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1857
Allen, (girl) Allen
Source: Spirit
of Democracy November
4, 1857
Atrocious Murder!!! -- Brutal Outrage Perpetrator -- The
Villains Still At Large
Raise a Reward for Their apprehension!!!
We are
called upon to chronicle the most revolting and brutal murder ever perpetrated
in this part of the country. The
circumstances, as near as we have been able to learn them were about as
follows:
A girl
named ALLEN, aged 17 or 18 years, living in Salem township, about 3 miles from
the river, left home to go to a neighbors house where
she was employed to work. This was on
Sunday the 18th of October, and nothing more was heard of her until
last Wednesday, when her body was found:
the neighbor for whom she was going to work supposing that she was
detained at home, and the family supposing she was at the neighbors, nothing
wrong was suspected by any one.
The body
was accidentally discovered by a lad who was crossing the field where it
lay. He ran and alarmed the neighbors
who hurried to the spot. From the
indications it is supposed that a brutal outrage was perpetrated up the person
previous to the murder.
The killing
was done by stroke or strokes on the head with a stone.
It is said
that some clue has been obtained to the perpetrations, though at the present
writing no arrests have been made.
The
relatives of the murdered girl are poor and unable to pay a large reward. Let some one get up
by subscription a reward sufficient to incite the utmost exertions far and
near, for the detection and punishment of the murderers. No man will refuse to contribute for such an
object.
Since
writing the above we have seen the verdict of the Coroner’s Jury. It is as follows:
“After
having heard the evidence and examined the body of the deceased, we do find,
that the deceased came to her death by violence; and that said body has upon it
the following marks and wounds,
inflicted by some person or persons to the jury unknown, and which
wounds the jury do find caused the immediate death of the deceased, to wit:
five mortal wounds inflicted on the head, either of which in our opinion was
sufficient to cause instant death; and also four smaller wounds __ severe
inflicted on the head; all of which, in our opinion, were inflicted with a
sharp stone weighing about 6 so pounds,
and which stone we have in our possession; that is, five wounds on the left
side of the head and four wounds on the right side of the head -- one wound being
3 inches long, one 2 ˝ inches long, three 2 inches long, one 1 ˝ inches long,
and three ˝ inch long, fracturing and splitting the skull bone from the left
ear over the head to the right ear, and thence to the corner of the right
eye. Said fracture was open ˝ of an
inch. Also another
fracture from the left ear running towards the back part of the head; also a
bruise above the left eye. Said
body when found was lying in a small run, with the face down and is supposed to
have been thrown in by the perpetrator or perpetrators of the crime and has
been there since the 18th of October, when she was last seen near
the place where the body was found.”
Allen, Isophene Allen #2
Source: Spirit
of Democracy November
11, 1857
The Sunfish Tragedy -- Commitment of Swayne and Morrison
Arrest of Foreman -- The Mystery Deepens
Two young
men named Thomas Morrison and William Swayne were arrested last week and
underwent and examination before Esquire Morrill for the murder of Miss
ISOPHENE ALLEN. These men are plasterers
by trade and are from
We had
prepared ourselves with pretty full reports of the evidence, but it amounts to
so little that we publish only a brief summary of it.
Two men
were seen about a mile or a mile and a half from Sunfish going in the direction
of the place where the body was found about 4 o’clock of the day when the foul
deed was committed. The witnesses four
or five in number, state that they believe Swane and
Morrison to be the persons they saw.
Foreman swears that he saw two men standing under a chestnut tree a few
hundred yards from where the body was found.
As one offsetto [sic] this, one witness swears that she saw the
men passing up the run, was not far from them, that she would have known
Morrison if he had been one of them. In
addition to this, both the accused can account for every half hour of the day,
when the deed was done, and prove that they were at other places during the
whole day, with the exception of a very little time -- too little, it is generaly [sic] believed, for them to have committed
the act.
They have,
however, been committed for trial and before our paper goes to press will
probably be in jail. But the evidence,
though possibly sufficient to justify commitment, is very far from being
sufficient to convict them.
We learn
that Foreman, on or near whose place the body was found, has been arrested,
though not yet taken into custody. The
evidence against him, we are informed is founded chiefly on the testimony of a
girl who is living with him. She saw him
coming out of the field in which the body was found, which conflicts with his
testimony. Their testimony disagreed in
several other particulars. It was
further proved that he was suspected of improper intimacy (not criminal we
believe) with the deceased for some time previous.
