Homicide

Porter County

            In 1838, occurred the Stanes murder. Francis Stanes and John Pelton were working at a saw-mill near Arba Heald’s, in La Porte County, and, staying at a place of bad repute, kept by a man named Palmer. It seems that Stanes had become involved, and to avoid his creditors, had concluded to leave the locality. So he started West with John Pelton as a guide. Before starting, he remarked that he had $101 of good money, besides the horse he was to ride. Subsequently, not far from Jesse Morgan’s place, an Indian boy found in the woods a bundle of clothing tied in a handkerchief. The boy’s father came up to the spot and thinking that something must be wrong, began to look around, and soon saw in a hollow made by an up-turned tree, a boot protruding through some brush. Closer inspection revealed a dead man concealed in the cavity by means of brush and the water that had collected. The Indians in alarm, reported the discovery to the Indian camp, from which the news was carried to the whites. An inquest was held. John Pelton was one of the Coroner’s jury, and remarked, during eh inquest that, The man who did that ought to be hung. The eye of suspicion was cast upon him; he was arrested and arraigned for trial. He had been tracked from the scene of the murder, at least the tracks corresponded to his; a split hoof helped in following the horse; he was seen at the Old Maid’s Tavern cleaning his saddle, and soon afterward was seen with a new one; a knife, found in his pocket showed a nick corresponding to places upon the club that was cut for the purpose of finishing the foul deed. It seems that Stanes was shot from his horse by a ball fired from behind; was shot once after falling, and then beaten over the head with a club. Pelton, when asked where he had left Stanes, stated a place far beyond where the body was found, and the tracks showed that the horse which Stanes had been riding, had not gone beyond the place where the body was found. Such a strong chain of circumstantial evidence was forged about Pelton that he was found guilty, sentenced and hung, although he protested his innocence to the last. This is the only instance of capital punishment that has ever occurred in the county.

Source: Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana. Historical and Biographical. Weston A. Goodspeed, Historical Editor. Charles Blanchard, Biographical Editor. F.A. Battey & Co., Publishers, 1882.