Madison County, Indiana - Chapter 31, 1897

I'hc following account of an earlv crime in Madison county has almost passed out of the memory of the oldest living inhabitants of the community. The details are furnished us by F. T. Lu>e, who obtained the facts from some old settlers many years ago, when he was publishing the Anderson Stoiii/ari/ , and we quote them as given to us :

the early settlement of almost eyery comity in this State, as well as in others, there was more or less lawlessness, disrespect for the rights of others, and a general contempt for good order. Even to-day we see this evidence in many localities of the west, where robbery, murder, counterfeiting, etc., abound, and a general reign of terror predominates. Where there is no law there is little or no society, and the revolver figures more prominently before the public eye than do^the scales of justice. Until courts are organized and the proper machinery of the law is adjusted to the surroundings,

Madison count}- was not e.xempt from lawless characters in its early settlement, and between the years of 18^5 and 1835 there were many strange characters residing within its boundaries - men who had ventured from eastern and southern localities to find an abiding place temporarily, it might be, to evade the strong arm of the law which was about to clasp them within its grasp. Fall Creek township in an early day was the home of a band of counterfeiters, who plied their vocation for some years until the law was put in operation for their benefit, when the business was broken up, and the band scattered. Pipe Creek township, in the first settling of the county, and for a few years afterward, was the abiding place of a nest of horse thieves, wiio followed their unlawful work in this and neighboring counties until matters became entirely too warm for them, and tliev abandoned the business. The descendants of some of these people reside there now. In other portions of the countv at that early period resided people who knew no law, and did about as they chose, until public sentiment and an advanced civilization compelled tiiem to leave.

About the year 1880a family by the name of .Vbbott. consisting of a father, mother and two grown sons, from Kentucky, moved into the new and sparsely settled country. They settled or rather " squatted ' ' on what was long afterward known as the Isaac Moss farm, some two miles west of the then village of Anderson. Their cabin was situated near the river bank, at the foot of the hill, on the north side of what is now known as the Perkinsville road. From the first it would seem they were more or less viewed with suspicion, although never appearing before a court of justice on any charge, and living in the locality for two years, subsequent discoveries indicated that tiie suspicions against them were well founded, and their hasty exit was not made any too soon. They cultivated a small patch of ground, and an occasional trader through the lonely locality would stop with them for the night. The Abbotts seemed to shun work, and yet appeared to possess a considerable amoimt of personal property, in the way of horses, hogs, sheep and such like, although at their firSt arrival few of these things were known to belong to them. The men would make quiet trips away from home, and be absent from two to three weeks at a time. Whither they went on their business was unknown. In that eaily day every man was expected to know his neighbors for three or four miles around, how many plows, wagons or horses he possessed, how many acres he had in wheat or corn, howman}' members of his family, where and when the next "meeting " would be held, and all the gossip afloat. But the Abbotts Were reserved in that respect, and did not let the neighbors know any more of their business than possible, and although maintaining some show of sociability, were careful to keep their atlairs to a great extent to themselves. The truth seemed to be, and was the verdict generally of the neighbors, that the family was a household of thieves, but were committing their depredations in distant localities. This seemed to account for the occasional new horse, a few sheep or hogs, which thev liad not purchased directly in the neighborhood. The suspicion continued to go from neighbor to neighbor that the Abbotts were " crooked" people, and dangerous to the community, although no overt acts could be charged to their account.

Further along, however, as we shall see, an event occurred which seemed to confirm fully the evil impressions created against them and which caused their sudden flight to unknown parts very soon thereafter.

A prominent highway of early days extending through several counties adjoining this was known as the Strawtown road." It was probably the first wagon road in the county. Its terminus was at Greenville, Ohio, and extended west from there through Muncie, Anderson and Perkinsville to Indianapolis, while a branch of it was constructed northwest toward the Wabash.

The road'" was the emigrant route to the West for many years, and thousands of people seeking homeg in the West in the early days of the State passed over it. What is now known as Eighth street in Anderson and the continuation of the gravel road to Perkinsville, was a portion oi the '- Strawtown road " of early times.

the night, intending, as it was supposed, to continue on in a westerlv course the next day. He was never seen or heard of again. His intentions being when starting away to not be absent o\'er six weeks, his relatives at the end of tliat time began to fear that trouble of some kind had overtaken him. So strongly were they confirmed that at the end of two months they determined upon a trip to find him if possible, or if not seeing him to ascertain what had become of iiim. Going over the same route it was a matter of very little trouble to find many places at which he had tarried over night and where they accurately described the man and horse, and different matters pertaining to him were uniformly correct. The searchers moved along their journey quite rapidly, encouraged by the hope of soon finding him. Passing on the route they went on through Anderson and stopped at the Abbott home to make further inquiries. -- Yes, lie had stopped there," the inmates said and described him. '' He left early next morning," the}- said, " expecting to go at least twenty-five miles that day." The two men continued on their wav west making their usual inquiries, but at no place after leaving the *\bbott cabin could thev hear anything concerning their friend. They coiitinued in searcli for several days in the countrv around Noblesville and Indianapolis, but finally abandoned it and passed back east having accomplished nothing.