Taking the
examination of the witnesses and all the developments, notwithstanding the
vigilance and energetic efforts of the Prosecuting Attorney and others, the
mystery deepened instead of being solved.
The most that can be said for the investigation is that it has excited
suspicion. -- Almost
every body in the neighborhood has been examined and
all manner of questions asked that could possibly lead to a trace of the murderers,
but nothing important has beed [sic] elicited.
Unless some
new train of circumstances can be developed some new track discovered, the most
foul and villainous murder ever perpetrated in this country most remain a
mystery until made known on the Judgement Day.
Source: Spirit of Democracy November 18, 1857
Sunfish Murder
We have
heard of no new developments in regard to the Sunfish Murder. Foreman has not yet had his preliminary
examination. His breath is improving so
that the trial may be expected soon.
Source: Spirit of Democracy December 23, 1857
Two additional lengthy
articles regarding murder of Isophene Allen.
Source: Spirit of Democracy December 30, 1857
The Spirit of Democracy covered the murder trial and
reported the proceedings in lengthy article of their December 30, 1857 issue.
Baker, Martin Baker
Source: Spirit of Democracy April 29, 1857
Died - On the 27th inst
MARTIN BAKER, an old and respectable citizen of this county, aged about 75
years.
Bearkey, John Bearkey
Source: Spirit
of Democracy August
19, 1857
Fatal Accident --
Mr. Editor:
-- An accident
occurred in this neighborhood on Wednesday, the 5th inst., the
details of which are of the most shocking and heartrending character,
terminating in the death of JOHN BEARKEY, a native of
The
circumstances of the carcass ascertained by the writer,
were as follows:
Mr. Bearkey had some fifty dollars or upwards in a chest or
drawer in his house, and being absent on Tuesday, some person during his
absence had entered the house, broken open the chest and extracted the money,
which he discovered on Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning. The old gentleman at once suspiciosed
[sic] his own son as the perpetrator of the theft, and instantly mounted his
horse and started in haste for Clarington, supposing he would probably
intercept him there before getting aboard of a boat. On the road between his residence and
Clarington, he was found in an insensible state, mortally injured, and never
uttered a word to his death, which took place on Thursday night. It is supposed from appearances, that his
horse frightened while under headway and he was thrown from his saddle and
reduced to the state in which he was found.
The horse was a short distance from him with the saddle turned from its
proper place. Medical aid was procured,
but to no effect.
The young
man, on whom suspicion rests, is about eighteen years of age, of a very
profligate character, and doubtless is rightly accused. He has since been seen passing down the
river. It is to be regretted that his
non-age puts him in such a state of duress, that he is
beyond the power of the law, and cannot be made to suffer at the bar of
justice, for a commission of a crime which at once makes him a felon, and
virtually the murderer of his father.
I regret
exceedingly the necessity of presenting the details of this catastrophe before
the public, and beg the pardon of those of his relatives whose feelings may be
wounded by the painful repetition of the events.
To the
young man, however, (if he is guilty,) this should be an awful warning, he will
now escape, unscathed, from the commission of a deed, which if he had committed
on any other person on earth, would have made him a candidate for a long and
solitary confinement in the Penentiary [sic] of the
State. The reflection that he stands
before the world as the murderer of his aged parent, should be sufficient to
change his course of life if he has a single vesaige
[sic] of human feelings in his depraved heart.
Yours, B. Powell
Source: Spirit
of Democracy August
26, 1857
Clarington, O., Aug 21st 1857
Mr. Editor:- In a recent number of the “Spirit” there is
an account given of one SAMUEL BEARGY, in connection with his father’s death.
On
yesterday David Hyssom, in company with his brother,
James Hyssom, came to our place in pursuit of some one, as they said, who had stolen a horse from the
former, the night previous. They were
walking and had heard of him frequently along the road where he had stopped
endeavoring to sell the horse. At John Muhleman’s Esq, he had harness
put on the horse, and tried whether he would work. Learning that he was but little in advance,
James H. Ray and Martin Troy started in persuit [sic]
of him, and near the foot if Fish Creek Island over took him. Mr. Ray being somewhat in advance rode up along side of him, took the horse by the bridle and the man
by the shoulder. There upon something of
an encounter ensued, in which the latter (as Mr. Ray did not design injuring
him) was likely to prove too much for him, but by using the necessary force he
was captured. Mr. Troy coming up in the mean time, they brought him back to Clarington, and to day has had an examination
before me, and in default of bail was committed to jail.
