The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1871-08-10
NUMBER 9
LAYTON Kills BEDFORD.

Seduction and fits Consequences.
We take the following from the Nevada
Times Of the l4th inst:
On Monday last man arrived at Ball
town, and put mp at the hotel kept by AR.
Pennington. He appeared to be q very
quiet man; was riding splendid horse,
and wore q brace of revolvers. he talked
very little to any one, but made some
casual inquiries about q man by the name
of Bedford. On Tuesday he was absent
all day, returned in T.. evening, and
Wednesday he made arr? gs'insnts to have
his horse taken care of two Or three days;
but in short time he changed his mind
got his horse, fired off and cleaned Hp his
pistols, and said he would take a ride
While riding along, Layton, who did the
shooting, was overtaken by one of the
citizens of Usage, who was going to Marsh
Owens house, where they were threshing
wheat, and they got into conversation.
When they came to Owens land, Layton
asked the neighbor ''is this the road we
20 P' the gentleman answered, ''that is
according to where you want TO 60" Lay
ton said, ooh any where, not particular"
They rode on down the lane to near the
house, got off their horses, and hitched
them to the fence, and got over into the
yard where the thresher was at work. I'm
mediately after crossing the fence Layton
began pulling off the glove Of his right
hand with his teeth and walking toward
the machine which was still at the time
When within about thirty steps of Bed
ford, Bedford saw him, turned and ran,
Layton drew his pistol and fired, the first
shot dropping him, Bedford arose and
started again when another shot brought
him to the ground, then Layton stepped
up to him and put another ball through
him as he lay on the ground. Bedford Was
shot through the thigh, through the bowels
from back to front, and through the chest
from back to front, penetrating the lungs.
After firing the third shot and seeing his
victim lying helpless before him with the
blood running from his mouth, he turned
and walked to his horse, mounted and
leisurely cantered out to the mouth Of the
lane, and then walked his horse until out
of sight. Layton never spoke a word af-
ter crossing the fence, but did his work
coolly and deliberately.
1t appears that during the war Layton
had Bedford in his employ. He trusted
him with his family and his honor, which
Bedford took advantage of by seducing
Layton's wife, which he has now paid the
penalty. Layton has been hunting his
victim for several years.
The Times is inaccurate in its last para
graph. L. S. Layton and Stephen Bedford
were formerly residents of this county
About two years ago Mr.. Layton engaged
in the mercantile business at Forsyth,
Missouri, and:employed Bedford as clerk
Layton was frequently from home, Bed
ford boarded with his family. It was
then, it is supposed the intimacy between
him and Mrs. Layton sprung up, In the
spring of 1870, Layton removed to Yell
vile, Arkansas, and was one of the lead
ing merchants Of that town. He did not
suspect the infdelity Of his wife until
about six weeks ago, when she left hone
on pretence of visiting her fathers family
in Taney county, but eloped with Bedford
and came to this city. Layton followed
in hot pursuit. Bedford found he was de-
tected and Immediately left the city. Lay
ton after taking the necessary steps to
procure divorce returned home. he was
again IN the city about two weeks
since, from whence we suppose be pro-
ceeded IN search of his quondam friend,
and found him as narrated by the Nevada
Times. All the parties to this melancholy
affair are known to the older inhabitants
of this county. ti~ tc1
The offence was grievous. The revenge
natural. The finale tragical. We have
no comments to offer.-SprigqfeId No.
Leader.