Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-08-06
.S30tvi I'D ffunVnra
-a[Erom the Dayton. Ohio. Journal. August Sd
THE FAlRFIELD CHILD MUIR
DER.ns

MurdererAFrested- De-
GEelopmeuts-His Confession-Horri.
bic Chapter of Crime. se 9li 3s ifs.
loOur readers will remember that we pub
Rshed, about fiveSweeks ago, the account
of the murder of the little daughter of
Mr.. Joseph F. Kneisley, of Fairfield, Ohio.
The body was found on the night OF the
18th of June, in the stable OF Mr.. Arthur
johnson, of the same village, and bore evi-
dent marks of strangulation and ravish-
ment.i Suspicion centered on an alleged
half-witted fellow, named Arthur johnson,
asotl OF the gentleman mentioned, but in
asmach as there was no available evidence
to fasten the guilt upon him, it was left to
time, and the course of events to divnlge
the dreadful details of the horrifying
crime! s5H a]G3m9iIi3z 91..I9f SD ls4f .rCls
For more than one month the public
mind was agonized with the fear that the
devilish cunning of the inbuman monster
would prove more than equal to the de-
mands of Justice, when one Nathan Van
curan, laboring man of the village, made
bold move to unearth the painful mys-
terry that surrounded the hideous and
bloody deed, and succeeded in fastening the
guilt upon young Johnson, on whom sus-
picion had been cast. Approaching john
son. Vancuran said to him, s Arthur, old
man Kneisly has been trying to get me to
arrest you for that murder-everybody
knows that you are the person who did it
-+now tell me all about it.' johnson hesi-
tated "a moment, looked around anxiously
and then, taking Vancuran by the sleeve, re-.
Piled s"Weil, Nate, Ill tell you all about it.
1kllled her! but didn't mean to do it. She
was down in the garden, and / asked her
tolcome into the stable. She didn't want
to come, but / coaxed her, and then she
came in. l caught her by the neck (encir--
cled her neck with both hands, and kissed
her, and then 80 When kissed
her. Iliited her off her feet, and when L
let her down, / believe she as about deadi
/ didn't mean to kill her When 1 found
she was dead, moved her to where she
was found that night. Yes, killed her,
Nate, but didn't go to do it.'n' lJg aa7IL;).
The same confession was made the next.
day Thursday last) to Mr.. Wilson, in pres.
enee of Mr. Vaneuran, and also, on this or
the day following, to the constable, Mr.
Baggs. When it became known that john
son had confessed the crime, it was the de-
Sire of many of the citizens that he be dealt
with Immediately according to lynch law
Quite a number collected, and waited on
Mr.. Kneisley in body to obtain his sanc-
tion5 to their intended action. but he dis
suaded them from their terrible purpose,
preferring to await the result of legal pro-
ceedings. He (Johnson) was therefore ar
rested, and brought before Justice Bennett
on Saturday. John A. Mcmahon, ESQ.,,
an able and distinguished member of the
bar, from Dayton, was employed conduct
the prosecution, and Messrs, d. A. Houk
and G. w. Spence, both eminent members
of their profession, the former of Dayto
the latter of Springfield, were engaged for
the defense. The testimony elected before
the Corener's jury was repeated His
teachers who were present and would have
given evidence if required, consider his in
telligenee very nearly, if not quite the
average, and give the best illustration of
his aptness 70 learn, in the statement that
he always stood first in his classes in all
the primary branches of learning.
The testimony of Mr.. Stiles and Mr..
Baggs included the facts given in the con-
fession to Mr.. Vancuran, after hearing
which. the State rested The defense had
no testimony to offer, and the question was
argued by the counsel whether he should
be admitted to bail. The Justice decided
that, as it was not the intention to commit
murder he regarded it a bailable of
tense, and placed the amount of bail at
four, thousand dollarsi At this Mn
Kneisly became. eXasperated, and mani
tested his intention of taking the law into
his own hands, by e&citedly endeavoring
to reach the prisoner. But the building
was crowded, and the way between him
and the prisoner being obstructed, and
friends restrained him before he could ac-
complish his purpose. Many persons SYM
pathized with the father and were strongly
disposed to lynch, young johnson, but the
excitement was controlled, and he was
finally removed from danger. at last ac-
counts, however, the people were greatly
excited. "a sV v4
,.e-i e., -f..t-15-5 ADDITIONAL. , -5.,---t ~. =
lDWe learn that after our reporter left Fair9
field bail was given for Johnson, and his
friends succeeded in getting him away
from town. The admission of such mon
ster to bail is inexplicable, and it is not
surprising that the people were exasper-
ated.pk - n15I 9ii5 = laHnaJ ctf ue 1lra5
EhsvsT e