But who
should it turn out to be but the aforesaid Samuel Beargy!
Jacob T. Morrill
Bonham, Nathan Borham
Source: Spirit
of Democracy September
2, 1857
Died -- On the 26th
ult., at the Infirmary, NATHAN BORHAM, aged 74 years.
Boughner, Katharine Boughner
Source: Spirit
of Democracy July
22, 1857
Died -- On the 15th inst., in
Brooks, Abigail Brooks
Source: Spirit
of Democracy October
21, 1857
Died -- On the 12th inst., in this
place Mrs. ABIGAIL BROOKS, wife of Wm. Brooks, aged about 33 years.
Brown, Nancy Brown
Source: Spirit of Democracy May 27, 1857
Died -- On the 13th
inst., at her residence in Clarington, this county, NANCY BROWN, wife of John
G. Brown.
Bruner, Charles Bruner
Source: Spirit
of Democracy November
4, 1857
Fatal Accident -- CHARLES BRUNER, a German coverlet
weaver, was killed almost instantly, in Miltonsburg, on last Wednesday. A number of persons were engaged in raising a
stable, and he had ascended one of the posts to adjust a tenant, when the bent
upon which he was standing fell to the ground.
It was a two story building and he was half way to the top. As the bent neared the ground he sprang off,
but the plate above the ground he sprang off, but the plate above struck him in
the back crushing him to the earth. He
was carried to a house and laid on a bed.
He spoke but a few words after the occurrence, and died in about an hour
and a half. He had no relations in this
part of the country except a little son.
His wife we have understood is in the lunatic assylum
[sic].
Clegg, Mary Jane Clegg
Source: Spirit of Democracy April 15, 1857
Died - On the 4th inst., of putrid sore
throat, MARY JANE, daughter of Richard and Mary CLEGG, aged 9 years and 6
months lacking 4 days.
Clegg, Rachel Clegg
Source: Spirit of Democracy April 29, 1857
Died - On the 21st inst
of putrid sore throat, RACHEL, daughter of Richard and Mary CLEGG, aged 12
years 5 months and 13 days.
“Pre-eminance in early bloom was shown,
And
loved, perhaps, for earth too much,
Heaven
saw and marked her for its own.”
Davenport, Francis Davenport
Source: Spirit of Democracy May 27, 1857
Died -- On the 18th
inst., at his residence in Clarington, this county, Mr. FRANCIS DAVENPORT.
Davenport, Lauretta Randolph
Davenport
Source: Spirit of Democracy June 17, 1857
Died -- On the 14th inst., in this
place, Mrs. LAURETTA RANDOLPH DAVENPORT, aged 28 years.
In the
death of Mrs. Davenport society has lost one of its most esteemed members; a
large circle of relatives has lost one of the most beloved of the number, a
husband has lost a cherished and devoted wife; and three children, too small to
appreciate their bereavement, have lost a mother. Let the bitterness of their sorrow be
tempered by the reflection that “they mourn not as those who have no
hope.” From the
Davis, Benjamin Davis
Source: Spirit of Democracy June 17, 1857
Painful Accident --
Two men by the name of BENJAMIN DAVIS and George Woodford while engaged
in weatherboarding the end of a frame building in Enoch township last week,
were precipitated from near the top, (the scaffolding upon which they stood
giving way) to the ground a distance of some 25 feet. Mr. Davis died in one hour after the accident
and Mr. Woodford was seriously but not dangerously hurt. Mr. Davis leaves a wife who we are told had
heard of the accident and had made an effort to go and see him, but reciving [sic] intelligence on the road of the death of her
husband was so effected, that her friends had to
return with her to her own desolate home. -- Noble Co. Republican.
Dougherty, Daniel Dougherty
Source: Spirit of Democracy May 20, 1857
Died -- On the 27th of April, 1857, of
consumption, at his residence in
The
deceased leaves a family and a large circle of friends to mourn his departure.
Drake, Dr. Drake
Source: Spirit of Democracy July 8, 1857
Melancholy Accident -- One Man Killed and Another
Wounded.
We are informed that in attempting to fire a salute at
Gillett, Mary Gillett
Source: Spirit of Democracy July 1, 1857
Died - At the residence of her son-in-law, Mr. Isaac
Phillips, in Perry township, on the 9th ult;
MARY GILLETT, aged 86 years.
