Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-12-07
The Bedford Murder.
TRIAL OF DIR. JOHN W. HUGHES,
The Murderer Of Mis- Parsons
FIRST DAYS PROCEEDINGS

the trial by sending to the court room a
large delegation. The roll of the jurors
was called, and all being present, that body
took their seats. The defendant was escorted
into the court room, and sat down by the
side of his counsel, Messrs. NJ. S. Castle, R.
| S. knight, and VIM. s. Kerruish.
APPEARING OF THE PRISONER.
Imprisonment has told somewhat on DR..
Hughes. He is considerably reduced in
flesh, and wears a pale and somewhat
nervous aspect. He is a man about five feet
ten inches in height, and has a powerful
physique and fine personal presence. He
wears a becoming moustache and imperial,
has black hair, which is quite sparse on the
top of the head, this inclination to badness
giving him an older appearance than is true
70 fact. He is about thirty-fve years of
age, and is just in his prime. Well dressed,
the Doctor has a prepossessing appearance
and the bearing of a well bred, intelligent
man.
Within a few moments after the call of
the court, the people hocked in and filed
nearly all the available standing room.
Among the spectators we observed many
Bedford people and,the parents of Jamzen
Parsans, the young lady whom defendant
murdered.
The court instructed the prosecution TO
open the case. Charles W. Palmer, Esq,
Prosecuting Attorney, accordingly arose and
gave to the jury an admirable summary of
the incidents and events which led on to
their conclusion, the tragic death of Miss
Parsons.
Mr.. Castle, next, ~admonished and ex-
horted the jury to waive all the prejudiees
they may have formed in the case, and ad-
dress themselves to hearing the testimony
with impartial, unbiased minds.
The Court also gave them similar admo-
milton.
The roll of the witnesses in behalf of the
State was then called, and they came for
ward and were sworn.
So much time had been consumed with
the preliminary business of the case, that
the Court ordered an adjournment till two
o'clock P. NJ.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Court met at two o'clock, when the first
witness for the State was called.
Joseph B. Haynes, slooTn I reside in the
village of Bedford. Have lived there thirty
two years. Knew Tamzen Parsons. She was
sister to my wife. / know the defendant.
Have known him since December, 1864.
Had seen him in the winter of 1894. Had
at that time a physicians office in Bedford,
and was practicing medicine. In the spring
r FnN - L.. r H.. - Il
was said he had enlisted. He was absent
until the December following. Was intro
dueed to him in my house, in company with
Henry Parsons, cousin of Tamzen. On the
morning of December goth, in consequence
of what l heard the day previous, left Bed
ford and reached Pittsburgh that night. |
went to the Mayor on the 2lst inst, and also
TO several hotels, with police officers, and at
the st. Clair hotel / found Tamzen. Defend
ant was not there. l searched for DIR. Hughes
for some time but couldn't find him. He at
length returned, was arrested and taken to
the lookup nearthe Mayors office, when he
sent TOR me. I went. Hughes had but little
to saw. We cOnversed through the grated
door. think he asked me if I had seen
the certificate of marriage with Miss Par
sons. Told him ! had, and also the other
certificate or a copy of it. He said be should
not live again with his first wife. He was
soon taken before the Mayor. Made a speech
before that officer, saving he should not live
again with his first wife, and gave his rea-
sons. He said she was d~issipated; she had
been his servant, and he had married her
and came to this country with her. Last
Friday, he said, he went home 10 his board
ing house and found her beastly drunk. In
the evening he found her so again, and re-
solved to leave her. Meantime he said he
had repeatedly agreed to live with her on
her promises TO reform and do better. He
proposed TO me then TO go as a substitute in
the army, and would give the bounty to
Miss Parsons, and leave the country, if the
prosecution could be stopped.
Hughes said he had violated the laws and
knew what the penalty was. This was in
the Mayors office. Iasked him if Tamzen
was implicated in getting up the forged bill
of divorce. He said, NO: l did it myself"
He said Tamzen was the only wife he ever
would live with.
Inext saw him, 7 think, January I'd, the
day l returned TO Pittsburgh, having gone
home meantime. On the 4th inst. | saw
him in jail. He said he wished to nave the
prosecution stopped that we wouldn't be
able to prove his first marriage wanted me
to Undue Miss Parsons to settle the ease. |
told him l should not interest myself in his
favor, presumed Miss Parsons would not.
He said if the prosecution went on, it would
be the worse for her, and again said he could
not be convicted. Miss Parsons went with
me to Pittsburg.
I next saw Hughes on the day of his trial.
The next time | Jaw him was on the day of
the murder in Bedford. recognized him
near the Franklin House in the village.
This was about two o'clock ?. NJ. Had seen
Tanner five minutes previous. She and her
mother had come to my house. Miss Par
sons went out in a very few minutes. Very
| soon after, Mrs. Parsons went TO the gate in
front of the house, and started after Tamzen.
| soon followed and saw a considerable
number of excited people north of Columbus
street. Ran down to that street and saw
that they were running to and from Mr..
Christians house. Came pack to Calhoun
street, where soon after | saw a carriage
move off, very moderately, towards CIeve-
land. l..
Thu people were running around, enquir-
ing what the matter was; heard some of
them say Tamzen Parsons was shot ; DR..
Hughes was in the carriage; after it got to
the marble shop it went on more rapidly.
/ got a horse from a neighbours stable and
started in pursuit of the carriage was
Joined by Elisha Mathews on horseback;
we kept on the Cleveland road about a mile
till we came To the road leading west, a mile
IIlS sue OF Inc kllidkb TURNED uONn lne
west road one-fourth of a mile TO the cross
ing of the Cleveland and Pittsburg Rail
road, where we saw q Mr.. Scott he took
Mathews horse, Scott having a revolver
after passing the railroad from one-half to
one-third of a mile, l saw the carriage stop
and a man get out who jumped over the
fence and ran towards the woods ran north
toward Newburgh. When the carriage
stopped Scott overlook me we rode togeth-
er after the carriage, which had turned
south after reaching Durham street road
overlook the carriage before it had gone
one-fourth of a mile came back with the
carriage to the railroad crossing Scott took
the carriage from that place. l parted with
him at that point. l went to Newburgh
and with Gle Veland officers came toward Bed
lord, and when two miles this side of Bed
ford met the carriage containing DR..
Hughes. Andrews and others whom | did
not recognise. did not identify the person
who Jumped out of the carriage and ran to
the woods. When Tanner left my house
she said she was going to Mr. Christians.
| left my house in less than five minutes
| after Tamzen left. | was married TO the
sister of Tsmzen Parsons; | can't tell the
| time in Pennsylvania, at Smiths Ferry |
lived at Bedford at that time my wife's
name was Anna Parsons; her home was in
Bedford l had known Tamzen perhaps ten
years.
At the conclusion of this witness testimo.
:.