Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1865-01-27
Attempted Murder in Ohio.

A daring and cold bIooded attempt 10
mur Ter was made Dec, 18th, upon mer-
| chant in Ravenna, Ohio. We take the fol-
lowing from the Medina (O.) Gazette:
For few days past New York run
ner, whose name we have not yet ascer-
tanned, has been in Ravenna soliciting or
ders, and had become quite intimate with
slr. Prentiss. He came into the store on
Saturday morning., and while Mr.. rren-
tiss was in the act Of fixing the fire in the
stove, the runner struck him heavy blow
on the head with an iron poker, telling him
to the floor. He then dragged the appar-
emily lifeless body of his victim down into
the cellar, and, TO finish up the joe, placed
large stone on top of him.
The object of this attempt to take the
life of Mr.. Preniiss was, undoubtedly, for
the purpose of robbing the safe, but for
some reasons the murderer became fright
ened, when he had got thus far in his dia-
bolical proceedings, and ran away without
taking any money or valuables, SO far as
is known.
The situation of Mr.. Preniiss was dis
covered soon after, and medical aid sum
moned. He was still alive on Saturday
evening, but there was very little hopes of
his recovery. A reward of FIVE hundred
dollars is offered for the capture of the
murderer.
The following further particulars are
from the Cleveland Herald:
The murderer's name is w. w. Flower.
On Friday nj ht Flower was in the store
of Mr. Prentss, and heard him tell his
clerk that in the morning he must deposit
the money in the bank. After Mr.. Prem
tiss left the store in the evening, Flower
asked the clerk to change for him hun
dred dollar bill, but the clerk declined TO
do it, and told him to call in the morning.
when Mr.. Prentiss would probably accom-
MEDIATE him. Flower seemed satisfied,
and left. In the morning, after breakfast
he went over 10 the store. Mr.. Prentiss
was engaged in shoveling the snow and
ice from the sidewalk. Flower made the
same request as he did the night before,
to which Mr.. Prentiss assented, and they
passed into The store. Mr.. Prentiss I'M
locked the safe, took out the money. and
proceeded to count out the change for the
bill, and had probably counted out $50,
when Flower struck him two blows on the
back of the head, and seizing him by the
feet, dragged him through the trap door
into the cellar, as stated above. After he
had got bis victim into the cellar, probably
finding that the blows with the poker had
not fully accomplished the purpose, he took
loose stone from the cellar wall and beat
him on the head with it.
The murderer then probably went up
stairs to secure his booty; but just at this
time gentleman came in, and was seen by
Flowers, although himself unseen. The
gentleman discovered money scattered ON
the floor. and evidences of scuffle. He
called for Mr.. Prentiss but received no
answer, and perceiving the trap door to the
cellar open, looked down, when be saw Mr..
Prentiss lying there apparently dead. He
went into the cellar and found Mr.. Pren,iss
just able to speak, and to his question as
to who had done the deed, be replied.
!" Flower" and pointed to the open cellar
door that leads TO the back yard of the
store.
The gentleman gave the alarm. and il