KNAPP, Milton

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MYSTERIOUS DEATH.

The community at Whiteland and vicinity was shocked last Friday mor­ning when the news came to them that the dead body of Milton Knapp had been found in a field on the farm of Eb Harbert, horribly mangled by hogs.

The head had been torn from the body and much of the flesh eaten off. The body was terribly mutilated also. Mr. Knapp had driven from his home in Whiteland Thursday evening, ostensibly to visit his farm. He had hitched his horse near the home of Mr. Harbert and, as supposed by Mr. Harbert’s fam­ily, walked across to reach his own farm. As the horse was not taken away and it was growing late, Mr. Harbert brought the rig in from the road and put up the horse, thinking the owner would call later. On rising the next morning to his surprise he found the horse and buggy still there. Going out to feed his hogs he was horrified to find the body of a man mangled as above described. He was recognized only by the clothing worn. At first it was sup­posed he had suddenly been stricken with heart trouble and died while returning to his buggy. Coroner Terhune was at once summoned who made ar­rangements for taking care of the body and holding an inquest.

Saturday it developed that William Pherson, a neighbor, had confessed to the crime of killing Knapp and throw­ing his body over among the hogs. This alleged confession it is said was made to Douglas Dobbins, attorney at Green­wood. As soon as this became known, Pherson was placed under arrest and brought to Franklin where he is now continued in jail.

Different stories are told about the cause of the killing and the alleged confession. One is that Pherson on returning home discovered Knapp creeping along the fence trying to get away from his house unobserved. He attacked Knapp and beat him over the head and left him, not realizing perhaps what serious injuries he had inflicted. It is said bad feeling had existed between the two men. Both were respected citi­zens. The trial of Pherson will be awaited with much interest.

Link to Milton Knapp’s grave

Note: Indiana, Death Certificates, 1899–2011, Whiteland, Pleasant Township, Johnson County, Certificate and Record of Death, page 65 records that Milton Knapp died at about 4 o’clock p. m. on 1 Nov 1900 in Clark Township, Indiana from the effects of a blow on the head, inflicted by club in hand of William Pherson; the attack being made with homicidal intent, aged sixty-seven years, four months and two days. He was male, white, married and a retired farmer, born in Johnson County, Indiana. His father’s name was Joshua Knapp and his mother’s maiden name Mary Holmes, both born in Kentucky. The informant was H. K. Midkiff[?]. Milton was buried in Glade Church [aka Glade-Dobbins Cemetery] on 4 Nov 1900, Dudley Peek, undertaker.

Submitted by Mark McCrady, Cathea Curry and Lois Johnson