MURPHY, John - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

It is reported that Charley Roberts now in the Nebraska penitentiary,

has confessed to the murder of John Murphy at Wallace in 1882. He says

that he was assisted by Scott Sutherlin, Bill Irvin and a Veedersburg

saloon keeper. Irvin is now doing time at Michigan City for stealing

horses. Roberts was born in Waveland in the house now owned by Sant

Moody. He was always a tough character and has been engaged in many

desperate enterprises. His parents were good people and as long as they

lived, he never failed to visit them at intervals although he risked his

liberty to do so. A brother, James Roberts was highly respected. Mrs.

Sarah MacIntosh, of Crawfordsville is his sister. Suspicion fell on him

at the time of Murphy's murder but nothing could be proved. His

discovery was accidental as no one here knew where he was. A Ben Hur

detective was looking for another person and recognized him. What his

motive could be for confessing to a crime that will deprive him of all

hope of future liberty is not known. - typed by kbz