johnw
HCI Forum Board Member
Posts: 4
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Post by johnw on Jan 12, 2010 14:24:58 GMT -5
To Mr Hatton, I apologize, I meant no disrespect to you, your Employee's, or the Library. The employee's I interacted with in my search were very helpful and nice. They did all they could, the information just wasn't there due to the "black hole" you referenced. I'm sorry if I sounded upset, I apologize to Mr Hatton and to Mr Sechrest as well.
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Post by David Sechrest on Jan 12, 2010 15:04:24 GMT -5
John, no offense taken and I wish you success in your search!
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Post by Jason Hatton on Jan 12, 2010 17:24:10 GMT -5
To Mr Hatton, I apologize, I meant no disrespect to you, your Employee's, or the Library. The employee's I interacted with in my search were very helpful and nice. They did all they could, the information just wasn't there due to the "black hole" you referenced. I'm sorry if I sounded upset, I apologize to Mr Hatton and to Mr Sechrest as well. No apology necessary as I took no offense. I simply was describing the difficulties that we face with this "black hole" and trying to drum up some volunteer help I wish you great success in your search and I hope you will let us know if we can be of further assistance.
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RER
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"Democracy & Freedom"
Posts: 2,462
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Post by RER on Apr 26, 2010 8:47:21 GMT -5
History of Bartholomew County Sheriff Department543 2nd Street Columbus Indiana Brief: The first county sheriff served starting in 1821. The department has had some very interesting challenges as you will notice as you read the below web site summary. The web site will provide early drawings of jail pictures, interesting well known gangsters of the past before and during the 1930s "great depression". Names mentioned: "The threat posed by the John Dillinger gang was very real indeed. Robbing banks and raiding military armories for guns were the stock in trade of the gang. Police agencies were poorly prepared to deal with this menace. Sheriff's in particular could count on no assistance if they confronted the Dillinger "super gang". The sheriff of Bartholomew County perhaps was luckier than most, he had his own Thompson sub-machine gun, with which to face the likes of John Dillinger, Pretty Boy Floyd, Baby Face Nelson and Homer VanMeter."Sheriff History Web Site:www.bartholomewco.com/sheriff/history.php Tommy Sub-Machine Gun 1928, Bullets In Drum 100 Each, Firing 45 Cal.
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RER
HCI Forum Board Member
"Democracy & Freedom"
Posts: 2,462
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Post by RER on Apr 26, 2010 9:50:12 GMT -5
History of Columbus Police Department123 Washington StreetColumbus Indiana Brief: "The roots of the Columbus Police Department can be traced to the late 1800's. Although not an official police officer, City Marshal Pat Hagerty, with the help of George Lewellen, kept an eye on things for merchants and townsfolk." "The way Columbus Police Officers did their jobs changed drastically in 1930. The department obtained its first car. But it was no ordinary car. It was a Pontiac convertible touring car purchased for $700. The bulletproof windshield and side shields and a slot for a machine gun served one purpose; to protect officers from bank robber John Dillinger, infamous for his disregard for anyone wearing a badge." The brief history and a few pictures are shown at this web site: www.columbuspd.com/history.html
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nealsnow
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Posts: 7
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Post by nealsnow on May 21, 2010 5:56:28 GMT -5
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jtekulve
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Posts: 8
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Post by jtekulve on Aug 6, 2010 11:23:43 GMT -5
Morris Crum was the bartender at Paul's Cafe at the time of the shooting. He was my uncle. My grandmother, Margaret Crum Sharp, was his sister. He did pass away from his injuries. Although his daughter came to live with us for a short time, I do not remember what exactly occurred, but I can ask my mother- Linda Taulman Sharp.
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Post by drewmnbc4 on Sept 15, 2010 20:50:16 GMT -5
There was an animal in a cage on the front porch of the Bartholomew County Jail during the term of Sheriff J. Walter Johns. The animal was a pet monkey and belonged to Johns daughter, Judy Johns Jackson who is the current Director of Community Development.
