The Murders That Rocked Glendale, Part 1

(Reading this is not an easy read, for the faint of heart, you may want to deflect to other topics, while it speaks to the true accounts that happened on a quiet fall night in rural Daviess County, the people still talk about it 133 years later. While the Wratten's lie in peace, and have hopefully moved on to a much better place.. their story deserves to be told... humanity can learn from it, cherish each day and if nothing else, put your money in a bank, not the floorboards... Some speculate that there was a group, some an individual, maybe for money, who knows what lies in the mind of someone who could do something so savage, not just to a family, but to the entire community....) As you read through, parenthesis are my words... everything else is a compilation from multiple sources, noted at the end.

The Final Night

On Monday, September 18, 1893, seemed unremarkable.

Denson Wratten was recovering from typhoid fever and had only recently been able to spend time out of bed. That evening the family retired as usual. Denson and Ada slept in the main part of the house while the children slept nearby. Elizabeth occupied a separate room connected to the rest of the house. Nothing appeared unusual. It would be the last night any of them would spend alive.

(Ada tucked the children in, probably exhausted from managing the land, and caring for her sick husband Denson, and her motherly duties to the family. I can only imagine Ada, and the energy she had been putting forth trying to keep him alive and keep typhoid at bay from the rest of the family. Which actually got my attention- no one ever suspected the murder due to fear of a plague spreading. That may speak as to why all of them? If you were going to rob them, why wouldn't you just do it while they were all out at a family gathering in town-why eliminate all of them. As you read on, the questions will arise in your mind as well)

The victims lived on a farm along the Hudsonville Road in Harrison Township, about a mile east of Ebenezer Church. The property, known locally as the Old Thomas Baldwin Place, was owned by Elizabeth Wratten, the family's matriarch. (one of the most winding and beautifully scenic roadways in Southern Daviess County to date)

The household consisted of:

• Denson Wratten, 35

• Ada C. Wratten, 32

• Ethel Wratten, 11

• Stella J. Wratten, 9

• Henry Earl Wratten, 3

• Elizabeth Wratten, 61

The family was widely respected and considered hardworking, peaceful neighbors with no known enemies.

Elizabeth Wratten was a Civil War widow. Her husband, Samuel Wratten, had served in the 42nd Indiana Infantry and died after being wounded at the Battle of Lookout Mountain in 1863. In the years following his death, Elizabeth became known throughout the area as a shrewd businesswoman who loaned money and carefully managed her finances.

Over time, rumors circulated that she kept a substantial amount of cash hidden around her home. Neighbors estimated she may have had between $1,000 and $2,000 hidden on the property, a significant sum in the 1890s. Those rumors would later play an important role in the murder investigation. ( Having 2,000 in hand in 1893, would convert to an estimated 800,00 in hand in 2026- for perspective)

(These details are important as you read on, the lasting impact to a small community at this time, rattled beyond belief.)

A Horrifying Discovery

On the morning of September 19, neighbor and cousin James E. "Bud" Stone decided to stop by the Wratten farm after breakfast. Concerned that Denson might still be recovering from illness, Stone brought his eldest son along.

When they arrived, they were surprised by the silence. No children were outside playing, and repeated knocks on the kitchen door went unanswered.

The door was unlocked.

Stone cautiously entered the home and immediately encountered a scene of unimaginable violence.

Inside, Stone found Ada lying in the kitchen. Blood covered the floors, walls, furniture, and porch. The remaining members of the family were discovered in different rooms, all victims of a savage attack.

Only eleven-year-old Ethel showed signs of life. She had suffered severe head injuries and was rushed to a relative’s home. Doctors later performed surgery in an attempt to relieve pressure caused by swelling and bleeding in her skull.

Terrified, Stone's son begged to leave. Stone hurried from the house seeking help and soon encountered neighbor John Baldwin traveling along the road. At first Baldwin struggled to believe what he was hearing, but Stone's panic convinced him that something terrible had happened.

The two men rushed back to the farm.

As they approached the porch, they noticed a trail of blood leading from the kitchen doorway and bloody handprints smeared across one of the porch columns. Looking through the kitchen window, Baldwin saw Ada's body on the floor and quickly ordered Stone to ride for the sheriff.

Grandma Wratten's Fierce Final Struggle

Elizabeth Wratten's body showed signs of a violent struggle. According to the account, her head, face, and shoulders had suffered severe wounds, and her hands were cut deeply, indicating she may have tried to grab her attacker's weapon and fight for her life.

Investigators concluded that the 61-year-old widow had resisted fiercely. Coroner McCown and Sheriff Leming believed she fought "like a tiger" against her attacker before finally succumbing to her injuries.

