The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-30
ESPECIAL TELEGRAPHG REPORT FOR THE EVEN
RGR

ESPECIAL TRLEGRAPHI0 REPORT FOR THE EVEN.
ING TELEGRAPH.l
CINCINNATI, April 30, lS07.-To day the muir
derers Of James Hughes, Goetz, Case, and Aul,
gus, will suffer the extreme penalty which the
,av ,,ncches TO their crime which, thanks to
an advancing civilization, has few parallels 10
the annals OF the West. Life is often taken in
passion but the occupation OF the highway
robber has nearly departed. Your money or
yur life" is seldom heard, even IN the most ueso-
late regions, at this day.
The Crime.
Less than three months have passed since
the commission of the crime for which tnese
three youths are thus speedily TO be executed.
On the morning of the Sth OF February last the
whole community were STARTLED and horrlned
nTominent citizens had been assailed and MUIR
dered on the highway; but by whom and from
what motive no one Knew, save Lhe perpetra-
tors OF the deed; nor was there aught but
the slightest clue to the mystery-a clue which
gave no promise OF even aisIahI soduIloni li
impenetTable was unveiled and the criminals
were all in the hands of the officers OF the
Leading from the city to the northwest is a
desolate road running alongthe banks of "a little
stream called Lick Run-skirted on either hand
by hills whose uninViting sides are coveredwith
undeTbrush and scrub trees-juSt the spot which
the robber would choose to waylay his victim.
The valley is, perhaps, a mile and half or two
miles in length, and leads to one of the most
beautiful suburbs In all TINS section; and during
house, save on the hill tops, to the right and to
the left, so that the cries OF the traveller or the
and the daring villain could pounce upon and
rob his victim and escape, leaving no trace
behind to lead to his identification.
1t was on the evening of The 7th of February,
at about7 o'clock, that Hughes was murdered;
Tim. struck the blow before he had fairly
reached the desolate portion of the valley, and
the consequence was that the neighborhood was
aroused, and they were compelled to fly,
almost on the instant that the murder was
committed, and before they were able to even
snatch off the watch of their victim, though
that would have required but q moment. over
the hills they fed, leaving the lifeless corpse OF
Hughes bleeding by the roadside-hed, but only
10 be entrapped in net which their own
fears, if not their own consciences, had set for
them.
Mr.. Hughesw was man of over 90 years OF age
and chief book keeper for II. b. Smith & 90
the most extensive coal dealers in Cincinnati
and q man highly esteemed by all who knew
him. His residence is in Green township, ad
Joining the farm of the late Hon. John A. Cur.
ley, who represented the First District of this
State in Congress for several years but who
previously had been Universalist preacher
Hughes was a member. Although old, ht
appeared in the prime of life, his strong con
stitution and temperate habits having, in
great measure, defed the inroads of age; anC
but moment previous to the murder, he hue
every prospect that his life would oe prolonget
a series of years at least He had around hin
q wife and four children, the latter all young
oTed not only as an upright citizen, but as on
of the best practical business men In the Who'll
country.
The Commission OF tho Orlhes
The scene of the crime was within fifty yard
OF the last house an the Lick Run Valley
little boy who lived there, named Leonard ke
Ier had been away on an errand, and had jus
returned, when his attention was attracted 2
a loud shout:-"Stop, no there y ana InsIantl
three shots we're fired from pisIei, Ehe ooy
once raised an alarm, and in moment halI
dozen parties were on the grounG; 1uI VINE
they reached the spot the victim was ueau an
the villains had departed, leaving no trace !
which they could be followed, as the nlghJ WI
dark, cold, and raining. The boy remempeI'
that he had seen three men-one very Tall,
second of medium size, and the third very smt
passing along the road; that they were spea
ing in English while he was a German al
could not understand them, and paid lit
Attention to their actions; but as nothing cou
now be seen of them, 1t wasIpretty evident TN
they were the murderers; but who they wei
whence they came, or whittier they hed, was
profound mystery.
The horse attached to Hughes buggy n
ranidly home, and on reaching the gate a s
inmped into the vehicle and started in scar
~ his father as to whose fate he had not
Si,9htest conjecture, nor did he suspect the ia
nn9il ne came to the place where the murC
rad heen committed The crowd assembled
once placed the body in carriage, and tool
70 his beTeaved family, and on the morning
t6e gth a coroner's inquest was held, but
S,i1 fact developed which could throw ~
upon this subject was the statement Of the