Neighbors who may have had certain fixed views regarding the disappearance of the stranger remained quiet. It should be remembered that those were the days when such things as detectives and telegraphs were unknown, and the opportunities and the class of persons necessary for ferreting out evil deeds and bringing criminals to justice were not nearly so favorable as in this day or age. An event, however, soon occurred that brought matters to a crisis and determined the suspected family upon an immediate flight. One morning the body of a man was found floating in White river only about a quarter of a mile below where the Abbotts lived. No one recognized the features in the neighborhood, and the Abbotts were as seemingly mystified as to who the man was as any other persons. After a few days the sensation over the discovery subsided to a great extent, many thinking that it was some stranger who had accidently fallen into the river and drowned. A few there were, however, who did not think just that way, and intimations of a murder were quietKspoken of. The Abbotts seemed to have felt probably that it would soon be laid at their door, and one night the family with all their goods and chattels quietly disappeared. Their absence was not discovered until two or three days, and no effort was made to pursue them, the neighborhood being gratified that they had left.

The disappearance of the man who had stopped at the house, and tiie search fur him afterwards with no, intelligence regarding him seemed now to have been explained b}' the finding of the corpse floating in the river. The opinion rapidly chrystalized that this mysterious family had murdered the stranger for his money and the property in his possession, and sank the body in the river, and their hasty flight seemed to confirm it.

They were gone, none knew where, and no eftort was put forth to arrest them, and the affair in a few months passed from the minds of most of the people then residing in that locality. This was an event, it must be borne in mind, of over si.xtv vears ago. In this day of rapid transit and shrewd detectives, the suspected people could not have escaped. Everything relating to the affair would have been unraveled in a short time. For soine years afterwards many persons in passing the road fronting the place would call attention to the cabin, which remained unoccupied, and with feelings of awe, avow that it was haunted, and that the spirit of somebody could be heard within its portals after night, and through this superstitious fear many avoided passing by there after dark. The cabin has long since gone to decay, and the people living in the vicinity were called hence long ago, yet the recollection of this mysterious family and the dark deeds attributed to its members were themes for discussion in the humble homes of the pioneers in the vicinity for many years thereafter."

Susan Nelson was the widow of William Xelson, who was for many years a resident of Anderson township, and who died in Anderson many years ago. On the 7th of September, 188H, Mrs. Nelson left the city, going west on the Bee Line road on the evening train. During the day she called at the postotfice and left an order for her mail to be forwarded to Kansas City, Missouri. She also employed a drayman of the name of Swearingen who took her trunk to the depot, and said to him that she was going to visit her son, Jasper Nelson, who had written to her and informed her that he was very sick. She informed Edward Dowm-v that she was leaving' Anderson never to return. She also talked to other people in the same strain about leaving Anderson. She was afterwards missed by her friends and no one knew of her whereabouts.

In the following month of October after she had taken her departure, a man of the name of James Porter, while hunting in the woods about three miles southwest of the citv of Terre Haute, and while in a lonelv portion of the forest, noticed his dog running to the side of a ravine with something in his mouth. lie called the animal to him and saw that he had a human skull. The afternoon was then drawing to a close, but he concluded to institute a thorough search into the matter, and see wiiat the discovery would lead to.

.Soon he found another bone, and then another, until at last it appeared to him that probably some foul murder had been committed. Overcome with friglit and horror, he concluded to go to his home. On the following morning, assisted by some neighbors, he continued the search. This time a complete set of artificial teeth, and some female clothing, w'ere discovered. It was not long before the dead bodv of a woman

Tlie coroner of \'igo count v was immediately notified of the afiair. lie promptly' arrived upon the scene, began an examination, and held an inquest. Ei<;;hty-tliree cents in change was found in the dress pocket of the murdered woman. No clue, however, was obtained as to her identity. It was evident that she had been murdered as her skull was crushed in as if by a heavy blow, and there were signs of a struggle in the underbrush. The jjhysicians wiio were examined as experts gave it as their opinion that she must have been dead for five or six weeks. Considerable excitement was created bv a rumor that a girl at Saint Mary's College of the Woods, had been missing, and it was for a time thought that this might be her body, but an investigation soon put that theory at rest.

