The Murders that Rocked Glendale Pt 2

(As this Small town rural story unfolded, speculation grew as to how one human being could possibly have done this alone, Bud Stone seizes the opportunity to create doubt. Naming others as accomplices and offenders, the whole town turns into a circus. Judge Hefron and Sherriff Leming had their hands full. While nighttime custody moves took place , by train, for Plaintiff protection, if the platform of the old train depot could talk, I'm sure it would have some stories to tell. Read on as the plot thickens, and the public becomes more unsettled by this heinous crime and calls for justice...one child survives, by a thread, and then mysteriously dies in the presence of someone familiar, other individuals named, maybe as a creation of doubt for the true offender...Oh the web of tales that unfolds...)(This one gets a little lenghty because leaving out details, it wont make sense)

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:

The Pinkerton Agency Is Contacted

Authorities quickly contacted the famous Pinkerton Detective Agency. The agency sent undercover investigators to the area, posing as traveling salesmen and peddlers while quietly gathering information from local residents.

According to period reports, Frank James—the brother of outlaw Jesse James—was hired as a Pinkerton investigator to assist with the case. However, the Pinkerton team’s involvement was brief. When a major jewelry robbery occurred elsewhere, the agency redirected its investigators to that case.

Their sudden departure left Sheriff Leming to continue the investigation largely on his own.

The Bloodstain Mystery

Sheriff Leming reportedly told John Baldwin that he had noticed bloodstains on Stone’s suspenders on the morning of the murders. Baldwin also recalled that Stone had accompanied the sheriff and the bloodhounds during an early visit to the Wratten property.

According to the account, the dogs were deliberately pulled away from part of the trail to prevent them from revealing information investigators wished to keep secret. Local folklore later claimed that the bloodhounds even approached Stone and behaved unusually around him.

Whether the dogs’ behavior proved anything remains uncertain, but the story added another layer of suspicion to the case.

Hope for Ethel

Eleven-year-old Ethel Wratten remained alive but suffered devastating head injuries. On September 19, surgeons operated to relieve pressure caused by swelling and internal bleeding. Part of her fractured skull was removed, and a silver plate was placed in her head.

The community waited anxiously, hoping Ethel might survive—and perhaps identify the person responsible for the massacre.

The Wratten Family Funeral: A Community in Mourning

Three days after the Wratten family massacre, a mass funeral was held at the family’s home. All five victims were placed in coffins on the front porch, following the funeral customs of the era.

A Gruesome Procession

After the porch service, the bodies were transported to Ebenezer Cemetery. Four teams of horses and a hearse were needed to carry the coffins, while a separate wagon transported the remains that could not be displayed publicly.

Thousands of mourners traveled to the cemetery. Horse-drawn carriages lined the road for miles, creating one of the largest funeral gatherings Indiana had reportedly seen at the time.

A Scene That Shocked Indiana

Many women fainted after viewing the victims, while Captain Leming and his deputies watched the crowd closely, hoping the guilty person might reveal himself.

Funeral director Zed Bonham later described the scene as the most gruesome he had ever witnessed. The farmhouse had not yet been cleaned, and blood remained on the floors. Blood-soaked bedding hung outside, offering a horrifying reminder of the violence.

The Wratten funeral became more than a farewell. It was a public expression of grief, shock, and the community’s desperate demand for justice.

The Wratten family was buried at Ebenezer Graveyard following a funeral attended by a large crowd. Elizabeth Wratten was placed in a grave to the north, while Denson and Ada were buried together. Their children, Henry Earl and Stella, were laid to rest in a nearby double grave.

During the service, local ministers placed shovels of dirt into each grave as mourners sang hymns, including “Jesus Lover of My Soul” and “In the Sweet Bye and Bye.” Afterward, the crowd slowly dispersed, with some visitors returning home and others traveling to the scene of the tragedy.

Hope for Ethel Fades

As mourners passed through the cemetery, a messenger arrived with news that Ethel Wratten might regain consciousness. Captain Leming, along with Bud Stone and John Baldwin, hurried to see her.

For a brief moment, Ethel appeared to stir. Her eyes opened in terror, and her lips moved as if she were trying to speak. However, she was too weak to make a sound. Everyone hoped she might identify the person responsible for the murders, but her condition continued to

deteriorate.

A Tragic Death

Friends and relatives remained with Ethel around the clock, offering comfort and companionship. According to the account, Bud Stone visited the home to ask about her condition and later took a turn sitting beside her.

While family members were gathered nearby, Stone reportedly entered the room and announced that Ethel had died. He claimed her death had happened so suddenly that he had not realized it until that moment. (Now, are we seeing a pattern here, Bud Stone, happens to be where all the bad things are happening... coincidence, I think not.)

With Ethel’s death, the last surviving member of the Wratten family was gone. Her passing ended the community’s hope that the young witness might reveal the identity of the killer—and deepened the mystery surrounding the massacre.

The Wratten murders became the central topic of conversation throughout the region, leaving residents grieving, frightened, and desperate for justice.

