Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-04-09
The Result of SuPerstitiOus Gree
duIity-A Man Chops Off his
NeighbOr's Head with AN AK.

LFrom the Detroit Post, March 29.l f.
Another of those startling and horrible
events which periodically agitate the COM
munity occurred yesterday in the vicinity
of the quiet village of Swan Creek, on tn e
Michigan Southern g Northern Indiana
railroad. It seems that a boy in the viii
lage has, been and is credited with the
powers of second-sight, or a species of
prophetic vision, which has given him con-
siderable notoriety. The most ancient fe-
male has sought his aid, and the avaricious
have conferred with him concerning mat
ters of monetary consideration. 1t is said
that he is in possession OF stone, through
the manipulation of which he can see won
derful things and opens the concerns of the
past, present and future, with as much
facility as the most mysterious minded
could imagine. His powers of seer
ship have been doubted, but notwith-
standing this many have focked to his
fathers house to test his visionary mode
of revelation. From this blind confidence
most horrible incident has occurred, re-
sulting in the death of a hard-working
and probably innocent, man. 1t seems
that man named Kelson lost an ak, and
suspected neighbor named Watkins of
stealing it,. 1t being sugar time, Kelson
needed the services of the blade, and pro-
ceeded with wrathful feelings to Watkins
shanty for the purpose of getting the inn
plement The peculation was Indignantly
denied, but SO well satisfied was Kelson
that Watkins had the ak in his possession
that he openly accused him of it. A per-
sonal encounter ensued, during which Kel-
son received the worst of it. After this he
went to the boy alluded to, and was told by
him, after consultation with the stone,
that Watkins had stolen the ak. Satisfied
that it was true, he returned and renewed
the quarrel. What passed between them
is not known. but that most fearful en-
counter took place cannot be doubted, as
Walking shanty is beSmeared with blood.
His doorway is beSpattered with blood, and
other horrible evidences OF a desperate
fight are apparent. ~
How the circumstances of the affair first
became known are not apparent, neither
can history of the deadly fight be read
until the inquest takes place, but that it
was a terrible one cannot be doubted
yards from the shanty, with his head liter
ally cut to pieces, and a CHASTITY wound on
his right breast, sufficient of itself to have
caused death. .t. ..
A more horrible or sickening sight than
the body of the wounded man presented
would be impossible to conceive. His skull
was battered in, and a gaping wound on the
left side of the head, of the measure of the
ak, exhibited how fearful blow had been
given. Watkins, after the occurrence, left
the place, and, it is reported, gave himself
up to the authorities at Monroe, but how
far this is true remains vet to be told. He
is spoken of as bold, vicious. bad man,
whose ill-temper has made him the terror
of the neighborhood. Many regard the
massacre as the evil results of the boys
representations, but at the same time are
willing to be rid of the companionship OF
so dangerous neig ghbor. ... e., ,,.s