The discovery strengthened one of the leading theories behind the massacre: robbery.

A House Frozen in Horror

The investigators documented evidence of extraordinary violence throughout the home. Blood stained walls, ceilings, floors, and furniture. Sheriff Leming reportedly noted that supper dishes still sat on the table from the family's final meal together, a sobering reminder of how quickly ordinary life had been destroyed.

One detail particularly caught investigators' attention: a clock in Denson Wratten's room had stopped at approximately 2:00 a.m. While impossible to prove, some wondered if it marked the hour of the killings.

The Authorities Arrive

Stone made the nine-mile trip to Washington to alert authorities.

Sheriff John G. Leming soon arrived with Coroner Charles McCown and undertaker M. L. Bonham. Together they entered the farmhouse to inspect the scene.

What they found was beyond anything they had experienced.

Ada Wratten's body lay just inside the kitchen. Her skull had been crushed and her arms and shoulders were so severely slashed that newspaper accounts described them as being "cut into ribbons."

In another room they discovered young Henry Earl Wratten. The three-year-old had suffered a devastating head wound.

Investigators then found Denson Wratten in his bed. Because of his recent illness, he had apparently been unable to resist his attackers. His face, chest, arms, and shoulders had been hacked repeatedly. According to accounts from the scene, one investigator attempted to raise Denson's head and discovered the injuries were so extensive that it nearly detached.

A Glimmer of Hope

During the search, investigators located young Stella Wratten and confirmed she had also died from severe injuries.

Then they reached eleven-year-old Ethel Wratten.

Unlike the others, Ethel still showed faint signs of life. Coroner McCown detected a slight pulse and a trace of breath. Barely alive, she was immediately carried from the house and taken to a nearby relative's home for care.

For a brief moment, investigators hoped Ethel might survive long enough to identify the attackers. Her condition, however, was critical from blood loss and severe injuries, making recovery uncertain.

The Missing Money Theory

Investigators soon focused on robbery as a possible motive.

Reports from inside the house suggested that dresser drawers had been opened and belongings disturbed. According to newspaper accounts, a money chest associated with the family was found open and empty.

Authorities knew of Elizabeth Wratten's reputation for hoarding cash and valuables. Stories circulated that the killer may have been lured to the farm by rumors of hidden wealth.

Whether substantial sums were actually stolen remained uncertain, but the possibility of robbery quickly became one of the leading theories in the case.

The Search for the Killer

As news of the murders spread across Indiana, pressure mounted on law enforcement to find those responsible. The brutality of the crime and the apparent robbery left investigators convinced that the killings had been carefully planned.

Authorities believed the murderer had entered the home during the night and systematically attacked the sleeping family. Evidence suggested that whoever committed the crime had searched parts of the house afterward, possibly looking for money rumored to be hidden by Elizabeth Wratten.

Sheriff John G. Leming and investigators faced a difficult challenge. There were no modern forensic techniques, no fingerprint analysis, and few reliable witnesses. The investigation depended heavily upon physical observations, statements from neighbors, and information circulating through local communities.

Rumors spread rapidly throughout Daviess County. Nearly everyone seemed to have a theory. Newspaper coverage became intense, and each new lead was eagerly followed by both reporters and residents.

A Community Left in Fear

The brutality of the massacre sent shockwaves through Glendale and surrounding communities. Residents who had spent years leaving doors unlocked suddenly realized such violence could reach even the quietest farmhouses.

Many believed the killer might be someone familiar with the Wratten family, their routines, and their rumored savings. That possibility was perhaps more frightening than the crime itself.

As the bodies were prepared for burial and the investigation expanded, the focus shifted from the horrifying scene inside the farmhouse to a pressing question that captivated southern Indiana:

Who had murdered the Wratten family, and why?

(As we continue to dig into this story, and unfold the details, you can find all of the excerpts from the Daviess County Historical Society Website in their entirety. There is entirely too much for just here. The 56 page detailed first hand account, by Carolyn Mullen is definitely worth the read. While at times, it raises more questions than answers.. ultimately you will continue in part two.. and see how this twisted tale unfolds, how quickly lives can change and all for what? Something as common as money?? We are truly rich when we have things money can't buy... read on in part two.)

credit for content to:

Wratten Massacre by Carolyn Mullen (research and compilation)

The Washington Democrat newspaper clippings 1893

1936 Article as told by Roy L. Colbert

all found on the Daviess County Historical Society collection of archives.

comments in parenthesis by blog author Debbie Goodwin