Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-12-29
Horrible Outrage in Rayenna.
Attempt TO Murder n Merchant
IN MA stOre--The Murderer
Leaves MS Work Half Done--
skeoaddies, but IL Found aud
Arrested--GreRt Excitam eat,
from ihe Cleveland dI.ead.rl

On Saturday morning, the I'm in,t the
usually quiet village OF Ravenna was thrown
! int an unprecedented excitsment by the
reported attempt to murder and rob one of
the most esteemed citizens of the village.
at his place Of business.
The facts in the matter are believed TO be
as follows: About o'clock iu the morning
Mr. J. Z. Prentice was alone in the store Of
ID. NJ. Clewsll, where he is engaged, when
young man by the name of w. w. Flower,
who had been stopping in the place several
days, came in and asked Mr. Prentice to
change hundred dollar bill for him. MIR.
Prentice stepped to the safe, unlocked il,
took cut some money, and was in the act of
counting 1t when tho uan struck him a
heavy, blow with an iron poker. The villain
probably inflicted several blows with the
poker as the marks witness, and then seiz-
ing Mr.. 7. by the coat collar, dragged him
down into the collar, aud, taking a large
stone the size Of q mans head) out of the
cellar wall, attempted to crush the head of
his already partially insensible victim. and
actually inflicted several blows with the
stsne. de then went to the rear cellar
door, unbslted asd opened it so as to pro-
vide himself with means Of escape. Strange
to say, his object had not been accomplish
WI @ilA -1i' lSutlCo GsNIF6u suIlclsDty 10
be conscious, when, to hs horror the vii
lain returned to see if his work had been
sure. STOPPING dowa and putting his hand
or knee on the body of Mr. PrsnLice. ha
bent bis head down to that of his victim, to
learn if he still breathsd. Mr.. Prentice
lay with his face down, and although badly
mangled and almost unconscious, no infer
red the purpose OF the murderer, and to do
ceive him he held his breath and feignsd
death. The villain intsntly watched for
slgss of life, and this terrible moment Mr.
Prentice thought would be his last But.
fortunately, the front store deor opened,
and some one entered. The vailain, hear
ing some one coming above, fed in haste.
The man who entered ths store vent back
to the rear end, and seeing ne ona in, and
the safe open aud money scattered on tbs
floor, at once discovered that something was
wrong, and going to the cellar door, which
was open, called No one replied, but at
length a faint noiss from Mr. Prentice reach
ed his ear, spd on going down he discovered
the state CT affairs, and brought Mr.. Prem
tice up stsirs. Medical aid was promptly
at hand, and iumsdiate pursuit Of the srim-
inal was made. A mseting Of the citizens
was called, reward of $500 was offered for
the apprehension of the guilty party. and
organized enorts lnauefer the search. About
IL o'clock he was found secreted in an out
house in the rear of the Collins House
The people were greatly excited at the
outrage, and nothing but the strong respect
felt there fer law and order prevented his
being lynched He was lodged in Jail to
await his examination, which win probably
occur to-day (Monday.)
Flower is young man of very pleasant
face aud manners, slender and almos effem-
mate in appearance, and apparently the last
man one would suspect of such crime.
Mr.. Prentice is 4 nephew Of the late Cyrus
Prentice, the first President Of the Cleve-
land l. Pittsburgh Rail Road, and is on, Of
the most esteemed Of all the business men
of Ravenna. He appears in fair way to
recover, but is not regarded as altogether
out of danger. From external appearance
there is no fracture Of the skull, but it is
still uncertain what will be the result.