PRAY, William
Source: Lebanon
Pioneer, April 11, 1889
About 5:30 o’clock Friday evening
William Pray, a horse jockey, trader and general all-around slick man, of
Frankfort, shot and instantly killed his wife, and then sent a bullet into his
own brain, resulting in his death two hours afterward. Pray’s wife left him a
few months ago because of his cruelty and he has endeavored ever since to get
her to live with him. A few weeks since he and his brother, “Doc,” abducted her
from the home of a Mrs. Hunt in Frankfort and took her to Attica, where she was
rescued by the officers. William called on her Friday evening and tried to
effect a compromise. She would not listen to him and he shot her as above. Mrs.
Pray was about 22. Pray was 25. Doc Pray, brother of the murderer and suicide,
was arrested in this city Monday afternoon and a few hours afterward Marshal
Thacker and Deputy Bird arrived and took him to Frankfort, where he must answer
the charge of kidnapping.
Several other papers had short or
slight different versions
Frankfort, Ind – April 8 – “You are
mine!” said William Pray Friday evening, as he caught his divorced wife Emma in
his arms and kissed her. Two pistol shots rang out almost simultaneously and
the murdered girl and her suicide husband fell dead with bullets in their
brains. Pray was a horse jockey and has lately tried to persuade his wife to
return to him. A few days ago he and his
brother kidnapped the woman, but she escaped and returned to her parents at
this place. He called Friday night to persuade her once more and when she
refused, committed the double crime.
Frankfort was the scene last evening
of a horrible tragedy. Bill Pray, who is know not nearly every police officer
in the state, shot and instantly killed his young wife. One bullet pierced her
temple and another took effect in her mouth. Pray then sent a bullet through
his own brain and died soon afterwards in great agony. The shooting occurred in
a tenement house known as the “Bee Hive,” where Mrs. Pray had been stopping
with a family named Hunt. Pray and his wife had been having trouble, and on the
evening of March 18th Bill and his brother, “Doc” kidnapped the
woman and carried her from the house, where she now lies dead. They took her to
Attica where she was kept locked in a room until released by friends. Gaining
her freedom she returned to Frankfort and her husband called to make up with
her. This she refused to do, stating that he alone was to blame for their
separation. He attempted to kiss his wife but she turned her head away and
said, “I don’t want you to kiss me.” Crazed with anger and jealousy he pulled
his revolver from his pocket and fired the fatal shots. The Pharos gained its
information from the Frankfort Banner, its enterprising editors having issued
an extra edition of their paper. In speaking of the Prays the Banner says,
“They have lived in and out of Frankfort, Kokomo, Lafayette and other places in
this section for the past several years, carrying on shady transactions,
trading horses and dealing in various articles from which they could make a
living and at times quite a haul. The Prays were considered “slick” citizens
and managed to keep out of the hands of the authorities or when caught spared no
amount
Source: Indiana
State Sentinel, Wednesday, April 10, 1889
Frankfort, April 8 – The funeral of
the wife of William Pray occurred yesterday from the undertaker’s. Citizens
made liberal donations and gave her a respectful interment in Bunnell Cemetery.
Her sisters from Lafayette and Peoria were in attendance and manifested deep
grief over the sad event. The murderer, her husband, died two hours later from
his own hand and was buried in the potters’ field at the county asylum,
unmourned and without regrets. The tragedy has cast a stigma upon the name of
our fair city which will cling for some time to the chagrin of all our
citizens.