Griffith, Rebecca Griffith
Source: Spirit of
Democracy December
30, 1857
Died -- At the residence of her son, Geo. W. Griffith,
in Sunsbury township,
She was
born in Cecil county,
, as she died alone in her
chamber. On the evening preceding her death she
retired in usual health; and in the morning was found lifeless on the floor
near her bed; but doubtless her faith, so strong in life, was stronger in
death; and although, in her final conflict no earthly friend stood near, to
utter cheering words and smooth her dying pillow; yet surely Christ was with
her as she passed through the “dark valley,” and if her notes of “victory in
death through our Lord Jesus Christ,” were unheard by earthly friends, they
were heard by friends in Heaven; when her ransomed spirit dropped from angel’s
wings before the throne of God, took up her golden harp and sang the first
strain of that immortal song of saints.
“Worthy is the Lamb that died, for he was slain for us.” J.W.A.
Hart, Emily Catharine Hart
Source: Spirit of Democracy June 10, 1857
Died -- On the morning of the 18th ult.,
EMILY CATHARINE, youngest daughter of Margaret and Thomas HART, Esq., of Adams
township,
The
deceased was a pious and highly respected girl amongst her numerous
acquaintances, and had united herself with the people of God for over a year,
the rose tint of youth yet bloomed over her cheek -- aged 22 years -- and
perfectly reconciled to the will of her Redeemer, amidst numerous ardent and
prayerful friends, she went to sleep in His arms; her soul took its flight to
God who gave it; and her physical organization set out on a journey to that
bourn from whence no traveler returns.
Thou art gone to the grave, and we no longer deplore
thee,
Nor tread the rough path of the world by thy side;
But the wide arms of mercy are spread to enfold thee
And this is our hope since the Saviour
[sic] has died. R. M. A.
Huffman,
Source: Spirit of Democracy March 25, 1857
Still
Another Suicide --
There appears to be a minia [sic] in
this county for committing suicide, at present.
We have already noticed two, and now follows
the third:
CASPER
HUFFMAN, of
Hullihen, Dr. S. P. Hullihen
Source: Spirit of Democracy April 1, 1857
Death of Dr. Hullihen -- DR. S. P.
HULLIHEN, the celebrated surgeon died at his residence in
Sanford, Judge Sanford
Source: Spirit of Democracy April 1, 1857
SAMUEL McGARRY, Esq., has
been appointed Probate Judge of Noble county, to fill
the vacancy caused by the death of Judge Sanford.
Jones, John Jones
Source: Spirit of Democracy December 9, 1857
Died -- At the Infirmary, on the 6th inst.,
Mr. JOHN JONES, of
Jones, Mary Jones
Source: Spirit of Democracy December 9, 1857
Died -- On the 14th ult., at her
Grandsons, in
Jordau,
Source: Spirit of Democracy July 1, 1857
Died - On the 28th ult.,
Kettle, Christopher Kettle
Source: Spirit of Democracy June 17, 1857
Still Another - Near the same place on the 5th
inst., the body of a man named CHRISTOPHER KETTLE was found suspended by a cord
from a rafter of his stable. He was
found by his son’s wife who went to the place to milk. The deceased lately came from
Landers, Samuel Landers
Source: Spirit
of Democracy December
9, 1857
Fatal Accident in a Coal Mine
On Friday last as Mr. SAMUEL LANDERS was engaged in getting coal
from the bank of Israel Lentz, in Perry township, a portion of the rock
above fell upon his head breaking his skull near the temple. He died instantly. His residence was in the north-east part of
Linn, Mary Linn
Source: Spirit of Democracy December 9, 1857
Died: November 5th, 1857, Mrs. MARY LINN,
consort of Mr. Levi Linn, late of
Mrs. Linn was
the daughter of Mr. Simon and Lydia Drum of Monroe Co.,
from all human appearance, peace
and composure of mind, in reference to her future change. She left
McCoy, Gilbert McCoy
Source: Spirit of Democracy June 3, 1857
Died - May 19th, 1857, at his residence in
The
deceased was one of the first settlers on Sunfish creek, about 40 years
ago. He left a large circle of friends
and relation to mourn his loss.
Mitchell, Ezra Mitchell
Source: Spirit of Democracy March 25, 1857
Died on the
15th inst., at his residence in Green township,
Mr. EZRA MITCHELL, aged about 49 years.
