Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1865-11-08
The RaVenna Murder.
Fuller Confession Of Berry
The murdered 1Ha,rs Watch Found.


The murdered H,,'s Watch Found
The Portage County Democrat, OF the
lst inst, gives in detail AN account Of the
murder OF John Rhodenhaugh. near Ra
VIENNA, on the evening OF the 9th ult.-
1t seems from the evidence that the de
ceased had on the day OF his death. been
on quite intimate terms with the young
men Joel Beery and Jack Cooper, who
committed the murder, and that after
noon was spent in playing cards and
drinking in a saloon in Kent. Deceased
became intoxicated and the other parties
got full enough for business. During the
play the subject of buying a certain
grocery came up and deceased showed
his money, some $500, to the parties
This, together with watch worth $50,
were the coveted articles which melted
the murder. So hastily was the robbery
accomplished that the pocket of Rhoden-
baugh's pantaloOns, containing his wallet,
was nearly torn out, and his watch
renched from his pocket, detaching and
breaking the guard.
The suspected parties were arrested
about two miles from Ravenna, the NOR
ming after the murder, having spent the
night at Jacob Beery's, uncle OF one OF
the prisoners.
Joel Beery was born in Columbiana
county and reports himself twenty four
years old. His mother and numerous
relations live in Ravenna. Forsthe last
four months he has been roughing it on
a canal between this city and MassillOn.
Jack Cooper says his home is in Elk
hart, Erie county Pa, and that he Is
thirty-tw years old, and cooper by trade.
He, too, has been on said canal. He had
fallen in with Beery on his last trip, ar
irving at Kent on the 23d ult.
We have already stated that the eX
animation of the parties was summarily
closed by partial confession volunteered
by Beery, which charged Cooper with
the murder and robbery. As justitica
ton of the procedure, he says Cooper
promised to screen him. But as the tes-
timony involved both, he determined TO
make the relations clear. He said Coop
er determined on robbing deceased
Cooper cut the club. He did not get in
to the buggy again, but followed on alter
Rhodenbaugh and murdered Aiaft=-Rc-rc%
ing the railroad crossing Beery turned to
the left and drove west. having about
concluded TO leave Cooper TO himself and
to proceed to Red Brush by a circuitous
route. Finally. thinking he could still
get on the direct route before Cooper
should come up, he turned the horse
about in fronto of the school house, men
toned in testimony Then, seeing Rhod
enbaugh drive across the railroad he
supposed Cooper had given up the job.
On coming up to the scene Of murder
he saw Rhodenbaugh lying upon the
ground, and Cooper was in the act OF
tearing out the pocket containing the
wallet. At first he declined to allow
Cooper to get into the carriage. and drove
on. Cooper called, he stopped and took
him up after a brief party, in which ii
was promised he should not be harmed
for the crime, robbery or murder either.
They then proceeded to Red Brush. -
stopped very short time at Henry Rhine
hart's, Ia brother-in-law of Beery. y
While there, they took lunch, and
Cooper bought pair of new boots Of Ly
man Beery, tbrother of Joel, assigning
as a reason, that tracks might he meas
ured. His former boots Cooper threw in
to the water "Bulk-head" As they drove
on to RaVenna.
Beery further states, that Cooper offer
ed to share the money with him and to
give him the watch, but he entirely re
fused to have anything to do with either.
He says he does not positively know where
the money and watch were secreted, but
when found, they will be found tied up
in a red handkerchief, at, or near the
premises of Jacob BeeFy.
Since the examination the watch has
been found. 1t was secreted in the hay
NOW of barn of Jacob Beery, uncle of
the confessor. it had stopped at 6:3l,
and was wrapped in a piece of newspaper.
The chain was attached to it, lacking
only the hook that was broken off when
it was stolen. The initial letters, j. R.,
engraved upon the outside of the case,
had been nearly obliterated, but are
still discernable by the aid of a magnify.
ing glass. The money had not been
found up to the latest advices. The pris
oners lie in the Ravenna jail, awaiting
trial in the February term of the Court
of Common Pleas, TO which they were
bound over.