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amb
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Posts: 4
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Post by amb on Oct 17, 2010 10:17:01 GMT -5
It was November 9, 1975---Robert P. Jones shot and killed three people at Paul's Cafe in Columbus, Indiana. Those innocent people were two men, Malone and Crum and one woman, Tybith Greathouse Campbell, age 27 who was married and had a daughter--She was my mother and I was eight years old at the time. Jones was tried for the killings, but the first trial resulted in a hung jury. Gratefully the prosecutors, re-tried him in Clark County where he was convicted for all three deaths with no Parole. Unfortunately, in 1975, Indiana did not have the death penalty or he might have been given the death penalty and a portion of our taxes would have gone to feed, clothe, house and educate him for the last 35 years. As the daughter of one of the victims, I cannot begin to tell you how something so senseless and tragic has impacted me and my family. I cannot speak for the other victims' families, but I can only believe they may feel similar. I am now a wife and mother myself. I have been blessed with a wonderful son who will never know what a wonderful person his grand-mother was. Although I was eight when my mom died, I have only few and select memories of her. As a mom myself, I take that into consideration in parenting my son.
If you are wondering why I'm posting this, I want to share with you a bit of a lesson (Part 1 and Part 2) I have learned and one that I hope no other person or family must ever learn (though I know that is not reality). Here is part 1 of the lesson---After Jones was sentenced, he was assigned to the state prison in Michigan City, MI where he has been since 1976 until recently. One would assume that if convicted & sentenced to 3 life sentences with no chance of parole, Jones would spend the rest of his life in prison. Surprisingly, that is not necessarily true. After spending 10 years in prison, Jones was given the right to apply & petition the Governor of Indiana for clemency. The term clemency is typically associated with convicts who have been given the death penalty, about to be executed and in the 11th hour, "begs" the governor for a pardon (clemency). Once Jones applied and petitioned for clemency, the victims and their families were notified by the Indiana courts that a hearing had been set where he would go before Clemency Commission to provide reasoning as to why he should be granted clemency. Prior to this, we had no idea this process existed or that Jones would have the right to apply & petition. The Clemency Commission is made up of the same people who serve on the Parole Board. In cases of clemency, the Commission would take Jones' points into consideration and make a recommendation to the Governor of Indiana. Now if the Governor grants clemency, that does not guarantee release, but rather the opportunity to go before the Parole Board where Jones could be granted parole. Yes, I did say that he was sentenced to 3 life sentences with no chance for parole. And, yes I did say that the members of the Clemency Commission are the same people who serve on the Parole Board. And, yes I did say that they are the ones who make the recommendation for the Governor who then in return could allow Parole Board to make the decision to release Jones on Parole. Ambiguious? Convoluted? Confusing? Yes. Now, what I didn't say was that we, the victims' families (not the actual victims--because they were killed) and others who are connected to the case, whether in support of or in opposition of his release, are "given the opportunity" to go before the Commission (or write letters or send in a video) to state why we believe he should or should not be released.
Initially after Jones served 10 years and was eligible to apply for clemency, he certainly took advantage of that right believing after randomly killing 3 innocent people, he should be released back into society. My family and members of the other victims' families had to take off work, drive to Indianapolis for the hearing, wait in a holding area designated for 'Victim Services' and then speak before the Clemency Commission providing reasoning from our points of view as to why they shouldn't recommend to the Governor that Jones not be given the opportunity for parole (even though he was tried not once, but twice before a group of his peers who ultimately found him guilty where he was sentenced to 3 life sentences with no parole). Jones didn't only take advantage of opportunity after 10 years, he did it every single year. And every single year, my family would take time away from their jobs and lives to appear before the Clemency Commission continually re-enforcing to them why they should not recommend Jones for clemency to the Govenor. I want to make note that my mom was shot and killed on November 9, 1975, this was 8 days after my 8th birthday. She was buried on November 11th--which happened to be my grandmother's birthday--My grandma buried her only daughter on her birthday. They say time heals and it does to a degree if it's left alone to heal. Unfortunately, every anniversary of the death of my mother, we found ourselves reliving the pain and tragedy as we described our position to the Clemency Commission. Now, several years ago the State of Indiana changed their applicatioon process for clemency. Prisoners can no longer apply annually after serving the first 10 years of their sentence, but every 5 years. In a way I am thankful to the courts that we do not have to go every year but every five years---thankful? I still find myself wondering why we should have to do it at all! If he was convicted and sentenced to 3 life sentences with no parole for the shootings and deaths of Mr. Malone, Mr. Crum and Tybith Campbell ( my mother), why should I be penning this posting and you reading it?
