A Civil War Murder ~ Fairbanks, IN - Infamous Crime Scenes on Waymarking.com

County of crime: Sullivan County
Location of crime: IN-63 (Main St.) & North St., Fairbanks
Marker erected by: Indiana Historical Bureau and Sullivan County Historical Society
Marker erected: 1992

Marker text:

A CIVIL WAR MURDER
----- * * * ----- Numerous violent conflicts erupted in Sullivan County during the Civil War over differing war sentiments. On July 14, 1864, anti-war Democrat John Drake was fatally shot at a community picnic near here. The Union soldier who shot Drake was apparently never prosecuted.

John Drake's grave site as listed on Find-A-Grave

A couple of errors are on the marker. It should read:
"Numerous violent conflicts erupted in Sullivan County during the Civil War over differing war sentiments. On July 12, 1864, anti-war Democrat John Drake was fatally shot at a community picnic near here. The Union soldier who shot Drake was Sergeant Jasper "Jap" Brown. He was found "Not Guilty" and acquitted of all charges, by a Military Court Martial hearing at Indianapolis, September 1864."

"Sergeant Jasper "Jap" Brown was transferred to Company C 43rd Ind Vol. Inf, at Indianapolis in October of 1864. On Monday January 30th, 1865 he was mortally wounded with a Bowie knife stab to the right side of his chest, while at a "House of Ill-fame", that of a Jerry Wright on Davidson Street, Indianapolis, Indiana. Brown died of his wound on February 17th, 1865 while at the City General Hospital, Indianapolis. Two men were implicated in Brown's death, John A. Downey, alias "Buffalo Jack" was held on $3,000 bail, but subsequently acquitted of murder charges at trial on May 17, 1865. His companion, Richard Cooper was initially charged with attempted murder upon arrest, however charges were dismissed for lack of witnesses and evidence." ~ Jon Tyler Conner on Find-A-Grave

"Numerous violent conflicts erupted in Sullivan County during the American Civil War over differing war sentiments. On July 14, 1864, anti-war Democrat John Drake was fatally shot at a community picnic near here." ~ Wikipedia

Jasper Brown's grave site listing on Find-A-Grave

Date of crime: 07/14/1864 Public access allowed: yes Fee required: no Web site: Not listed

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