign in the field, should not be inaugurated without reasonable prospects of success. I would much preler not to speak of myself at this time as a candidate, but nevertheless I am deeply grateful to my friends for their appreciation of my services, and their good will, from which I am sure the reports as to my candidacy originated.Mr. Matthews talked about the Fort Wayne centennial and reiterated uis promise to attend the celebration. He will be tendered a grand reception at the Kendallville fair today.ONE FARE RATE.Railroads Will Sell. Cheap Tickets Darin? Centennial Week.A telegram came last night from General Passenger Agent Lord, of the Pennsylvania lines, to President Randall, of the centennial committee, stating that the Central Traffic association at its meeting yesterday, had made a rate of one fare for the round trip on all railroads in the association territory between Chicago and Crestline, and a limit of 100 miles north and 100 miles south of Fort Wayne, for people to attend the centennial celebration. This rate is open to the public. For military bodies of twenty-five or more, a rate of one cent per mile was fixed. This is a big victory for the centennial committee, inasmuch as several railroads were opposed to offering anything lower than the regular fare. It insures a big crowd during centennial week.WriAT HICKS GIVES US.The Weather as He Lays It Ont for October.During the month of October the weather will be varied. There will be frostB in all central and northern parts of the country from about the 4th to the 7 th.Between the 7th and 18th there will be disturbances central on the 13th. About the 8th and 9 th a warm wave will come from the west followed by rain and dashes of snow. A regular storm period will extend from the 8th to the 12th and be central on the 10th. A cold wave will follow the storms across the country about the 14th or 15th.The temperature will again rise between the 16th and 19th, the wave traveling eastward Snow will fall in the north during these times and a cold wave will become general about the 19th. Violent gales are probable from the 16th to 19th. Another storm period will Btart the 20th and continue to the 24th, being central on the 2lst, and followed by a cold wave. About the :27th and 28th it will grow warmer and there will be reactionary Btorms. Earthquakes are probable in many localities, unless frequent storms relieve the heavy magnetic strain of earth and air.PAY DAY TOMORROW.Departments ii UI ..u quiet and inclined to be relig-i ious from bis earliest youth. The lastThe Folico un«l Fin-Wili Receive Their Nlit-kcls.The police wili receive their pay for the month of September at tbo city comptroller’s office tomorrow morning. The firemen will bs paid in the afternoon.Hereafter tbo fourth day ot the month will be regular pay day for these two departments.Toe home missionary socie' y of the Methodist churches, oi which Mrs.John Sale is p’V'fideuI held a r association .d V ;day. A number o' Fort Wayne attended, all the Methodist lt;-h' in the city being represented
Newspaper Details
Weekly Fort Wayne Sentinel
Fort Wayne, Indiana, US
Thu, Oct 03, 1895
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Mark B.
IN, USA 09 Jun 2024
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