Part 2, I mentioned prior that Jones was assigned to the state prison in Michigan City until recently. What I learned recently is that the Indiana Department of Corrections decided to move Jones from Michigan City to the Walbash Valley Correctional Facility Level 3. After almost 34 years in the Michigan City state prison, he was loaded up into a vehicle and took a nice ride for a few hours southwest to a correctional facility with a lower security level where I'd like to believe that he will serve out his sentence. We were not notified prior to this move. Our input wasn't solicited. No explanation was provided to us by the IDOC as to why or how this decision was made. We only know that he was moved. And, the only reason we know that is that we are regisitered with the Indiana SAVIN Notification Service where we get information if the "offender" status is changed. We get to go into a website to register for this service and setup a profile (similiar to what you and I did to access this forum) so we can be notified of status changes of an offender and the facility in which they are serving.
If you suspect you are reading any sarcasm in my posting, you are correct. I'm sure it's dripping of sarcasm. After all these years, after all the prayers and soul searching, after all the years of looking for answers--there is still anger and questions. Most of the time I am good. Most of the time I do not consider myself a victim or a family member of a victim. Most of the time I miss my mom and I wonder what life would have been like if she wasn't at the wrong place at the wrong time that night. I suspect my dad wouldn't have remarried and given me two more sisters and a brother before he died of cancer 1988. Most of the time I wonder how proud she would be of what I've done with my life and how proud she would be of her grandson---but sometimes, just sometimes like times when I open my email program to find not one, but two emails from the Indiana Department of Correctional Services notifying me that Jones has again applied for Clemency and has been moved to a lower security facility, the anger surfaces and the questions come. This time, when I read the emails and the questions came, I decided to go online to see if there was any additional information on Jones and the murders. I found very little, but I did stumble upon this forum and the one small post about Mr. Crum. This prompted me to add my post and share with you my thoughts.
To Mr. Seachrest, yes the title of this folder is a tad bit sensational, but I want to assure you that it is nothing out of line. The crimes and the circumstances mentioned in this forum are sensational---In today's society, it is nothing to log onto your favorite news website, turn on the TV or even possibly pick up the local paper to read headlines far more sensational than this, but in 1975, a crime like this was rarely heard of especially in a small town like Columbus, Indiana. My only hope for anyone who reads my post remembers that behind the sensational stories and headlines are people and families who's lives have been forever impacted and changed.
To anyone else who reads my post, thank you for providing me the means to share my thoughts and to provide answers this time rather than spend my energy asking questions. It is a beautiful autumn day in north Florida. I can hear my wonderful husband from the other room guiding my son as they are working on my son's science project as I close this post. I am fortunate, healthy and truly blessed. Today, I will dedicate it to my beautiful mother, Tybith Anne Greathouse Campbell who I miss and love beyond words.
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Post by David Sechrest on Oct 19, 2010 6:19:28 GMT -5
amb, I read your extremely moving post. I am terribly sorry for your loss.
Thank you for enlightening me. I can't imagine the pain, the heartache, and what you've had to endure...
My prayers are with you and your family.
By any chance, are you related to the Greathouse family that lived in Rosstown? Not too far from where the general store was?
Sunday was a pretty day here as well. There is a beautiful Maple tree the color of autumn dusk across the street from where I live. It peaked in color last week. I love this time of year in Indiana.
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amb
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Posts: 4
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Post by amb on Oct 19, 2010 9:32:47 GMT -5
Mr. Sechrest,
I appreciate your note back and your prayers. They are most appreciated. You know, I should have added to my original post that part of the reason I wrote it was to educate people on our judicial and correctional process in Indiana. I pray that no one else ever has to learn what we have, but I want residents of Indiana to speak up and change the process. It is bad enough to endure what we have endured, but it is another to continue it again and again. My belief is that if someone commits a crime, is tried and found guity the sentence imposed upon them is the consequence they receive for their actions. I believe they give up "rights" when they commit the crime. I also believe that the consequence should be severe enough to possibly deter someone from committing the crime in the first place.
In trying to eliminate people from being falsely imprisoned, I do not believe our Forefathers of the US (or Indiana) intended to provide the loop-holes our judicial system has created for the guilty.
I apologize that I do not know where Rosstown is or if I am related the Greathouse family of that area. I can tell you that my Greathouse family is from down around Brownstown/Freetown. My grand-father was Richard "Dick" Greathouse and my great-grandfather was Zephy Greathouse. Most of my family has remained geographically near their roots and only a few of us have ventured away. Is this the same family in which you're asking?
Best Regards,
Amberly
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jtekulve
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Posts: 8
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Post by jtekulve on Oct 19, 2010 20:24:08 GMT -5
we have something in common, thanks for the additional information on the shootings, I had no idea.... I will forward this to the rest of the Crum Family as well....
