Hall - Flora - child
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 5 April 1895
Last week ugly rumors were current in the south end, which culminated in an investigation by Coroner Barcus and the discovery of some terrible evidence against Flora, the daughter of Wm Hall. It was reported to Coroner Barcus that this girl, whose reputation is very shady, had become a mother Tuesday, March 26, but that her child was a minus quantity. It was also reported that on that night certain young men had been seen carrying a suspicious looking bundle and a spade through Crawford’s woods. It was charged that the young child had been murdered and that these young men were its funeral cortege—hearse, chief mourners and all. Acting on these rumors Dr. Barcus accompanied by Dr. Leech supplied themselves with a lantern and a spade Saturday night and sallied out to Crawford’s woods on a tour of investigation.
It was a gruesome search for the evidence of a revolting and terrible crime. The woods were dark and in the air were all the evidences of an approaching storm. Up hill and down vale the doctors searched and their efforts were rewarded. In the southwest corner of the woods at the foot of a bluff, Dr. Barcus came upon a fresh cut root sticking from the leaves banked over it. This bank was raked away and by the flickering lantern light a rude little grave was disclosed. Three feet into the clay they dug and finally the spade struck the top of a small box. It was quickly taken out and opened. Within was the body of a perfectly developed male child wrapped in a white cloth. Returning to Dr. Barcus’ office a post mortem examination was begun.
This examination disclosed the fact that the infant weighed ten pounds and that every organ was healthy. Its lungs showed that it was born alive and had breathed. Coroner Barcus at once waited on Prosecutor Kennedy and it was decided to delay further action in the case until Monday night, when Coroner Barcus with a big policeman swooped down on the south end and stirred things up as they have not been disturbed since the big storm in 1867. He conducted a vigorous inquest and as a result sent Mrs. Sam Wolliver, her son, Charley and Bert McQueon to jail. The mother of the dead child, Flora Hall, was too ill to be removed. The witnesses were examined separately and none knew of the testimony of the others. The Hall girl acknowledged being the mother, but her story is not fit for publication. She claimed that the child was born dead and that Chas. Wolliver was its father.
Bert McQueon acknowledged assisting Charles Wolliver to bury the child, driving to Crawford’s woods with him Tuesday night of last week.
The Wollivers, both mother and son, held up their hands and solemnly swore that they knew absolutely nothing whatever of the case. They told conflicting stories, however, and after their testimony were sent to jail.
Monday morning McQueon was released and after Coroner Barcus had explained to the Wollivers the penalty prescribed for that facetious pleasantry known in the courts as perjury, they wilted like gourd leaves on a hot day.
Mrs. Wolliver acknowledged being the first person with the Hall girl after the birth, but the child she never saw. Charles told all about the revolting burial and acknowledged paternity.
It being evident that they were not responsible for the alleged murder, they were released Monday afternoon. -s
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 12 April 1895
The grand jury adjourned without returning an indictment against Flora Hall, who is suspected of having murdered her infant child.
The grand jury members state that while they are satisfied in their own minds that the girl murdered her child, that they do not believe a jury in the circuit court could convict her unless she gave testimony, and this she would not have to do.
Coroner Barcus’ verdict was made public today. After a careful post-mortem conducted by himself with Drs. Jones and Leech, and an investigation of the surrounding circumstances he finds that the infant found buried in Crawford’s woods was Flora Hall’s; that it was born alive and regularly and that it came to its death by drowning at the hands of some person or persons unknown.
The charge of murder is thus specifically made, but the fastening of the awful crime on the guilty parties is another thing. The testimony of the unnatural mother before the Coroner was terrible and should be enough to send her up for a long term of years if not enough to hang her. It is, of course, unfit for publication, but it presents a picture of moral depravity almost beyond comprehension. The testimony in full is now on file in the county clerk’s office. -s