A Startling Confession

According to the account, James “Bud” Stone was questioned by the grand jury about the child’s death.

When asked whether he had killed Ethel, Stone reportedly answered yes. He then claimed that he had choked her to death.

A policeman soon announced that Bud Stone had been arrested and charged with murder. John Baldwin was stunned. Stone was known locally as a storyteller and “spinner of tall tales,” but few believed he could be responsible for such a brutal crime.

Shortly afterward, Baldwin saw Sheriff Leming escorting Stone from the courthouse to the jail. There, Leming explained that a mysterious visitor had testified against Stone. Stone initially denied everything, claiming he had been in Glendale having a tooth pulled on the night of the murders. However, when authorities told him the visitor had identified him, Stone reportedly became visibly shaken.

Stone’s Startling Story

While in jail, Stone told Sheriff Leming that he and six other men had formed a gang to commit robberies—and that the Wratten family had been their intended victims.

Stone insisted he had arrived too late to take part in the killings. According to his account, the other men had already murdered the family before he reached the house. He claimed they attacked him afterward, knocked him down, rolled him in the blood, and wiped their bloodstained weapons on his clothing to make him appear guilty.

The confession gave authorities grounds to arrest several alleged accomplices. Six men were taken into custody, while another suspect was also investigated.

Sheriff Leming questioned whether Baldwin believed the story. To him, Stone’s explanation sounded like another one of the suspect’s notorious tales. Yet beneath the unbelievable details was a disturbing possibility: the man known for exaggeration might actually have been connected to the Wratten murders.

The arrest transformed the investigation, turning public suspicion toward Stone and raising new questions about the mysterious witness, the alleged robbery gang, and the true events of that deadly night.

The investigation relied heavily on witness testimony, local rumors, and circumstantial evidence. With no modern forensic tools available, authorities searched for inconsistencies in suspects’ stories and clues linking them to the crime.

A Trial That Captivated Southern Indiana

The Wratten murder case eventually moved into the courtroom, where proceedings attracted enormous attention.

Local newspapers devoted extensive coverage to witness testimony, legal arguments, and developments in the case. Crowds reportedly gathered to hear updates, and the trial became one of the most closely followed criminal proceedings in the area's history.

The prosecution relied largely on circumstantial evidence and witness statements. Testimony attempted to place certain suspects near the Wratten farm around the time of the murders and connect them to discussions about money believed to be hidden in the home.

Defense attorneys challenged the reliability of witnesses and questioned whether investigators had focused on the correct suspects.

The trial exposed deep divisions within the community. Some residents believed the state had identified the killers, while others doubted whether the evidence met the standard required for conviction.

A Grand Jury Investigation

When the grand jury convened, John Murphy served as foreman, with George Hyatt and William Herndon among its most active members. Over several weeks, the jury subpoenaed more than 200 witnesses.

Investigators began with close relatives of the victims before questioning anyone who might have information about the murders. The community was deeply divided, with some people defending Stone’s character and others convinced that he—or several men—had participated in the massacre. (Bud Stone was known as a story teller, spinning a yarn, a more lighthearted fellow, when you read the full story, you almost picture him as Gomer Pyle type of character-how could he have possibly done this?)

A Case Filled With Unanswered Questions

The grand jury’s investigation revealed a frightening story of nighttime movements, hidden suspicions, bloodstained clothing, and a reported confession. Yet many questions remained unresolved.

Was Stone telling the truth when he confessed? Were the other men involved, or were they simply caught up in the rumors surrounding the case? And what did the bloodhounds truly discover on the nightmarish trail from the Wratten home?

As testimony continued, the Wratten massacre became not only a brutal murder case but also one of southern Indiana’s most haunting and controversial mysteries.

Bud Stone’s Confession: A Chilling Account of the Wratten Murders

During his testimony, Bud Stone appeared before the court as both a defendant and a witness against himself. His attorney questioned him about his health, family, and a large growth on his neck, details that reportedly influenced the grand jury’s view of his mental state.

Stone then gave his account of the night of September 18, 1893.

He claimed he told his wife he was going to Glendale to have a toothache treated, but instead went to the Wratten home carrying a corn knife and a small axe. His stated motive was to obtain money rumored to be kept by Elizabeth “Grandma” Wratten. ( the murder weapons are on display at the Daviess County Museum & there is a panel display as well)

According to Stone’s testimony, he watched the house before approaching the kitchen door and pretending to need medicine for a severe toothache. Ada Wratten came to the door in her nightclothes and went to retrieve liniment. When she returned, Stone said he struck her in the head with the corn knife.

His testimony described the attack in disturbing detail, including Ada’s collapse and the blood that followed. He then claimed he entered the bedroom where Denson Wratten was lying.

Stone’s confession became one of the most significant and horrifying pieces of testimony in the case. Whether every detail was truthful—or part of a larger attempt to shape the story—remained a central question as the trial continued.