Moore, (Old Man) Moore #2
Source: Spirit
of Democracy December
30, 1857
The Fish Creek Murder -- Acquital
[sic] of Baker
The preliminary examination of Henry Baker and Isaac
Powell for the murder of the old man Moore, on Fish creek, was concluded Monday
evening at Moundsville and resulted in the discharge of Baker, nothing having
been elicted [sic] to warrant the court in holding
him for trial. Powell was sent to the
Circuit Court for a further hearing.
Moore, Mr. Moore
Pfiester, Thomas Pfiester
Source: Spirit
of Democracy December 30, 1857
Another Murder -- All the murders that are committed in
this region of country do not occur in this county. The murder, recently, of a MR. MOORE, in
Marshall Co.,
In the
The Argus
says:
“The
deceased had gone on a hunting excursion with his friend Aug. Wagener, and
after passing a tavern kept by a man named Buzert,
came upon a huckster’s wagon at the roadside, when Wagener picked up a
horse-cover or blanket which was upon the ground and placed it upon one of the
animals, and the two passed along the road about one-fourth of a mile until
they were accosted by a farmer who insisted upon their return to the
wagon. Pfiester
and Wagener urged that they had done nothing beyond a friendly act, in
replacing the blanket and disclaimed any interference with the wagon or its
contents, and insisted upon a meeting with the owner, who presently came up,
and a short dispute led to blows, in which the farmer struck Priester upon the right side of his head with a club, and
the other party advancing upon Wagener, his resistance turned the scale of
power. The entire party then returned to
the tavern where Pfiester’s wound was dressed.-- Wagener after
repeated solicitation was induced to leave after an assurance that Pfiester would be taken to the house of a brother-in-law,
some three miles beyond. It is supposed,
that after Wagener left, the parties who had followed them to the tavern had
again pitched upon Thomas, who was finally removed to the residence of his
brother-in-law, where he died yesterday.
The
murderers, Treehouse and Nulty,
have been arrested and taken to Grave Creek.
Morris, Ann Eliza Morris
Source: Spirit
of Democracy October
7, 1857
Died -- On the morning of the 5th ult., ANN
ELIZA, daughter of James R. Morris of this place, aged 5 years and 2 months. A
verse is included but is unreadable.
Myers, ______ Myers
Source: Spirit of Democracy June 17, 1857
The Grand Jury, during the present term of court,
found nine bills of indictment: One
against James Shook for permitting gaming in his house, and two against the
same for selling intoxicating liquors contrary to law. It was at the house of this Shook the MYERS
was killed by
All the
remainder of the indictments, except one for assault and battery, were found under the liquors law.
Myers, ______ Myers
Source: Spirit of Democracy June 24, 1857
The Sentence of
The term of
service is a little longer than was generally expected, but, perhaps, not
longer than was merited. It is hoped that
by the time his term expires he will be a better man, and that the warning may
have a sanitary effect on others in the neighborhood where the crime was
committed.
The Spirit of Democracy covered the murder trial and
reported the proceedings in one full page of their June 17 ,
1857 issue.
Myers, Jacob Myers
Source: Spirit of Democracy March 25, 1857
The Murder
Case -- The
grand jury found a true bill for murder in the first degree against James
Henderson, for killing JACOB MYERS. The
trial is set for the June term of Court.
Myers, John Myers
Source: Spirit of Democracy March 18, 1857
Died on the
9th inst., at his residence in New-castle, Green township,
Myers, William Myers jr.
Source: Spirit of Democracy December 16, 1857
Died -- December 1st, in Green township, this county, WILLIAM MYERS jr.,
aged 27 years and 1 month.
Neuhard, William Friedrich Neuhard
William Friedrich Neuhard
died December 13, 1857. He was born January 2, 1852, the son of Lorenz and Elisabetha Haas Neuhard.
Okey, Julia A. Okey
Source: Spirit of Democracy August 26, 1857
Died -- On the 17th inst., in this
place, JULIA A., wife of Wm. C. OKEY, Esq., aged 23 years, 4 months and 7
days. Her disease was Consumption and Scofula. [sic]
Mrs. Okey was a member of the Christian Church, a kind wife and
an affectionate mother. Her daily walk
and conversation being marked by those heavenly attributes - truth, charity,
love - she was highly esteemed by this community, in which she has resided for
the past 6 years; and will be sadly missed by the social circle to which she
was a bright ornament. A sorrow stricken
husband and a sweet little daughter is left to mourn over the remains of her
whom they loved so dearly, and who answered to the endearing names of wife and
mother. ---
Okey, Suphronia
Elizabeth Okey
Source: Spirit
of Democracy December
30, 1857
Died -- On Thursday morning,
the 24th inst., SUPHRONIA ELIZABETH, only daughter of Arthur and
Nancy OKEY, of this place, aged three years and three months.
