The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1857-06-18


have lived on terms of affection, and he says
that he had great respect for her. He committed
no great crimes during her life. She died after
his removal to Sylvana in this county and pret.
ty soon after her DEATH Ward saw Olive Davis
at Adrian, and at once made proposals to marry
her They were married in the course Of two
or three days and went to Sylvania together, but
soon began to have pretty sharp quarrelS The chief
cause of these Quarres to have been his wiGes
children, who were great ANNOYANCE to him.
She finally quit him, late last fall and returned
to her friends in Adrian. Ward pursued her
with solicitations to return, and she cane back
a few days prior to the murder which took place
on the 4th Of February.
She had left some clothing and other articles
at Wards, and her object in going back was to
possess herself Of these things, and not to re-
main with him. As soon as he discovered her
purpose he determined that she should never
leave his house alive. On Tuesday night, Deb
81 he had got from her confession Of her real
purpose and the consequence was one of those
family scenes which had become So frequent BE-
fore her departure for Adrian. Ward says he
then fully determined as to what he would do
and as he supposed that she would embrace the
first opportunity to leave, h concluded that no
time was TO b. lost. Accordingly, on the II xt
morning, he slipped bshinl her, nnl struck her
on the head with a smoothing iron such blow
in fifteen minutes.
His full confession differs in some important
particulars, from the statement which has bsen
published in the newspapers. III that statement
II was made TO appear that the killing was done
in '' tha heat Of passion" and after blows from
Mrs Ward. H. now ucknnwlhlg's that this
was false, and thlt he hal fully resolved on
the murder before it took place, though h,
had not fixed the TIM. or made any calcull
/,
the body.
Ward confesses to these murders, bat declares
that they are the only ones which he has com
mitteh. Some suspicious have b4en thrown
out that he caused the death of his sscond wife.
and also of child, during his residence at
Sy vania; bnt he denies these insnuation-
most positively. and drcares that h. is inno-
cent of any other great crimes than those men
toned.
Wards prevailing characteristic seems to have
been what Phr-nplogists cali sscretiUeHeSs. IL.
had wonderful power to plan and execute in
secrete, and 10 keep his own counsels. He car-
tainly was one Of the most dangerous murdsrerS
that the country ever produced His murder of
Hall and of the Peddlar,arc two of the most r.
mark4Ole murders on record, and evmce cool
ness, want Of sensibility. AMI want of con
science which is rare to finl in any human BE-.
ing Since h. has been in Jail he has shown the
Z
sympathies; easy to make him weep by refer
ring to his situation or to his friends; easy to
make him acknowledge that his sentence was
lust. nnd that his country had right to take
! his life but he evinccd no feeling of penitenCe
! for his crim'S; express ell no sympathy for his
victims; and felt no ramorse OF conscience for
what lie had done Whatever of feeling or sor-
row he exhibited, was for his own situation, and
not on account of any wrong that he had com
NIT oil Tul,.l b, oalf tn .bi,L hat h,
hardly dealt by; and that the court had no righr
to convict him ON such slender testimony; AM
| on the very day preceding his execution, spoke
of his situation as great hardship. but cunsol
ed himself, that he anil his Savior had to su(far
on Friday. The pamphlet containing the his
tory of his life aud his various confessions is
book of great interest and will be read by thou
sands.
THE EXECUTION.
| The Execution Of great criminal, is an even
which naturally attracts attention. and ou
| streets are full of people to-day, though tht
death scene is private, and none can b.holl i
but few invited guests. The day opens heavily
A dark mourning cloud has shrouied out til,
sun during the morning and the heavens hav,
wept proiusely over the irailles which are thu
expiated by the ssyerest penalty that man Cal
iullct
OPEN SESAME.
! We, yesterday, received with the compi
ments OF our gentemanly Sheriff. a card in
! forming us that were one o; those he ha,
named in accordance with the statute,to b. pres
ent ut the Execution. The idea of witncssin.
/ the execution of a human bain5, was by II,
means pleasant one, We can assure our readers
but, in pursuit OF ourduiy Of keeping The publ,
&" posted" personal preferences could not b.
consulted, and, therefore, punctually, at zen O.
clock this morning we presented ourself a lhJ
door of the Jail, and soon were in tn. presence
of the apparatus OF death.
THE JAIL,
Situated on Ontario street, in the rear Of tn
Court House, is low, two-story dwelling il
/ front, and in the extends an l. Of tn sam,
| height, running bI, X about fifty feet, which il
| the Jail proper. ThiS portion of the bulldin.
has hall abou, eight feet in width, running o.
the north, south anl west sides OF 1t, btwerI
the doors of the cell AMI the outer wall in which
are strong, barred windows Tus hail IN height
occupies both stories or bout sixte'n feet, tn,
second story of the cells being reached by tw,
narrow stair cases on the west eud, AMI narrow
rallied walks, about three feet in width, Running
along the sides by the cell doors.
TIE CELL or THG MURDERER
Is in the south hall, second lisE, aud is next Il
tn last toward the east eni. Il is iGrl.sit-.
with cot bed, ana is not without som, appear
ance Of comfort, save that the light comes il
through the strong iron barred door.
IHE Gall OWs
/ Was set up last night, and is located ia the y.
! w. corner Of the jail, il the north hall Il is
frame, built of scant.ing, braced and b1ltcd, an,
painted black. The platlo m is reached Oy as
cendmg nlrrnw ni.ht OF stars in the wrs
! hall, aud is level with that walk. The drop j.
very ingenously coutrived-lh- whole platform
on which tn prisoner stands heiug made to tai
| from under him by the simple moving of l'y
/ er, The ulltlOrn is Z II. 4 in iu h.lLlt from
the floor, unl the llame containing it is by
feet so that IN. platform fills th' space b'twta.
the rallied walk sud the oulrr wall Of the prison
j Cunlastel with ,he whittwashni waHs Of Oh.
halt. IN the subiu-l li,hl from the high blrrr.
windows, the black form ui tn gailuws; th
| fatal rope wish moose already made hanLin!
above il the hushed vuic S of the few sp.ctl
tors assembled. were clcuatcd to make the b.
holder shudder in anticipation Of the cosin,
i scene
| THE ROPE