Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1871-11-29
EXECUTION OF JOHN H. HUNTER.

to be an instrument to assist in exc
cutting the Divine behest.
-"O"-
EXECUTION OF JOHN H. HUNTER.
Special Report for the CHRONICLE.
The final scene of the Gargett-Hunter
tragedy vas enacted at Akron on the
2lst inst, when the dread sentence of
the law, embodying a righteous retribu-
ton, was visited on the head of the
double offender againat its stern DEGREES.
The circumstances of the murder of the
Gargett family in R~ichfeld, Summit
county, a few months ago, are doubtless
not forgotten by your readers, so that a
brief resume emily will be necessary.
The family consisted of the father,
mother, abrother, by name Rodney, and
a daughter Chloe, who is the indirect
cause ofthe fearful and appalling tragedy,
the like Of which, with all its bloody
surroundings, has rarely been known to
the criminal records of Ohio. Hunter,
it seems, became acquainted with Miss
Gargett oil q visit, which acquaintance
gradually ripened on both sides into a
warmer feeling, finally resulting in an
engagement. Hunter returned to his
home in Michigan, whence he CORES
pended with Miss G., who finally from
causes not necessary to mention refused
to fulfill her plighted word. This mad
Gened Eunter, who procured a revolver,
and started for Ohio, with the expressed
intention Of having the girl, if he had to
kill the whole family to get her. Arriv-
ing at the home of the Gargetts, he
inquired Cor Chloe, and was informed
by her father that she did not desire to
see him, and finally that he could not
see her. This was enough to excite the
already aroused passions of Hunter to a
pitch of murderous desperation, and
drawing his revolver, he fatally wounded
Mr.. Gargett. Mrs. Gargett, who had
witnessed the bloody deed, had barely
time to tell her daughter to fly for her
life, when she too fell by a shot from
the death-dealing weapon. Then Rodney
Gargett grasped the rufian by the waist,
and a furious struggle ensued, ending in
the shooting of the brother also, though
the wound was not fatal. Not satisfied
yet, Hunter followed to the house of a
neighbor where Miss Gargett had has
tened, with the full intention of adding
her to the CORY list of victims, but in
this he was frustrated, in great part by
the lady Of the house, who with a cour-
age and presence of mind wonderful
under the circumstances, diverted him
from his purpose.
In due time Hunter was tried, and
Notwithstanding the hackneyed plea Of
insanity was adroitly urged in his be-
half, yet the jury vindicated the justice
of the law, and their sense of the eternal
fitness Of things, by pronouncing a
verdict Of guilty of murder in the first
degree.
Upon entering the Jail, the scafFold
almost Immediately caught the eye. 1t
is the same on which Parkes, DR..
Hughes, Davis, Jack Cooper, and Nc
Connell paid the penalty of their crimes,
and as an instrument for q sudden
taking of" is very much to the pur-
pose. The rope is said TO be of the best
OF Manila hemp, and to have cost fifty
dollars, though perhaps not longer than
twenty feet. The drop falls by means
of a lever behind and to the left. After
viewing the scaffold, we passed on to
where a guard stood TO prevent intrusion
on the prisoner. He was conversing
with his spiritual adviser in a low tone
varied occasionally by ejaculatory
prayer. The only connected words we
could hear were, "Well, my time has
almost come" He then began reeiting
the Apostles Greed, but had not pro-
ceeded far before he broke suddenly of,
exclaiming, "Oh! My Godi Pray for
me ; pray for me" in a voice indicative
o. intense, fearful agopyof mind. Soon
after the Sheriff approached, and as
sisted by the Rev. Mr.. Cooley, led the
prisoner slowly to and upon the scafold.
He reeled from side to side, whether
from weakness caused by loss of blood
from his suicidal attempt of the day be-
fore, OF from the "compulsion of base
fear" could not certainly be told.
There were present at this time the
following persons: F. A. Bradner,
Leader. S. A. Everett, Akron Times, and
Reporter for the Herald, Geo. Hoyt,
Plain Dealer, C. F. Kolbe, Editor Ger
mania, S. A. Lane, Akron Beacon, your
Reporter, G. W. Dickinson, Sheriff Of
Trumbull Co., o. B. Payne, Sheriff Of
Portage Co., ]. P. Taylor, Deputy q. S
Marshall, J.. R. Bowman, Dep. Sheriff
of Wayne Co., D. A. Scott, Constable,
J.. K. Holloway, MD, H. C. Howard,
ND, Rev. Father S~canlan, Rev. L.
Cooley. the prisoners spiritual adviser,
r. ]. Winter Atty, J. c. Martin, H. c.
Cochran, James Bowers, and the Sheriff
of Summit Co., 4. Curtiss, his brother
Mills Curtiss, and S. M. Whicher, Assis-
tant.
After being seated on the drop, the
death-warrant was read, and Hunter
was asksd if he had anything to say. He
replied, "Give me what time I have to
speak" The Sheriff replied ST can give
You ten minutes" After a few mo-
ments' delay, il a low monotonous tone,
save when he alluded to Miss Gargett,
at which time he lost control Of his
voice, and wept for = moment, Hunter
spoke nearly as follows:
"My friends, I am an innocent man,
and have got to die for that which I did
not intend TO do. I hope God will par
don me, and forgive me all my sins.
never committed any depreciation in
this or any other country. I have nc
enemies. I forgive them all. I have
no enmity against my girl Chloe Gargett
hope God will be with her, and that
she may meet me in heaven. Before
20 TO heaven myself I must forgive all
my enemies, The witnesses against me
sWore false, but I have no malice against
them. I am commanded TO forgive
them before I can go 10 heaven myself
Those people that / have innocently
shot, I hope viii meet me in heaven
Give my love to all, am On innocent
man for which I IN abo1t to give my
life. Inever ~premeditsted murder VIII
malice"