In his account of the Wratten murders, Bud Stone described a frantic journey home after the attack. He claimed he grabbed a porch post with a bloody hand, tried repeatedly to wash away the evidence, and hid the knife and axe in a nearby woodpile. He eventually reached home around 4 a.m., telling his wife that a dentist had pulled his tooth and splattered him with blood.

The next morning, Stone reportedly continued trying to clean his stained clothing. He later told his wife that he and his son were going to check on Denson Wratten and offer assistance—an explanation that appeared suspicious in light of the murders.

Why Did Stone Blame Others?

When questioned about accusing six other men of being accomplices, Stone claimed they had previously mocked and tormented him. He said one man had called him a liar and ridiculed the growth on his neck, leading him to name the group as an act of revenge.

Yet Stone also admitted that he had told different versions of the crime, hidden his clothing and weapons, and changed parts of his story. In court, he asked the jury to treat him as leniently as possible. ( as reported in detailed accounts, some of the men accused has a bit of a lively lifestyle and that is why he accused them, people would believe it, because they were a little rougher around the edges)

His testimony left investigators with a troubling question: Was Stone confessing the truth, seeking revenge, or attempting to confuse the authorities? The conflicting accounts ensured that the Wratten case would remain surrounded by doubt long after the trial ended.

Bud Stone Receives the Death Penalty

After Bud Stone’s testimony, both the prosecution and defense rested without closing arguments. Judge Hefron briefly instructed the jury, which retired to deliberate at 10:50 a.m.

While the jury was out, Stone reportedly confessed to his attorney that he feared receiving the death penalty. He also revealed that he had once considered killing his own family but stopped after stumbling over his sleeping children.

(Can you imagine his defense attorney at this point? Him leaning in and telling you this in open court!! So he pointed fingers at six other community members, drug them through the muck and mire, sullied their names, put their families through all of that, actually were held in prison and then to say that, wow!)(As stated by Bud, he missed the money, didn't even find it, so he slain an entire family for nothing)

A Swift Verdict

The jury returned just fifteen minutes later, finding Stone guilty of first-degree murder and sentencing him to death. Stone remained motionless as the verdict was read, later acknowledging that the jury had treated him fairly.

The Wratten Case Moves Toward Execution

Following Bud Stone’s conviction, preparations began for his execution at the Indiana State Prison. Prison records described Stone as a 43-year-old Indiana native with brown hair, blue eyes, and distinctive physical marks, including a large growth below his ear and a damaged finger. Indiana law required executions by hanging to occur within 100 days of sentencing. Because Stone’s deadline fell on a Monday, Friday was traditionally the hangman’s day—officials granted him four additional days. His execution was therefore scheduled for February 16, 1894.

Although Stone’s case had reached its conclusion, the broader Wratten murder investigation was not finished. On November 4, 1893, the other defendants were returned to court and formally arraigned.(all six men were formally released)The Judge reminded the public that they had only been accused, all charges were dismissed at the next meeting date for court)

The Burial of Bud Stone

After James E. “Bud” Stone’s execution, his grieving widow, Cecelia, remained near the burial site, mourning and praying over her husband’s grave. She reportedly pleaded for mercy and spoke lovingly about Stone before the coffin was lowered.

Stone was buried beside a rural road—the same road he had traveled when he first reported the Wratten murders to John Baldwin in 1893. The location later gained an ironic significance because it became the final resting place of the man at the center of the case.

A Grave Remembered

A stone marker was eventually placed over Stone’s isolated grave. Over the years, road construction forced the marker to be moved several times, though it reportedly remained close to its original location. Local property owners continued to care for the site.

According to area folklore, Stone’s father, Squire Elias Stone, stood guard outside the grave with a loaded shotgun to protect it from desecration.

Cecelia and her surviving children later left the area, with some moving to Gibson County and another eventually relocating to Vermont. Even after Stone’s death, his burial—and the troubled legacy surrounding the Wratten murders—remained part of local memory.

The Wratten's

(I'm sure the whispers went on for years, througout the community...The magnitude of this at that point in time, was unheard of. I can only imagine the level it would take on now with camera crews, evidence and such....something that rocked such a small tight knit rual community-the equilavent of the Ingalls being massacared.)

Were not going to end the story with talk of the guilty, we're going to end with a tribute to the innocent. While the only thing the Wrattens appeared to be guilty of was being too kind and trusting.. it goes to show how money and greed, jealousy and spite can take over someone's life. The Wrattens were friends, neighbors, church goers and veterans who served and sacrificed. Perfect, no, who is?

I have visited their grave site many times over the years, often wondering if the truth really came fully to the top or not, after reading it all, I think it has.. you be the judge..

If you ever find yourself south of town, pay your respects to the Wrattens and take a minute to reflect on how far we have come since then..you have to wonder if they would have dodged this fate if Denson hadn't been ill and under the weather... bottom line keep your families close, appreciate all you have, and know there was a beautiful family once that once enjoyed the rolling landscape of Daviess County, just as we do today....and while the way they left this world was horribly ugly and evil, the lives they lived are what we will remember...

( For the Full 56 page booklet, visit daviesscounty historical past perfect online collection)

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