GODDARD, Ella Washington

Source: Crawfordsville Review Jan 9, 1917

Covington, Ind - Jan 8 - An indictment charging first-degree murder was returned by the grand jury here today against Oscar Goddard, whose wife was slain with an ax in her home at Veedersburg last week. Goddard who is in jail here, has maintained that a robber crushed his wife's skull and attempted to kill him. Only three witnesses were examined by the grand jury - Sheriff Harry Wertz, Calvin Schere, night watchman at Veedersburg, and ora Pope who was one of the men called on Goddard after the killing. Goddard will be arraigned Thursday.

Note: Thanks so much to Robert Williams for "the rest of the story!"

Source: Morning Herald, Uniontown, PA Friday Jan 12, 1917) Covington, Ind,

Jan 11 - AP -- Oscar Goddard of Veedersburg, Ind pleaded guilty to murdering his wife the night of January 3 when arriagned in court today. Mrs. Goddard, who was confined to her bed by paralysis was killed with an axe. There was about $400 insurance on her life. Goddard, a cripple, broke down in court and was unable to complete his statement. His first story was that robbers attacked him and his wife

Source: Death Record Veedersburg, Van Buren Twp, Fountain County, Indiana #58

Name: Ella Elvina Goddard

Husband: Oscar Goddard

Born: April 29, 1873 Wingate, Indiana

Died: Jan 3, 1917 at 4 a.m.

Aged: 43 Years 8 Months 5 Days

Cause: Crushing of temporal ... subsequent hemorrhage - 4 hours duration

Signed: (Inquest) D. Francis Smith, Coroner, Covington, Ind

Father; James Washington born Kentucky

Mother: Mary A. Barton born Kentucky

Informant: Vy Kennedy, Wingate, Indiana

Buried: Wingate by Parham Veedersburg