Patterson, Thomas Patterson
Source: Spirit of Democracy March 18, 1857
Died on the 4th inst., at the residence of P. Koehler,
Mr. THOMAS PATTERSON, aged 70 years.
Pennington, Miller Pennington Esq.
Source: Spirit of Democracy July 1, 1857
MILLER PENNINGTON, ESQ. died on Monday evening last,
at his residence in this place. He
leaves an amiable wife and a large circle of relatives, to mourn the loss of a
young, active and zealous member of their family.
Mr. P. had
been for several years very extensively engaged in the practice of law, and
accomplished a great amount of business, to the sacrifice of his health. He had accumulated considerable wealth, and
recently purchased the former residence of Gov. Shannon, and fitted it up in
handsome style.
And when,
we may say, just as he began to live, he was called hence, by the Great Giver
of all good, to enjoy, as we trust, a more peaceful existence. Mourn not for the dead, for soon we will all
be called upon to pass that “bourne [sic] from whence
no travelers return.
Phillips, R. S. Phillips
Source: Spirit of Democracy May 27, 1857
Died -- On the 28th ult., at
Powkll, Hiram H. Powkll
Source: Spirit of Democracy April 1, 1857
Died - On the 16th inst., Mr. HIRAM H.
POWKLL, of
The
deceased left a wife and nine children and seven grand
children to mourn his departure.
Pratt, Parley Parker Pratt
Source: Spirit of Democracy June 3, 1857
Elder Pratt, The Mormon, Shot
It is with
regret that we have to chonicle [sic] the homicide
committed in our vicinity on Wednesday last, by Mr. Hector H. McLean, late of
She was at
that time living with he [sic] husband, Hector H. McLean; they were happy and
prosperous until she made the acquaintance of Pratt, and embraced the Mormon
faith. She is the mother of three
children by McLean, two boys and a girl, and seems to be an intelligent and
interesting lady; converses fluently, and with more grace and ease than most
ladies. About two years ago, and soon after she became a convert to Mormonism, she
made an attempt to abduct two of her children to
After the
elopement of Mrs. McLean, her parents, who reside near
They then
wrote to McLean in
On arriving
at Fort Gibson, and while there, he found letters to the post office to his
wife from Pratt, some of which were mailed at St. Louis, and others at Flint
Post office, Cherokee Nation. We are
unable to give the contents of these letters with particularity; but they
contained the fact that McLean was on the look-out for her and the children,
and that they were betrayed by the apostales [sic] and
Gentiles, and advising her to be cautious in her movements, and not to let
herself be known only to a few of the saints and elders.
Pratt, as
soon as released, mounted his horse and left the city.
Probish, Mr. J. G. Probish
Source: Spirit
of Democracy August
5, 1857
Died -- On the 3d inst., at the Infirmary, Mr.
J. G. PROBISH, in a fit of apoplexy.
Riggs, Ross Riggs
Riggs, Charles Riggs
Source: Spirit
of Democracy September
2, 1857
Killed by Lightning -- Two lads named ROSS and CHARLES RIGGS,
sons of Sylvester Riggs, of
Ruggles, Hon. Benjamin Ruggles
Source: Spirit
of Democracy September
23, 1857
From the St. Clairsville Gazette -- Death of Hon. Benjamin Ruggles
The funeral of Hon. BENJ. RUGGLES took place on Friday last,
at 1 o’clock A.M. He was buried with
Masonic honors by the Brethren of Belmont Lodge No. 16, of which he was one of
the charter members -- the charter bearing the signature of Lewis Cass, Grand
Master. The Masonic funeral services
were conducted by Rev. Wilson, of
Our
business houses were closed, and the people turned out en masse to follow his
remains to their last resting place.
A friend
has furnished as the following brief biography:
BENJAMIN
RUGGLES was born in
For the
West: not for any particular locality
therein, but the West in generally; and on horseback, for there were no
Railroads in those days, not even lines of stages, and the traveler hither
provided his own means of conveyance.