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tammym9
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Posts: 2
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Post by tammym9 on Oct 20, 2010 11:49:52 GMT -5
I am the daughter of Leslie maurice Crum.HE was taken away from us on nov9th 1975.and i get emails from savin also.how could Robert P jones get sent to a diffenent place he took the lives of 3 innocent people. we all suffer everyday with the loss.
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tammym9
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Posts: 2
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Post by tammym9 on Oct 20, 2010 11:53:29 GMT -5
i would like the daughter of Tybith campbell to contact me.I know how you feel.I feel the same way.
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inpr
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Posts: 1
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Post by inpr on Oct 20, 2010 19:38:20 GMT -5
I am trying to research a murder that happened at a house on 700 N. in 1963. I do not know the names of the people involved or the exact date. The story I was told was a woman came home and found her husband having a affair and shot him to death. I was curious if anyone may remember the event to help reduce some of the research. ANy help would be greatly appreciated.
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amb
HCI Forum Board Member
Posts: 4
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Post by amb on Nov 9, 2010 0:16:50 GMT -5
Tammy, In researching information about Jones, I discovered that he was moved from michigan city back in january of this year. However, we were just recently notified. I also found out that he spent a few months there back in 2008. We were never notified of that transfer. They were reluctant to share too much information, trying to protect his rights--go figure--but what i got out of the conversations is that he was moved to the new location because it has a full hospital and he is in need of medical care. That lead me to ask if he was dying and of course they couldn't/wouldn't give me an answer. When I questioned them about him applying for clemency this year, they said he had not applied yet. They were not expecting him to, but if he did, it would be another 5 years before he could apply again. My hope and prayers are that he is too sick and knows that if he gets out, he would have no way to pay for medical care, housing, etc......as it stands right now, he has it made. My taxes, your taxes and all the decent people who work and pay their taxes feed him, clothe him, provide shelter and now we are paying for this medical bills.
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amb
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Posts: 4
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Post by amb on Jun 8, 2011 23:48:59 GMT -5
One last and final post---I was notified by the DOC this week that John P. Jones died on June 1, 2011 while in jail. That chapter is closed. Rest in peace, Mother, Tybith Greathouse Campbell.
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guy42
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Posts: 1
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Post by guy42 on Nov 27, 2012 22:55:16 GMT -5
does anyone remember the Toni Spaugh Murder back in the 80's
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ajspicer
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Posts: 5
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Post by ajspicer on Feb 9, 2013 8:36:16 GMT -5
Yes I do remember the Toni Spaugh Murder. I was wondering what ever happened to her killer ?
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mshduke
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Posts: 1
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Post by mshduke on Feb 28, 2014 14:40:56 GMT -5
I worked in and around the LEB for almost 20 years and was sorry to see it come down. I actually have the L, E, and B from the front of the building. Although I was never in the Jail that preceeded the LEB, I still have vague memories of the building. As far as the LEB goes, it seems the figures given in the article from "The Evening Republican" were slightly off. There was the bullpen on 3rd floor that had 6 4man cells, 5 2 man cells and a 1 man padded cell for a total 3rd floor capacity of 35. On the 2nd floor was the bullpen that held 4 persons and 3 2 person cells for a total of 10. That is 45 by my count and the tank in the basement could hold a bunch. One night I had over 75 locked up in the tank alone. When I started in 1976 at the jail there was no female drunk tank and the padded cell was used strictly for the trustee(s) to sleep in. One cell on the 2nd floor was used solely as a property room. We actually housed juveniles on the 3rd floor in the seperate security cells on the east side, away from the bullpen and around the corner from the Security cells.
For the longest time, the old Jail docket books were kept on the 2nd floor, some dating back to the mid 1800's with names of prisoners and what they were in for and how long they were held. These were eventually moved to the 4th floor of the Courthouse. The last I saw of them was in the late 1990's and they have since disappeared. They were fascinating reading.
I am pretty certain the old jail (SE corner of the Courthouse Square) came down prior to 1969. I remember going to visit my uncle who was a Jailer under Charlie Nolting in the mid 60's with my father and don't recall the old building still being there.
For those of you who might be interested, on the web page of Bartholomew County you can go to the Sheriff's Department page, there you will find a short history of the department with several photos and a list of all the men who have served as Sheriff and the dates they served. There are also a few facts about capital crimes (unfortunately, not the ones asked about her).
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