The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-07-08
A HOrr,hie Story.

The Detroit Free Press of Saturday con.
tans the particulars of nnother cruel butch.
cry, near Hastings, Barry county, about two
weeks ago. The murdered woman, who
was killed by blow on the head from
club, and sixteen stabs with u Cirk knife, is
Mrs Jane Harding, Of Napoleon. She was
formerly, with her husband, resident of
Barry county. and lived near John Dilliu.-
About two years ago, three grain stacks be.
longing to the latter, which stood near Mrs.
tIardng's house. were burned. This oc.
Cured in the day time, and was attributed
by Di,ln to Mrs. H riding, for what reason
we are unable to say. At all events, he
considered the proof substantial. and having
collected together party OF five, consist
ing of relative named Amos Dillin, q
friend named Isaac Devon. and three broth.
ers, named Theophlus, James, and Henry
Hyde, they proceeded to the house of Mrs.
Harding took her out by force, tarred and
feathered her, and then burned her house to
the ground. For this act they were arrest.
ed, and having forfeited their bail once, and
delayed the prosecution-whch was for
burglary and arson-for some time, the
matter was finally settled by the payment of
$500 on the part Of the defendants. There
the mntter rested for the time being, and
the Hardings moved away and settled in
| Napoleon, Jackson county.
! Some little time since, Mrs. Harding went
back to Barry county to visit her relatives
residing there. About two weeks since she
determined upon going h,me. Previous to
doag so she had occasion to visit post Of.
flee mile or two distant, and started in the
morning for that purpose. Stopping at the
house Of a neichbor, she said she desired to
see John Di!ln in regard to fence which
enclosed half acre lot in which her child
wus buried, from which he had taken and
car led away some rails.
At this time Dilin passed the house, an d
she joined him, the two walking in dense
! piece OF woods, on their way to the pust Of
fee. Having arrived at the centre OF the
woods, he knocked her down with club,
dragged her into the woods aud It bbed her
no less than sixteen times. He then threw
her body into cavity in the ground, caused
by the up'urniHg Of the roots Of tree, and
1h'ew leg upon 1t, together with somo
ba K, and other materials calculated to con-
ceal it. Srspcuns were excited ut the
time, from the fact that he WIS known 10
have entered the woods with her, and to
ed, md with muddy and tern clothes, alone.
1t being known that bad blood existed be.
tween them, some investigations were
made, which result, d in 10 discoveries, and
il was supposed she had found III opportu.
nifty to ride to the nearest ralrund station
and go home. y day or two since, howev-
cr, intelligence was received from her hus-
band 'hnt she was not at home, and the in.
habltrnts at once turned out to look for her.
They secured the woods eiIectuaily, and OH
he second day found the body in the same
position it had been lett by the murderer ~
O"e leg md arm we're uncovered in the
rubbish, but the body was untouched. The
persons engaged IN the search were attract.
ed 10 The pot by the stencil arising from the
drcaying corpse.
D,lin who had remained in the neighbor.
hood during the two weeks intervening be-
tween the murder and the discovery Of III ,
bUey, lett as soon as he received the intell :
eence of the search whichwus being inst-
tuted. 1t was uscerta inc d that he left d.
rect tor the nearest station on the Detroit
and Milwi ukee Railroad, and Officers Steb.
bins and Carpenter were Immediately des.
, patched after him. Mr.. Sweeney at the
, same time started for Detroit by the Michi.
gan Central Railroad, with view to inter-
ecpt him here in case the officers missed
him. Upon the arrival OF the train last eve.
ming, he learned through the conductor that
Dllin was arrested at Lowell on the De-
troit and Milwaukee Railroad, and taken
back.
Ile coroner's jury rendered verdict oil
: wiliul murder against Dillin. The deed was
y brutal and cold. bIooded one, and equals
anything which has ever happened in ouI
= State in the horrors of it's details.