The first point of his landing in
In the year
1810, he was elected President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the Third
Circuit, extending from St. Clairsville to
Sanford, D. F. Sanford
Source: Spirit of Democracy March 18, 1857
Died at Sarahsville; Noble County, Ohio, on Sunday the 8th
inst., after a lingering illness of bilious fever, D. F. SANFORD, Probate Judge
of that County, aged 44 years.
Scott, Benj. P. Scott
Source: Spirit of Democracy May 6, 1857
Jonas and Phillip Foats have
been sentenced to be hanged on the 27th of June, at McConnellsville, Morgan county,
Slaters, Thomas Slaters
Source: Spirit of Democracy June 17, 1857
More Suicides -- A friend sends us an account of the suicide
noticed by us last week, as occurring at Matamoras. The name of the deceased was THOMAS
SLATERS. He was about twenty-five years
old. The body was found hanging in the
garret of the house where he was boarding.
Cause not known.
South, Thomas South
Source: Spirit
of Democracy August
12, 1857
Died -- In
Mr. South
was the father of the well known and excentric [sic] Anthony South.
Sprague, (unknown) Sprague
Sprague, (wife) Sprague
Source: Spirit of Democracy April 1, 1857
Singular Death -- A man by the name of SPRAGUE died a
short time since, in this county, near
Tappan, Hon. Benj. Tappan
Source: Spirit of Democracy April 29, 1857
Death of HON. BENJ. TAPPAN -- Judge Tappan died in
Thomas, Elizabeth Thomas
Source: Spirit
of Democracy September
23, 1857
Died -- In
Unknown Man
Source: Spirit of Democracy June 10, 1857
Suicide - We learned
yesterday that a man whose name the informant could not remember, committed
suicide at Matamoras, on Wednesday afternoon by hanging himself. He was buried at Sistersville yesterday
morning. -- Wheeling
Argus
Unknown Pauper
Source: Spirit of Democracy June 10, 1857
A pauper died at the Infirmary on Sunday, aged over
one hundred years. So it is said.
White, Samuel H. White
Source: Spirit of Democracy April 15, 1857
[From the
Although a
week has elapsed since SAMUEL H. WHITE was brutally murdered in bed in his
residence near the borough of
The
Washington Examiner of the 4th inst
contains full particulars of the tragedy and a diagram of the house and
premises. The editor thus describes the
appearance of the room, as he entered it about ten o’clock Monday morning, some
seven hours after the murder:
“The face
and head was covered with clotted blood; the gore was dry and hard -- not a
feature of the face could be discerned.
The pillow and bolster on which the head rested were saturated with
blood, and the sheet contained a perfect pool of it, extending from the neck of
the deceased to the middle of the body.
Blood was all around. The
head-board and the upper post of the bed -- the ceiling above the bed -- the
wall at the head of the bed -- the window at the side of the bed -- and even
the wall six feet from the bed, were red with blood.”
The
appearance of the desk in which were the secret drawers used by Mr. White for
keeping his money, is thus described by the Examiner:
“The door
that inclosed [sic] those drawers was found to have
been pried off its hinges, and the drawers bore the marks of having been
rummaged. The lower and larger drawers
of this desk, in which clothing was kept, had evidently been examined by the
robbers and murderers, as their contents were displaced. There were no marks of blood on the desk,
which, in our opinion, goes to show that there were two persons engaged in the
murder, for no one could have delt [sic] the blows
without getting very bloody. One must
have done the robbing while the other accomplished the killing.”
The local
press do not breath a word of suspicion against Mrs.
White, although the truth of her testimony is questioned by the Monongahela
Republican, published in the same county.
For want of a more reasonable theory -- or rather in the absence of all
material to form any other --
the police and the public generally hereabouts regard Mrs. White
as the murderess or at least, of knowing who the murderers are. We have carefully read the entire testimony,
and we can see nothing to warrant such a dreadful conclusion. It does not appear that she could have had
any motive for committing the act.
White, Samuel H. White
Source: Spirit of Democracy July 8, 1857
Effect of Grief -- The Pittsburgh Dispatch learns from
Wilson, George Wilson #3
Source: Spirit of Democracy May 27, 1857
The Washington County Murder -- The Washington Examiner, received last night,
says that the District Attorney of that county is cognizant of facts which
point out the perpetrators of this terrible tragedy with almost unerring
certainty.
