Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1868-01-29
H THE CAUSE!
Testimony before the COrO-
Rer's Inquest.
Full Particulars.

South Warren, on last Friday evening
about hslf-psst six o'clock, was the scene
of the most bloody, premeditated and des-
perate tragedy that we remember having
ever occurred in the history of the town
or county; the reports of which sent a
thrill Of horror through the minds of our
citizens and caused intense excitement.
The report was to the effect that Charles
Frease, a young man living near Liberty
street. south Of the canal, had severely, il
not fatally, stabbed his wife and then made
good his escape in the darkness of the
evening. The widest rumors were afoas
concerning the affair, and kilograms were
at once sent In all directions, and arrange
ments made to pursue the would be muir
derer, as Soon as daylight came and any
trace of him could be discovered, when
seaI n for the guilty man was abandoned
for the night.
On visiting The house, Mrs. Frease was
found to be in a very critical condition,
having been stabbed some seven or eight
times in the back, side and arms-one of
the arms being frightfally gashed near the
shoulder and almost severed from the
body. One of the wounds in the back it
was feared had penetrated the left lung.
The Doctors Woods were soon at the house,
and rendered the injured woman every aid
in their power, and after probing and
dressing the wounds, pronounced them
very serious, but not necessarily fatal.
Soon after daylight, Mr.. VIM. PETER, a
brother of Mrs. F., found the ~lifeless
body of the would.be murderer lying in a
small enclosure a few rods in rear of the
house where he had the night before made
the murderous assault upon lis wife. Sup
posing he had deprived her of life, he
went out at the back door of the house,
and with the same weapon deliberately
took his own life. There were eight dis
tinct stabs on his left breast, one Of which
penetrated to the region of the heart, and
was sufficient to produce death. On the
left side of his neck was q terrible ugly
looking cash, some two inches in length.
Large numbers of our citizens visited
the place where the body was found, and
may they never be called upon to witness
another such sight as the stiff, ~lifeless form
that greeted their vision, which was struck
down through the influence of passion,
induced by the baneful effects of strong
drink.
The parties had been married since last
June only, and it appears from evidence
given before the Coroner's inquest, that
the malice he bore his wife was on &C
count of her refusal to furnish him money
from her earnings, thathe might purchase
drink and spree it She has the reputa-
ton of being an honest and industrious
woman.
The deceased was a native of this place,
we believe, about so years of age, and en-
tered the army as a private in Co. &C.
18th o. Y. I. in the three months service.
When the regiment recognized for
three years, he was again found serving in
the ranks of his old Company, and when
the regiment veteranized he returned to
the field and continued in service until the
organization was mustered u He is
represented as having been a brave and
good soldier by those who served with him,
his greatest fault being an inclination for
gambling. After coming home, this habit
confined to grow upon him, and, coupled
with it, a desire for strong drink, until
the little he had saved from has earnings
or winnings, were all gone, aud he was
forced to mmence labor.
For a couple of seasons he worked at
the Oil Mill of Messrs Dawson & Co,
where he is represented as having been
quite faithful and attentive 70 his duties.
Leaving this employment he went on the
railroad in the position of brakeman.
which he soon left. Immediately after
his marriage, he resumed his former habit
of gambling and drinking, and went from
bad to worse to such an extent that his
wife could not tolerate him. The whisky
iend was in full possession of his mind
and body, and like so many we read of
daily, in a moment of passion, it has hur-
ried him to destruction and left a name
that should be q warning 70 young men
who are now fornaingan appetite for strong
drink.
The body wascared forby Coroner Reed,
and on Sunday was buried in the old GEM
etery, the over his remains being
preached by Rev Mr.. Page, in the First
Presbyterian Church, in the presence of
concOgrse of people. The sermon is
of as being a very interesting and
appropriate one.
Below is the most important Of the tes-
elected at the Coroner's inquest /:
Mrs. Hettie PETERS, being sworn depo-
ses as follows:
Queslien-Stste what you know of the
death of Charles Frease? Answer-He had
been drinking and was half crazy when
be came into the house last night, said
that he would have his revenge, then took
hi. knife, and caught hold of Susan,
bis wife, and asked her if she would live
with him. She replied that she could not,
Is he had abused her and me, and be
,wore that he would kill me, if he had to
wade in blood up TO his knees, and to wait
years. Also, that he would burn down
he house. He then took his knife and
Susan; saw the knife in his hand;
vas a new enc, and could see the handle
can not recognize the knife,
shown her by the Coroner, as beng the
me with which the deed was committed.
saw him stab her once, and then l ran out
f the house; was in the kitchen about
P. NJ. Did not see anything after 1
eft the house. I went over TO my sons
louse, and returned in about a quarter OF
IN hour. Susan was over at Mr.. Fox's
y1ng on a lounge, and Charles was gone.
Did not see him until the next morning.
Question by Jury-Had they had any
difficulty Z! Ans.-None only that
he had told him that she. could not live
With him on account OF his drunkenness and
~Question-Did he say anything about
filing himself? Ans.-He told his vito :
hat he would do so, ID t
Question-When did he tell her this?- I
ms. Last night j
Question-When? Ans.-After he had {
hes, he said he had done what he