Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1863-02-12
Distressing Homicide.

On Saturday last a sad affair occurred some five
miles East of this place by which Daniel Mack
lin, respected citizen. lost his life. Mr.. Mackn
and William Deets, aged about II years, of
John Dects, recently had some short words at a
wood chopping at Macklin's. Mackliu and the
young man Deets' father were brothers in law and
on friendly terms. They and John s. Orr had
planned sleigh ride to NV Bedford, and on
Saturday Mackn and Orr started on the trip
calling at Mr.. Deets' residence for him. Mr.. Deets
being unwell declined going, but Invited the 9TH
ers to stop for dinner and have their horses fed
The women, Mrs. Orr and Mrs Macklin, went
into the house, and young man Deets came out
TO assist in taking care ot the horses Soon after
he had come out Mr. Mackn referring to the
wood chopping, used abusive language toward
him, and finally struck him in the face with his
open hand. The young man end ayored to avoid
him, but Mr.. Macclin still continued the assault
until young Deots took vhppletreo from the
sled and struck him over the head. Again he in
sisted on being let alone and retreated but Mack
lin followed him up, still inaicting some slight
punishment on him; finally Dccts struck him the
second time with the whippetree and fellei him
to the ground. lie then dropped it an rama con.
siderable distance. Macklin arose and followed
him, aDl, our informant thinks, asked Lin to talk
the matter over. They got into scufle which
ended in Dees getting black eye, and his clothes
badly torn. Macklin then went back to his sled,
the teams were hitched up and driven some thirty
rods, when Mackln, who WAS behind, spoke to
Orr, saying he was sick and would return home,
which were the last words he ever spoke. His
wife took the lines, turned the horse and started
Tor home. He endeavored to speak to her but
could not do so, and in few moments became in
sensible, fell into stupor and so remained until
he died, about twelve hours after the fight. The
second blow Of the whippletree was doubtless the
immediate cause OF his death. A post NOR TEN OK.
animation held by Drs. Ebright. Boiling an Big
ham disclosed the fact the that injury was sustain
ed on the left side of the head in the temporal re-
gion, directly above the ear. The surgeons found
an irregular fracture Of the scull in several short
lines and depression of portion of the bone on
the brain; also about five ounces Of clotted blood
between the bone and dUra mater (thc covering
of the brain) producing strong compression upon
the substance of brain. The brain itself was
found healthy.
William Deets made no effort to escape; il
seems he did not know, until he was arrested, on
Sunday, that his uncle dead, or even seriously
injured. On Monday he was taken before Esq
JUsrIcE and held to answer in bonds of 81 900
The Court of Common Pleas being now in session
the matter will be, if it has not already been
brought before the Grand Jury
Both parties have borne good character and
have always been regarded civil and noiiensve.
Mr.. Macklin leaves family to mourn his uutime.
ly death.
ltis, indeed, sorrowiul affair and deeply la
meuted by the entire community.
Since the above was put in type the Grand Jury
has adjourned without finding bill against VIII
liam Deets,