The people in the vicinity of the murder, however, kept up the search, hoping that something might turn up by which the remains would be identified. Finallv. one day in some tall grass, a regiilarlv written, but blood-stained insurance policy issued by Bain iS: Harris, of Anderson, Indiana, was found. The policy was torn nearly apart in two places. The policy was made out in the name of Mrs. Susan Xelson, and was for -an insurance upon her household goods. This discovery furnished an excellent clue, and the detectives pro'ceeded at once to work upon the case. Every neighboring \illage was visited, and every livery stable keeper for miles around was spoken to. The detective came to Anderson, and assisted by Marshal Col)urn. whose energy was aroused b}' the knowledge of the perpetration of this crime, soon succeedtxl in establisliing the fact beyond a doubt that the murdered woman was Mrs. Susan Nelson, of Anderson. The detective with his assistant then went to the old brick house in which she had for a long time resided, situated on North Main street directly opposite the present residence of Martin Gruenewald.

A letter was found from her son, Jasper, postmarked at Brazil, Indiana, dated August 28, 188B. This was about two weeks prior to the time she had left Anderson. Bra/.il is only sixteen miles east of Terre Haute. This letter caused a great deal of comment, and suspicion was at once directed to her son as being the guilty party. He had for v'ears been rather prodig:d in his habits, and it was known that with all his faults that his motlier loved him dearly, and that he had a great influence over her. It was supposed that he had lured

Jasper Nelson was accordingly arrested at Cape Girardeau, Missouri, on suspicion, and brought to ^\nderson for trial. Upon a full and complete investigation of all the facts stated by him as to his whereabouts at the time of the murder, the court was satisfied that lie was innocent of the crime, although inan}- persons have been convicted on less convincing evidence, lion. W. R. Mvers was his attorney and did valiant work in saving him from conviction.

Suspicion pointed to one Ferry Manis. an ex-preacher of the gospel who resided near Frankton, in this countv, and who was known to have been a fre(|Uent visitor to Mrs. Nelson's house. About this time Manis was arrested and placed in the Madison county jail, for associating with prostitutes, and, during his imprisonment, his actions in some wav fastened suspicion upon him very strongly in relation to the murder of Mrs. Nelson. Among other circumstances it was shown that he had left Anderson about the time Mrs. Nelson did, and returned after an absence of four or five weeks, lie left without taking a trunk, and with but little monev, and returned with a trunk and plenty of funds in his possession. In a little while after his return he purchased a horse and buggy and a set of harness at a cost of .iSSOO. He gave as an explanation for his possession of the monev that -^225 of it was given him by his mother, and .|25 by Maggie Moore, a lady friend. A boy was produced who stated that he had overheard him arranging a ]3laii with Mrs. Nelson, in which it was agreed that they would go to Kansas City, and establish a boarding house. This was another very suspicious circumstance against him.

The officers secured possession of the trunk brought back by Manis, and wiien interrogated as to how he came in possession of it. lie saiil that he bought it of a man in the I'nion depot at Indianapolis for ijili.OO : that the man was a stranger to him and had told him he was out of monev. The detectives kept at their work, and da)' by day more evidence was forthcoming, and the web was woven so closely about Manis, that finall3' an afhdavit was filed against him in \'igo countv for the murder of Mrs. Nelson. The grand jurv at Terie Haute took jurisdiction of the case, and an indictment was returned charging him with murder. He was placed under arrest, and taken to Terre Haute, and on a trial in the Circuit Court in that county, he was convicted of the crime and sentenced to imprisonment for life in the penitentiary, and here he died within a period of two or three years after his imjjrisonment. It was known that when Mrs. Nelson left Anderson, she had in her possession o\er .$()()(), which she had drawn out of the Exchange Bank a day or two prior to her departure. There was no doubt at all as to the identity of the murdered woman being Mrs. Nelson ; portions of her clothing were produced in court which her friends and relatives recognized ; and the set of artificial teeth, which were found in the woods were shown to have been made for her bv Dr. II. B. Reid, who appeared in court and identified them. It was also shown upon the trial that Manis and Mrs. Nelson were seen together in a lodging house at Terre Haute ; that he had hired a buggy and had driven awav with her, but had returned without her ; while there was no direct evidence to connect him with the crime, all the circumstantial facts in the case were very strong.

The State of Indiana was represented at the trial by the prosecuting attorney at Terre Haute, and Wm. A. Kittinger, of Anderson. Mr. Manis was defended by Judge Mack, of Terre Haute. Mr. Kiltinger won fresh laurels in the management of this case.

Mrs. Susan Nelson will be remembered by the old citizens of Madison county as the sister of Frederick and Michael Bronnenberg, who have lived in this countv nearly all their lives.

The connection of Perry Manis with thi.s crime was a severe blow to his famil}', none of whom had ever been accused or convicted of any crime. Manis, himself, was not considered as having vicious habits, and, in fact, was, at one time, an itinerant preacher, who held religious meetings in the school districts throughout the count}'. It was claimed that, by his efforts, he made many converts to the Christian faith. The onh' thing of which he was accused, prior to this affair, was that he was a man of lewd habits, indolent, and disposed to associate with bad characters. In this respect he was altogether different from every one of his relatixes, who were all well-to-do and prosperous people.