The confessions of Jones, which was published is the Pittsburg
Dispatch, and afterwards copied into other papers, is pronounced f
fabrication. There is no such person in
Wilson, George Wilson
McMaster, Elizabeth McMaster
Source: Spirit of Democracy May 13, 1857
Horrible Murder -- Late Saturday night we received an
extra slip from the
From what
we could learn, on Friday, it appears that a farmer, a native we believe of
that township, named George Wilson, aged over seventy years, resided in a log
house on “Gamble’s place,” near the river, with his sister, ELIZABETH McMASTER, a very aged widow woman. On Friday morning they were found in the
house brutally murdered -- the man have been stabbed some half-dozen times in
the abdomen and breast, apparently as he was getting out of bed -- the woman
lay on the floor, her skull crushed in with a club or other heavy weapon, and
her brains scattered about the room.
Mr. Wilson
was a respectable man, but known as close and economical in his expenditures,
and was supposed to have had some money -- from six to twelve hundred dollars
-- in the house, which was taken by the robbers.
The first
news of the murder was brought to
These
circumstances and reports, added to her reputation, and her sudden flight,
render it important she should be secured -- especially as it is believed the
murder was committed by the same gang who so recently murdered Mr. Samuel H.
White, in
This
Charlotte Jones has since been arrested, and has implicated other persons.
Later -- It
is now the opinion that Bill Jones & Co., the murderers of George Wilson
and sister, are likewise the murderers of Samuel H. White. Charlotte Jones has made some two or three
confessions, and in her last asseverates emphatically that her brother was the
murderer in both cases. The very latest
item is the following from the Washington (
William
Jones returned home from the neighborhood of
From all
that we have read in the confessions or rather recitals of Charlotte Jones, we
gather that she is a woman of the worst possible character, and a very heavy discount,
is allowable on what she states.
Still later
-- The Pittsburg papers of yesterday furnish us something more about the recent
murders. Two of the party implicated,
Henry Fife and Monroe Stewart, had a hearing before Mayor Weaver. The evidence of a Mr. Wolff, proprietor of
the McKeesport Hotel, corroborated that of Charlotte Jones in almost every
point:
Concerning
the White Murder, we find the following new theory:
Sometime
during the day upon which Mr. White was murdered in his house near Cross Creek,
Washington county, though the fact was not bruited abroad at the time, a man
named Levi Baldwin, of Washington county, was arrested near the residence of
Judge McKeever, about seven or eight miles from
White’s residence, by two gentlemen -- Major Hanna and James Loonts -- having been suspected of having been implicated
in the murder, from several suspicious circumstances at the time.
He was
taken to the town of
We learn
that
The very
latest -- Charlotte Jones, Henry Fife and Monroe Stewart charged with the
murder of the
Wilson, George Wilson
White, Samuel H. White
Source: Spirit of Democracy May 20, 1857
The Murderers in
Very little
has yet transpired in relation to the recent murderers in
Source: Spirit of Democracy July 22, 1857
Conviction of three Murderers
Our readers
are familiar with the horrible murder, committed some months ago near
The
prisoners were immediately remanded into the custody of the Sheriff, and they
left the dock with that seeming unconcern and carelessness which has characterized
their conduct throughout this lengthy and remarkable trial. Every eye was riveted upon them, and all
seemed utterly amazed at their stoical indifference. Fife and Stewart did not move a muscle, while
Thus has ended one the most remarkable and
exciting trials ever conducted in Allegheny County -- and we hope that in all
time to come the people may never be aroused by another such horrible tragedy.
Source: Spirit
of Democracy August
5, 1857
Murderers Sentenced -
Charlotte Jones, Henry Fife and Monroe Stewart,
recently convicted of murder at
Workman, William Workman
Source: Spirit
of Democracy August
12, 1857
Died -- On the 28th ult., WILLIAM,
son of William and Elizabeth WORKMAN, aged 7 years and 6 months.
He was
killed by the upsetting of a sled.
God in
his wisdom has recalled
The
precious boon his love had given,
And
though the casket moulders here
The gem
is sparkling now in Heaven.
St. Clairsville Gazette copy.
Workman, William Workman
Source: Spirit of Democracy August 12, 1857
Melancholy and Fatal Accident --
A letter informs us that on the 28th ult., a lad named
Workman was killed near Beallsville, under the following circumstances. He was playing about a log sled was upset and
the runner fell upon his head. His
mother saw the accident and run and took him from under the sled, but he never
breathed again.
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