WADE, John

IN COLD BLOOD

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John Wade, of Edinburg, Shot
Down on the Street.

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“RHODY” SHIELDS AFTER BEING
EJECTED FROM A SALOON

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Goes Home, Gets His Shotgun, Re-
turns and Deliberately Shoots
Wade Down in Front of
His Saloon.

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Word was telegraphed here at one o’clock Wednesday afternoon that John Wade, of Edinburg, had been shot and instantly killed by “Rhody” Shields, a well-known character of that town. The news also came that officers had started for Franklin with Shields in custody. The news rapidly spread through town and a large crowd of people collected in the vicinity of the jail awaiting the arrival of the prisoner.

Marshal Depue, of Edinburg, was in Franklin at the time and Shields was brought here by Joshua Sims, John and George Roth. They reached Franklin at 2:45 o’clock and im­mediately proceeded to the jail, where he was securely lodged.

From those accompanying the prisoner it was learned that Shields had been raising a disturbance in the saloon owned by John and Mack Wade. They had put him out two or three times that morning but each time he would return. About noon he was again ejected from the place, when he went to his home about four squares away, procured a shot gun and re­turned. He took deliberate aim at Wade and fired.

The whole charge took effect in the mouth and lower part of the face and neck, tearing the flesh, bones, muscles and wind-pipe in a horrible manner. Wade fell unconscious and expired in about twenty minutes afterwards.

As soon as the first shot was fired, Shields started to reload, but failing to remove the shell, went home and left his gun.

Excitement was at a high pitch and threats of lynching were heard. Under these circum­stances it was thought advisable to bring him at once to Franklin, without any formality of a preliminary hearing and lodge the murderer in jail.

It is said Shields earlier in the day had been at Steve Schon’s place and threatened to kill him. Shields has been a resident of Edinburg for nearly twenty years, and has been mixed up in numerous quarrels. He has on several occasions been placed in jail for “drunks” and different offenses. He stated to those bringing him to Franklin that he had once been sent to the penitentiary in Kentucky. He was married after coming to Edinburg, but has no children.

Wade was married and leaves three children.

Shields was taken before the mayor yes­terday morning but a preliminary hearing was postponed until next Wednesday.

The Franklin Democrat, Friday, May 22, 1896,
Volume XXXVI Number 45, page 3 column 5

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CORONER’S VERDICT

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The undersigned coroner of Johnson county Indiana, did on the 6th day of May, 1896, hold an inquest on the body of John Wade, late of Edinburg, Johnson county, Indiana, found dead in said County and State on the 6th day of May, 1896.

Having viewed the body and heard the testimony of witnesses, I find that the deceased came to his death by reason of hemorrhage from a gunshot wound in the face and left side of the chest. Said shot was fired from a shot gun in the hands of one Franklin Shields of said County and State.

Deceased was about 47 years old. No valuables found on body.

J. T. JONES, 
Coroner of Johnson County 

Franklin, Ind., May 7, 1896.

The Franklin Democrat, Friday,September 25, 1896,
Volume XXXVII Number 11, page 1 column 5

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FOR LIFE.

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The Jury in the Shields Murder Case
Reaches a Verdict

The jury which was called upon to determine the punishment of Frank Shields, who killed John Wade early last summer, took the case at 3 o’clock Thursday of last week. It deliberated for thirty hours before a verdict was reached. The verdict as returned was for a life sentence. The cause of delay was over the degree of punishment, seven of the jurors, it is said, holding out for a death sentence. Ninety-six ballots in all were taken. The minority vote finally succeeded in bringing those favoring the death sentence to their view of the case. At all stages of the balloting the votes were either for a life sentence or for death, no votes being cast for a period of time less than for the natural life of the prisoner.

It is understood that no new trial will be asked and it is also said that Shields seemed pleased with the verdict.

Submitted by Mark McCrady, Cathea Curry and Lois Johnson