The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-02-04
Horrible Murder at Austinbure.

Horrible Murder at Austinburg.
80 The Geneva Times furnishes tho fol-
lowing details of most horrible
murder committed in the township of
Austinburg, Ashtabula county, on the
evening of January 22d:
One of those cold-blooded murders
which occur in quiet, rural neighbor-
hoods at long intervals, and leave an
,intenser shock because of their infre-
quency, was committed in the town.
ship of Austinburg, sAshtabula county,
on the evening of the 22d of January.
Robert Pray, man upward of seventy
years of age, shoemaker by trade
and living alone, was assaulted in his
shop by some person or persons not
knewn at this time of writing, his
brains were, beaten out with a hand
ak, his throat cut, and his body secreted
.npder hts bunk i1ranother room.
Mr.. Pray was an eccentric mana
hermit in his way. of life, and had
ived in his solitary way some forty
five; wears. About nine years ago he
was knocked down in his shop one
evening by stranger, who, becoming
kIfrightened, left without his INTENDED
pluaders aud the old mans life was
saved. Since that time he has been
cautious, and fastened up his house at
dark, admitting no one except neigh
bars and acquaintances. The shop he
occupied was about lQxl2 feet. Those
well acquainted with its interior az
rangement say that on block near
and to the left of the door he always
fskept IA hand-axs Near ethisowas his
working bench: and just back of this
ithe stove.6 80 i7-9r.l issl
i,NylThere seems to be no doubt but that
two were engaged in the murder. 1t
is probable that some acquaintanee-a
1 pretended friend of the old man
gained admission. In the meantime
some confederate, who had been made
acquainted with the arrangement OF
the room, the location of the bench of
the deceased, the whereabouts of the
ak, entered, and being saluted in fa.
miliar way by his friend, no suspicion
would be aroused in the mind of the
deceased. The old man was bent oven
his work, the AK was seized, and the
blew dealt .HpQn the back Of his head
which laid him senseiess upon the
floor. Other blows followed, and his
skull was crushed, in, scattering his
brains around the room.
Mr.. Pray was quiet, inoffensive
industrious man, and had ITO enemies.
He. was frugal, always earning money
4 and, aspendiag hllt little. Fpr oVel
forty years he had beem accommodating
more or loss money, and it had come
to be generally supposed that he hat
boarded up large sums. This rlmor
whether. true or false, cost him at las
d his life. The sole and only motive fol
the dark deed was to get possession o
hidden treasure which was supposed
to be in the, old mans possession. The
anurderersa probably got nothing, a
they were, without doubt, frightened
away py ths driving up Of Nessrs
Tiffany and Luce, before the body o
the deceased was fairly deposited un
der the bunk.
SEARCH YVES made next day, whicI
d resulted in the finding of some S95S il
gold, S120 in silver, and about $50 il
greenbacks, scrip and small coin.
So far as we know, suspicion ha!
f singled out no one. There are bu
few circumstances which will serve i
tracing out those who did the deed.
~ From the location of the bench up
on which the old man was seated, an
, the wounds upon his head, he wa
. killed by left-handed blow.
The tracks oftwomen were followe
next morning, leaving the premise
upon the run, In sqqtheastpply diroe
tion, as evidenced by tracks in drift
!, of snow-, One had made desperat
ump not far from the, scene of Grim