Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-07-29
a COID.BLOOlRp NURDER.
James Ward, ESQ.,, Of Niles, Ohio, shot
dead by Frank RObbins-The MUIR
derer Eseanes,

dead by Frank RobbinsIThe MGT.
-derer Escapes.
The excitement caused in this city, and,
indeed, throughout Northern Ohio, yester-
day by the announcement that James Ward,
the proprietor of the Falcon Iron Works, at
Niles, Ohio, one of the wealthiest, most in
huential and most respected men of Trum-
bull county, had been brutally murdered
at his home in Niles, on Wednesday eve
ming, by citizen of that place, named
Frank Robbins, was wide and deep. The
facts of the case, condensed into brief
statement, are these:
iSea eahsa turbandi onnid a .ttemina ortun
est. Frank Robbins, ,themurderer Of Ward,
had for some time been living with Mrs.
Lydia Stevenson, whose husband, formerly
keeper at the furnace of Mr.. Wards Iron
Works, had been killed at the fight at
Kelley's Bridge, Kentucky, where he was
engaged as a member of the Hist o. n. g.,
Colonel Asper's hundred day regiment.
Since his death, the criminal intercourse
between his wife and Robbins, before car
ried on surreptitiOusiy, became undisguis-
ed. Robbins occupied the same house
with the woman, which was owned by Mr..
Ward. The scandal caused by this pro-
eeeding induced Mr.. Ward to give the
woman notice to quit Three notices were
given, the last on Wednesday evening last.
On Robbins arrival at the house, theswo-
man told him of the warning she had
received, and after brief consulta-
ton both started down the rail-
road track to the house Of Mr.. Ward.
That they intended mischief was evident
from the fact that they we've both armed.
Mrs. Stevenson, sby the way, is a large,
powerful woman, as strong as most men
At the railroad bridge, near Mr. Wards
house, Robbins met James Ward, Jr., a
young manabout twenty three years old,
and, after a word or two, attacked him,
knocking him down and striking him bru-
tally. His father, who was near, rushed
to the spot, and demonstrated with Robbins.
But a word or two passed, when Robbins,
drawing his pistol, shot Mr.. Ward, the ball
striking him in the forehead, between the
eyes. The muzzle Of the pistol was so near
the face of the murdered man, when it was
fired, that his forehead was blackened and
scorched with powder. l...
Mr. Ward was shot about nine o'clock
P. N. Medical attendance was summoned,
and every thing possible was done for him,
but his wound was mortal, and he died
about two hours thereafter.
After the shooting, Robbins went to the
depot and demanded two thousand dollars
of the etelegraph operator, offering him in
return a check on the Warren Bank, where
he had money on deposit. The operator
refused ,sayingthat he hadi.', that amount in
the Office, at which Robbins left. He was
known to be in town for some Two hours
after the murder, and to leave, with Mrs.
Stevenson, with horse and buggy, but no
one had the courage to arrest him, as both
the man and the woman were known to be
armed, and were powerful and desperate.
Robbins was last heard from at Orange
vile, on the Atlantic and Great Western
railroad, twelve miles north east of Niles.
The excitement in Niles after the news
became generally known, was intense
The house in which the woman lived was
gutted completely and set on fre--a most
foolish proceeding, by the way, as it was
the property ofthe murdered man and not
of the murderer, The courage and rage
which vents itself on inanimate object il
very cheap and very useless.
James Ward, the murdered man, was
among the best citizens of TrumbuHcountv.
He was senior partner in the well-known
Falcon Iron Works Company, and one Of
the most prominent men and extensive
iron manufact urers in the Mahoning VAL
ley. By his eminent sagaeity, energy
and ability he had acquired large fortune,
while his excellence and uprightness OF
character had secured for him high oeia
position and the respect of all who knew
him. He was fifty years and eight months
of age at the time of his murder His hiss
will be universally and deeply regretted.
His funeral will probably take place on
Sunday next.
Frank 0. Roberts. the murderer, is a
young man, about thirty years of age.
He was engaged in farming and
also in hOrse-dealing and other
speculative employments. He had been
in the army and was a dissipated, reek-
less man, hard drinker and frequently
embroiled in fights. His personal appear
ance may be judged from the following
hand-bill, offering three thousand dollars
reward for his arrest. We hear that that
reward has since been increased TO six
THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS
RRwARD.-The above viii be paid for the
Of Frank Robbins, who mur-
dered James Ward, of Niles, Ohio, on the
night Of July 27th, inst. Said Robbins is
young man about 80 years Of age; is about
five feet nine or ten inches in height: ne
weighs about 220 pounds. BE has fun,
red face; dark hair. Had on, when he left,
a light coat. Information may be sent ,n
the undersigned, at Niles, or Warren PocLr-
ard, at Warren, Ohio.
p WILLIA11 WARD,
49, JAMES. WARD, JR.
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