Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1857-02-19
From the Troy Times
Attempted Murder.
Il Man and his Wife assaulted IN Bed wah
an Are.


For several days rumoTs have prevailed IN
this city to the effect that a man and bis wife
had been brutality murdered on the Brunswick
road, about a mile distant from this city.
Entering his house. We found the proprietor
Mr. Fowler, sitting near the stove, in large
easy chair. He is \ man Of about forty years
Of age, short, and stoully built. His wife
we should judge to be somewhat younger
Mr. F, is rather pale in the face. his nerves are
much uustrung, and he complains Of a severe
pain in the side, and difficulty in breathing
the effect of the injuries inflicted upon him
by the assassin.
The narration Of the transaction as given us
lby Mr.. and Mrs. Fowler is substantially as fol-
lows
Early on Sunday morning last, Mr.. Fowler
had occasion to 60 to the barn, for the purpose
Of getting out grain to feed his horses. AS
be entered one OF the hay.racks, he perceived
a youA2 French man, named Jean Christine, ali
as Bapliste, who had formerly been engaged by
him about the farm. lying upon his face on the
floor. Mr.. Fowler had large pitchfork in
his hand, aud as he was about to lit some grain
with it, the Frehchman arose partially ,exclaim-
ing--"No stick me-" Mr.. L. replied no he
would not hurt him; but as the rack was an
uncomfortable place to sleep, he had better 60
into the loft. The fellow did so, and MIR. FoW-
Ter preceded with bis business, thinking no
more Of the matter.
About 10 o'clock on the same morning, the
Frenchman entered the house, and asked for
something to eat. This WAS furnished him.
After satisfying bis appetite, he continued lying
about the house until about 2 o'clock, when Mr.
Fowler asked him where he was living, anC
whether he intended TO remain? He answer
ed, no. he had obtained a place to work in Pot
estenkill, where he would stay until April -
Mr.. F. told him that, if that was the case, h,
had bettsr be going, as nightiall was cominI
on, and there was no aCcemoIations for hin
save in the barn. The Frenchman made n
reply, but, taking his hat, left the house appar
emily in the direction Of the lIoosic road. N,
hard words passed between the parties; an,
as there never had been any difficulty with hin
there was no reason to suppose that any III feel
ing toward the family existed on the par
of Christine.
On r%etireing to bed at night Mrs, Fowler
who says she had suspected, from the manner
of the Frenchman, that all was not right, ask
ed her husband If he had locked the door,
He replied he had not, nor did he consider
that there was any necessity for doing so. She
then urged him to lock it. saying, "she wat
afraid the man John would come in during the
night, and kill them all; he looked ugly" Mr.
Fowler laughed at her fears, and went to bed.
leaving the door unlocked.
Occupying tie bed with Mr.. Fowler, and
his wife was a little child, which is just begin.
ming to teeth, and on that account is very rest
less. On the night in question he was pecuii,
arly so; his wailings kept the couple awake un
til along in the small hours o. the msrning -
About a o'clock, as Mr.. Fowler judges, his wife
complained that she had no sleep, and in or.
der to give her an opportunity to obtain rest,
Mr. F. changed positions with her, and took
charge Of the infant, Being very weary, he al,
most Immediately fell into a light sleep; mean.
while, ths child had become quiet, and fell a.
sleep also.
Not more than ten minutes, as Mr.. Fowler
thinks, had elapsed after this transaction, be,
fore he was awakened BY a dull. heavy blow
at his side, followed by a deep groan from hi
wife. and all exclamation, ooh Abram, some
body has killed me-" lie partly rose up,cOn
fused at being thus strangely awakened, ant
as he did so, he heard The sound Of another
blow, followed by deep grOans. Thoroughly
aroused and startled by this occurrence, h
sprang from the bed. The room was entire,
dark, and he heard no sound, save the mourn
lng of his wife, and a slight rustling in one cor
ner of the bedroom, opposite where he stood
Dropping his head upon his breast. and hold
ing his haRdS wide spread before him, he mo
we'd forward carefully, AS he did so, hi
right band cam in contact with a person st.p
: ding beside the bed.
In an instant. the expressed fear Of his wife
that John would come back and murder them
hashed upon his mind, and he sprang 70, Eal
10 grapple with the As%sailant, exclaiming as h
did SO. John this is a pretty way to pay Vi
by comeing here to murder us ALL" Preyiou
. to this :imo, the assailant had not uttered
! word, lie was evidently thrown OF his guar,
. however, by the exclamation of Mr.. fowler. +,
he Immediately replied "My master told me
kill you and In goiug to do it," AT Ii
same time he dealt Mr., Fowler a vigorous bio
striking him just below the chest. Mr. +
a finding that the object Of the aSsailant was =,