Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-10-06
THE ROMANCE OF CRISrE.
The End of n Series Of Horrible
Crimes.
VerificatiOn Gf the Old Adage
"Murder VIII Out.o

!
istrator of the estate of William w
Treadweli, deceased, recovered of Sam.
uel Hester verdict for S38, 8,514 49,.
VIM. w. Treadwell, several years ago
was q scholar at the famous Oberlin
school, in Ohio. He there fell deeply in
love with Miss Hester, daughter OF
Samuel Hester, from Huron county, in
the same State. 10 due time they were
! married, and young Treadwell succeeded
his father in lucrative banking buei-
ness st Hudson, in Michigan. This was
in the year 1853.
About Christmas that year he went
with his wife on visit to her fathers,
in Huron county, and remained there
until the holidays we're over. After his
return from this visit he commenced
borrowing money in various quarters,
principally Of banks in Cleveland, De-
troit, Adrian, Chicago, and Hillsdale
On the 20th OF January, 1864, he had sc-
eumulstsd in his bank over $50, 900. On
the night of that day he ran away, TAX
ing with hia all this amount Of money,
in black satchel. IA
Nothing more was heard of him until
the Sth day OF the following month, Feb
ruary, when he appeared, under an as
sumed maine, at hotel in Mansfield,
Ohio, where he was met and recognized
by an old friend, son OF the man at
whose house he had boarded while at
school at Oberlin. This mans name
was Palmer. Treadwell was very coufi-
Dental with him, and told him that he
had about $4,000 in his posession, and
that he was going to return to Hudson
and pay his debts.
Two days later Treadwell's wife and
her father, Samuel Hester, Joined him at
Mansfield; and on the very next morn
ing TTeadwell and his wife were arrested.
Their bsggsge-so much of It as could be
found, for the black saehei was missing
was searched, but no money was found.
The day after his arrest TresdwelI was
taken to Michigan, where he was suhse-
quently tried for obtaining money by
false pretenees, convicted and sentenced.
His conviction took place July LIST. and
during that day his wife contrived pri-
vately to hand him $1,000. He was re-
manded to jail, and on the night of the
same day he broke out, In company with
s notorious horse thief named CoweII,
who was confined in the same cell with
him. TreadwelI had with him large
amount Of money and gold watch,
hidden in his stockings. Cowell knew
about these things, as he had helped
lIoaQW6ll TO Secrete them.
They travelled together in q southerIy
until the 4th day of July, when
they were in Henry county, Ohio. On
that day Cowell, the horse-thief, muir
dered TreadTell in the woods, nearly
two miles from any house, and after rob |
Olng his body OF his money and watch, |
it and deeamped.
Not long afterwards laboring man.
hnnn Z In
was walking along through them, when |
he happened to step on dry stick which |
snapped with quite loud report. At |
This noise up flew flock of crows, at q |
little distance. Attracted by curiosity |
20 know what they were feeding on, the |
man went to the spct from which they |
lew, and to his horror found the dead /
body OF a man. This proved to be the /
'emains of the banker Tre2dWell,
CoWell, the thief and murderer, sold |
FTesdwell's watch for $50 in Cleveland.
where it was traced cut by q Captain Of |
Police. Other circum stantisl evidence
ending to fssten the guilt of the murder
lpon CoWell was discovered. He was
arrested, and in May, 1865, wac tried and
convicted, and in September following
vas executed. He acknowledged his
suilt on the scaffold. So mach for the
oolish and guilty banker, and his more
Oolish and guilty murderer.
Now for the black satchel which con-
aimed tie money, and its contents,
which were the root of so much evil.
at the time OF the arrest of Treadwell
md his wife at Mansfield, her father,
samuel Hester, made off with the
atchel. He was first seen twenty miles
rom Mansfield, his boots wet and
muddy, and himself tired out with the
weight OF the satchel which he had been
arryiDg. he stopped st the house of a
nan named Samuel Loughlin, where ne
te supper and changed his socks. After
upper be hired Loughlin's two sons to
AIRY him piece on the road-first as
ar as Greenfield, and then tive miles
eysnd.
Somehow in the perpetration of crime
verythlng seems to work wrong. Hes.
er considered it imprudent to travel
nder his own proper name; he was
fraid to do it; so he assumed another
ame. He was very unfortunate in the
election which he made. He took the
anne OF notorious thief who had bro.
en jail at Mansfield, and for whose
ecspture reward OF $50 had been ad-
ertlsed. This circumstance resulted in
cry serious trouble to him. Loughljr.
t whose house he had stopped uader
he assumed name of this thief. came
cross Hester second time at Centre
lille, and honestly believing him to be.
ot the thief he was, but the thief he
assed himself off for, determined to
ave him arrested. He proceeded to
Iester's house with posse of men for
nat purpose, but Hester came out with
revolver and drove them away.
loughlin then telegraphed to Mansfield
)r the Sheriff, who came with q Dep-
ty, but on seeing Hester they pro-
Ounced him not to be the genuine thief
tho had broke jail.
Not long after this a washwoman.
aving some washing to do for Mrs. Hes-
9r, went to her residence, and in looking
bout the house for that lady, suddenly
pened the door Of her bedroom, and
here surprised a party "counting out
heir money" This party consisted of
lree persohs-Samuel Hester, his wife
nd their daughter, Mrs. TreadwelI.
here was a very lsrge quantity of bank '
otes. Mrs. TreadWell had some in her
ands, and others were scattered over
le bed and in Hester's lap.
1t was considered to be eonclusiyely ,
roved on the recent trial that the man
no stopped at Loughlin's with the
lack satchel, and Samuel Hester, were
ne and the same; although Hester him
'lf and son of his swore positively to
le contrary.
The suit wss brought by the admins
atOr Of the murdered TreadwelI to re-
Iver the money for numerous creditors
no had been defrauded and, as already
ated, was successful. ,