The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-10-01
THE ROMANCE OF CRIME.
The Famous Michigan Bank Defal
cafion-One of the Most Romantic
Cases ON Rerord

most interesting that has over been
tried in the United States Circuit Court
for the Northern District of Ohio. The
history of the case is as follows: In
1863, William W. Treadwell was en-
gagged in the banking business at Hud.
son, Michigan-a young man possessing
large capital, excellent business habits,
temperate and frugal to high degree
in his tastes and expenses, devoted to q
young wife, to whom he had become
attached at Oberlin, while there at
school, possessing tho most unbounded
confidence on the part of the cOmmu-
nifty in his integrity and business capa-
city, he seemed in fair way to become
happy and prosperous.
About Christmas, 1868, in company
with his wife, young Treadwell visited
his father-in-law, Samuel Hester, resid-
ing near Centreville, Huron county,
Ohio, remaining there until after New
Years Day. From the time of his re-
Aturn to Hudson after the holidays,
TTreadwell's whole course of conduct
changed. His home was neglected, bor-
rowing money from every quarter, prin-
cipally from banks, on Cleveland, Chi
cago, Detroit, Adrian and Hillsdale, I'M
til he had accumulated, up to the Doth
of January, 1868, from all sources, over
$50, 900 of borrowed money and depos-
it's, On that night he ran away with all
this money slowed into black satchel,
and carried no other baggage. The
next morning the clerk, in endeavoring
to open the safe as usual, discovered
the combination of the key changed,
but after many efforts succeeded in
opening it, finding nothing therein of
value, although the day before it was
filled with money.
Nothing was seen of Treadwell for
some time, he probably having wan
dered, pursued by that remorse Of con-
science which always accompanies the
first attempt at crime, until February
6th, when ne arrived in Mansfield un.
der the assumed name of G. Clemmer,
which name he entered on the register
of the North American Hotel, then kept
by c. G. Townley. While in the city
he met bosom friend, a Mr.. Palmer, at
whose fathers house he boarded when
in Oberlin. Taking Palmer into his
room, he showed him large amount OF
money in his coat pockets and in his
black satchel, telling him that he was
in debt, had nearly $4,000 with him,
and intended to return to Hadson and
pay his debts. On the evening of the
10th Mrs. Treadwell and her father
came to Mansfield with a small trunk,
and had an interview with Treadwell
alias Clemmer.
The next morning the party started
for the depot in an omnibus, but before
arriving at the train, Treadwell and
his wife were arrested, and the trunk
searched, Hester having possession OF
/ the black satchel, with which he disap-
peared. Treadwell was taken to Mich
| ican, aud there tried for obtaining
money under false pretences, found
guilty and convicted. The last day OF
the trial Mrs. Treadwell secretly gave
her husband about $4,000, and that same
evening he broke Jail in company with
horse thief named John Cowell, to
whom Treadwell disclosed the fact oi
his having h Large Al amount f,.Jn Of m91PqsX 1PqX{
Adrian into Henry county, Ohio, where,
on the night of the 4th of July, 1864,
| Cowell murdered his companion in the
woods two miles from any human hab-
itation, and his money and gold watch
were taken from him.
Long afterward, wood chopper hap
peuing to pass through the woods, trod
upon a dry stick, which broke with a
loud noise, startling a number of crows.
| Curious to know what had attracted
them to that spot, the man went to see,
and discovered the body of Treadwell
By series of providential circumstance
es, the body was identified as Tread
wells and the murder traced to COwell,
who was convicted in May, 1865, and
executed in the September following
after confessing his guilt. Samuel Hes
ter we left in Mansfield the morning OF
| Treadwell's arrest. The same after
noon q traveller stopped at the house OF
Solomon Laughlin, householder, liv-
ing about two miles from Greenfield and
twenty miles from Mansfield. The man
had black satchel hung on stick over
his shoulder; his feet were wet and
muddy, and he looked completely eX-
hausted. Mr.. Laughlin gave him his
supper and dry pair of socks, after
which the traveller hired Laughlin's
two sons to convey him to Greenfield
Just before arriving at Greenfield the
traveller lay down in che bottom of the
wagon and got up again after passing
through the town. He said he thought
he would not stop. but would go on
about two miles farther, where he lived
The boys drove him to certain cross.
road, when our traveller pointed to q
light shining some distance down the
road, and said he lived there, but he
had no accommodation or he would ask
them TO remain all night. He then got
out of the wagon, and the boys noticed
tlat he started up the road in a con-
tmry direction from the place where he
had pointed out his house to be. The
tmveler had given Mr.. Laughlin his
name, which was that of thief who
had broken Jail in Mansfield some time
before, and for whose capture a reward
OF $50 was offered by the sheriff of Rich,
land county.
Laughliu happened to be in Ceatre-
vile few days after, and saw the trav,
elsr in lumber yard, inquired his
name, and found it was Samuel Hester
Thinking he had assumed the name,
Llughlin got posse OF men and en-.
d1avored to arrest Hester, having
tncked him to his house few miles
fr,m Centreville, but Hester drove
them off with firearms. Seeing the
sane man in the cars, he telegraphed to
tie sheriff. Upon receiving the tele,
gam the sheriff and his deputies came
to Laughlin's, who brought them to
Hsster's house, and upon seeing Hester
the deputy sheriff declared he was not
the man who broke Jail in Richland
county. Laughlin, however, knew and
syore positively on the trial that Sam
mel Hester and the traveller who came tC
: his house that night with the black
sstchell, were the same person.
Soon after, a woman having somt
work to do for Mrs. Hester, called
there. and learned that Mrs. Hester
was in the bedroom; upon going into
tbe room to see her, she surprised Sam
mel Hester, Mrs. Treadweil and Mrs
Hester with a large amount of none!
in their possession, on Hester's knees