Harrison Township,WASHINGTON, Indiana.... Widow's Hidden Cache

[Gypsy Heart]

In the 1870 census, the widowed Elizabeth Ratten and her two children are shown in the family of her father, Thomas Baldwin (1870, Indiana, Daviess county, Harrision township, page 206, dwelling 102).
In 1880, her son Denson Wrattin is listed as head of the house, and she is listed as Elizabeth Wrattin in her son's household, along with her daughter and father (1880, same location, page 493, dwelling 117).

As the widow of a Civil War soldier who died in action, Elizabeth Wratten commenced drawing a pension shortly after her husbands death. She was known to be energetic and business minded. She was a money lender and was said to receive considerable income from this activity (Daviess county history (Myers), 1:226).
Tradition is that she kept large sums of money hidden at home, and it was generally known that she was relatively wealthy . In 1893, the home in which she lived was known as the old Thomas Baldwin place and Elizabeth was the owner. The house was an old fashioned three room half log structure covered with weather boards. Included in the household was her son's family (ibid).
On the night of 18 September 1893, Elizabeth Wratten and the five members of her son's family were asleep when James E. Stone forced his way into the home and murdered the entire family of six with a corn knife. He searched for the money box, but failed to find it. He left, leaving enough evidence to later help prove his guilt (ibid, 1:227).
Murderer James E. Stone is a first cousin, one generation removed, of Elizabeth Wratten. Their common ancestor is Elias Stone.
The murders received nationwide attention in the newspapers of the day (ibid, 1:226).
Indeed, The Rocky Mountain News of Denver, Colorado, carried the initial report on page one of its 20 September 1893 issue. The story reads as follows, in its entirety:

Horrible Butchery. An Entire Family of Six Murdered in Cold Blood.

WASHINGTON, Ind., Sept. 19,1893,
- Last night in Harrison township, nine miles from this city, an entire family of six persons were butchered with hatchets. The family consisted of Denson Wratten, his mother, wife and three children. The eldest of the children, a girl of 12, is still living, although unconscious, and with her head cruelly gashed.

Denson Wratten was a farmer, 35 years old, a good citizen in moderate circumstances. His good mother lived with the family and drew a pension. She did not bank her money and was supposed to keep several hundred dollars about her. This money was doubtless the motive for the murders. The house is a log one, a story and a half high, and has a long kitchen annex. The murderers entered by a window, breaking in the sash, and there was evidence of a fierce struggle. Wratten was sick with typhoid fever and incapable of resistance. The old lady was found upon the floor, cut terribly about the head and both hands cut off at the wrists. All were found dead upon the floor except the baby, 3 years old, which was killed in bed.

[limegoldconvertible68]

About ten years ago I lived about 3 miles from the old Wratton Place. I thoroughly research that old story and according to the old papers I read her money box was found under one of the dresser drawers by the authorities when investigating the murders.Based on the amount that was in that box I doubt if there was more. It never stopped me from using my detector at the old homestead but I never found anything. Just about everyone in the neighborhood seemed to have searched that area. I lived there for 8 years and had my greatest MD moments during that time. I still remember talking the an old fellow in Odon which was about 15 miles north of Washington after I had my car serviced at his garage. In the course of conversation he mentioned that he had some large square rocks that needed removed from the front of his property. I went out there and immediately recognized them as foundation stones. I found 2 cent pieces and indian heads from the 1860's. Then I got a solid hit that turned out to be a 1847 mexican 8 reale coin that had one of the pieces of eight cut out of it with a huge knife. An even better treasure story from that area came to me first hand but I searched like crazy and never found it. One night an old lady I knew spotted her old neighbor wandering in the back yard. She went out to see what was wrong and her neighbor was crying and she kept muttering "my gold, my gold I can't find where H..... buried my gold. H.....was her husband who was the biggest business owner in a nearby small town. He died suddenly of a heart attack so it certainly seemed plausible to me. I had permission to hunt the grounds but I never searched the house or the barn. Both have since been bulldozed down. I wish I knew how close I came on that one. There are some incredible stories from that area. Now all I have to do is find some good leads where I live now. Unfortunately there is a lot more competition where I live now and what a difference that makes. I have been skunked far too many times at what should have been primo detecting territory!

[Gypsy Heart]

Very Cool story!

[Acutely Treed]

Every once in a great while I hear the Wratten murders mentioned of.
Seems most people can't recollect hardly any details except it being horrible.
This is the first time I've ever seen that writeup about that event.
I'm don't really know very many T-hunting sites in my area.
I can only think of just a few I'd like to try if ever I buy a detector.
Not to far off, West of town was a CCC camp and Ft. Palmer.
The area seems accessable. Has sandy soils that are tilled.
Found chert/flint pieces, pottery shards with quartz mixed in.
Once found a small hand forged chain hook end there.
It had worn through the eye and broke free.