Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1844-01-02
SKETCH or THE TRIAL or VIII
LIAM CLARK.
FaErARED r0a run onIo srArr.nAr.

William Clark was indicted BY the
Grand Jury of this county a: the June
term of the Court Of Common Pleas,
lS4l, for the murder Of Cyrus Sells
On being srraighed before said court, he
elected. in conformity TO the provisions
Oflhe law, obe tried in the Supreme
Cont. AT the ensuing term Of said
court in December his case was cOntin.
usd, on the ground that there was ims
lportant testimony necessary for his deS
fence, which could not be procured be.
fore the next term Of the court, and on
the same grounds it was continued al the
December term, 1912.
The Supreme Court for this county
commenced its last cessiOn on the lsl Of
December. Clark's case stood first on
the docket. and the court proceeded i'm
mediately to the trial Of il. The court
consisted of Judges BirchaId and Read
Attorneys fOr'Ihe State, Hyle, prosecuting
Attorney, and Swayne; for CLARK, 6.
Swain, and J. w. Andrews.
In obtaining jury there was about
twenty five persons sworn and examined,
but were discharged as incompetent iu-
rOrs, owing 10 their having formed or eG.
pressed an opinion, as to the guilt or in
nOcence OF the prisoner at the bar
There wercSixeeA psIe mptorJ challenges
by the prisoner. The jury being FORM
ed, the court proceeded TO the examina-
lion Of the Witnesses.
All the facts in regard TO his life and
the circumstances Of the murder, ss o.
licited from the testimony, are briefly
these: Clark is about thirty seven years
old. He was as carefully educated as
the hnmble means Of pious mother
would permit. He was a good reader
and writer; and tOlerable proficient in
arithmetic, nor had his religious educa.
cation been neglected. A mothers love
spared no pains in impressing the pure
precepts Of religion upon bis young mind.
But that tender care was poorly Iequited
those instructions were slighted and
his subsequent course in life broke the
heart of that devoted mother. Sorrow
prostrated her intellect, and in that mis-
cradle condition she went down TO the
grave, lamendng the fatal consequence
es of her sons career. She died soon
after he became a convict in the Peniten.
tlary.
Until his eighteenth year Clarke main
tanned good character; but about this
period Of his life marked change took
place in his habits. He was strongly
suspected Of horse stealing by his neigh-
bors. Under the influence OF these sus-
picions he left his home .and became
boatsman on the Ohio and Mississippi
rivers. How long he was thus employ
ed and what was his conduct did not ap.
pear
la 1888 or "a, he was sentenced to
the penitentiary, for robbery, for the Pc
riOd of fifteen years. Very little was said
by the witnesses in regard TO his conduct
under the strict discipline ofthe prison
regulations. Twice however, he at
tempted to escape, once by breaking
from the ranks, and at another time, by
taking gun from one of the guards
Unsuccessful in these efforts, he made
several applications to different persons
to get out under the provisions of a law,
which enacted that those prisoners who
worked on the new Prison, and behaved
we'll during the time, should lie releas.
ed al the expi alton Of one half Of their
sentence. He accompanied this appl-
cation with the asseveratiOn, that if they
did moi release him in that time, lie would
be the worst man in the Pententiary--
that they would not get any more good
out of him. These expressions we're
made use Of by him, about month previ>
Gus 10 his numbering Sells, and also, some
twelve or eighteen months previous.
Sells some months previous to his
death, had found II necessary, in the
discharge Ofhis duty, to whip the whole
company TO which Clarke belonged, for
some iRfractiOn Of the prison rules. -
Soon after this he was heard TO say, that
he had been whipped without cause, and
that he would have satisfaction. Alter
this all things went quietly on. All sus'
piciOn was lulled, Clarke in the capac.
ity OF servant in the stone shop, in waii-
ing upon the stone cutters and The
guards, appears to have discharged his
duties with promplness. He was how
aver, occasionally seento turn his head to,
wards and grit his teeth al Sells, when
his back was turned 10 him, in this man.
lsr indicating TO his fellow prisoners the
full purposes which he soon afterwards
executed.
On the slh Of June, l94l, between 9
and O'Clock, in the morning, Clarke,
as usual brought water TO Sells to wash
himself. Previous to his bringing the
water, ne brought Ratchet Of hand axe,
which belonged in the shop, and placed
u on bench behind Sells, and Ia such
position that he could not see it. AZ
'ef Sells had finished washing himself,
and was combing his hair, Clarke struck
him with the hatchet on the side Of his
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