Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1872-12-18
Porter, the alleged Child Murderer.

III Au6 hhEECu jail las w
oner and the crime a shade of local in
terest, and considerable desire is mani
tested to learn the particulars of the
transaction. Various rumOrs and news
paper reports are in circulation, and we
have taken some pains to obtain all the
more material details that could be
reached.
The deed was committed at about Z
o'clock last Friday morning, near the
village of Columbisna, in COlumbisns
county. Mrs. Porter, her three brothers,
Jacob, John and Solomon, and her sister
lydia were in the house, and all except
Mrs. Porter were engaged in cracking
walnuts. Porter, with a Ratchet, seated
himself with the other members of the
family and commenced crarking wal
nuts, showing nothing unusual IN his
amer Ater a brief interval MIS-.
Porter vent up stains to attend to some
work. Porter quietly rose and walked
into an adjoining apartment, where his
oldest child was alone. After closing the
door be struck the child three blows with
the edge of sharp Ratchet, cutting a ter
rible cash at each stroke on the top of
the head. either of which would have
produced almost instant death. He then
opened The door leading into the room in
which the other members of the family
were seated, aud seized his youngest
child, dragged it into the room, and
struck it W blows on the top of the head,
burying the hatcbet deep into the brain
at each stroke. He then walked into the
adjoining room, and threw the hatcher,
all covered with blood and brains, into =
wood box, put on his hat, and started out
Of the house, passing as he did so hi
wife, who on hearing the first child utter
apitiful cry as he struck it the first blow,
had come down stairs TO see what wa
wrong. On seeing her husband thro"
down the Ratchet, she asked him NhsI
he had done. His answer was that be
had done what he had ought to have done
before, and he could not help it. She
hurried to the room where the deed bad
been committed. and seeing her children
lying in their own blood, ran out to the
road and gave the alarm to the neigh6ors,
several of whom lived near and were OH
hand in a lew minutes.
Porter made his way TO Letonia. Dis
patches were sent in every direction, and
at Leionia, Marshal Roller. in about
twenty minutes, saw Porter crossing the
railroad track and started after him. On
approaching him Porter turned round
and gave himself up. and asked the off
Ger t. protect him from those who were
in pursuit of him.
The Marshal took the prisoner to lie
tonia, and he was Immediately arraigneu
before Josiah ~Rnhenbaugh, Esq, for =
hearing, when he plead not guilty " tn
the charge of wiilful murder. After
hearing the testimony in the case, the
Justice c,mmitted him for trial at the
next terra OF the Court of Common Pleas,
and sent him under a strong escort t.
Ne , Lisbon.
The Justice then empanneled a jury
and proceeded to the house where the
deed had been committed to hold an in
quest, when the following facts were
elected:
Mrs. Porter was sworn, and deposed as
follows: al am the wife of Ir ain G.
Porter. Saw Porter so up stairs several
times this morning. At one time 1 was
up stairs. He asked me il he could gel
int his chest. 1 said he could by NOV
ing some things. He did so, and opened
the chest and took out his Ratchet. !
went down stairs, and in a short time re
turned up stairs to - axe the beds. POr
ter vas standing at the window. he
went down stairs. Did not see him have
his ratchet. The next time I went up
he must have had it under his clothes
In a short time I heard Minnie utter a
pirtul cry. Started down stairs TO SEE
what was the matter, and met Porter
coming out of the room with the hatch
ct. which he threw into b wood box.
1 sail, "Erb.. what have you done?"
He ans Wered, II a done l ough'
to have done, and could not help II, and
he Immediately left the house. l opened
the door and saw my children lying Oh
the floor dead. L ran out of the house
and gave the alarm to he nelghLors
Did not know of his drinking or being
intoxicated at the Time. He lett hont
about the first of April last, and did moi
return until about the middle OF Octo
her, He said he WAS in Illinois. Abou
three months g be threatened to take
nv life and the lives OF my children
Minnie was three years old on the 22d oil
November last, and Adelaide one yeai
old on the SD of October last"
Several other witnesses were exam
ined, whose testimony was only corrob-
orative of that given above.
M Ii =, E,-Ar Of 1-nahTn0 fha |
prisoner being intense in Columbisns
county, it was deemed prudent to bring
him to Trumbull county for greater Sc
curly.
To a CHRONICLE reporter he said he
was born in the year Is4O, in Columbian
county. and has mostly lived there. He
has been married twice-frst 10 a Mis-
Young, who obtained a bill of divorce
His present wiie's maiden name was
FIickinger, to whom he las been mar
ried about four years. Had no children
by his first wife; had three by his second
wife, one having died some time since
Porter served three years in the war o
the rebellion in Go. c, -4th O.. vi, II
SuD~GQu6ullN IS-CnlASAC0 N"O 'N
Ohio, continuing in b service until the
war ended, having participated in man.!
OF the principal battles. At the close al
the war he went to Illinois, snd for sew
eral months was employed teachin
school. On returning to Ohio he worked
at the trade of carpenter, in COlumbiana
He claims he never had any dis gree
ment with his last wife Says he hs>
been living with his father in law for The
last two months, and complains of th'
bad treatment his wife aud children re-
ceived at the hands of his wife's parents
and brother. They never, however
abused him. In regard to the crime with
which he is charged, he is uncommunl-
cative; denies having ever confessed hi
guilt to anyone, as was reported in the
Pittsburgh Commercial
In personal appearance Porter is man
Of rather fine physique; over six feet
high, well proportioned, and weighs
about one hundred and eighty pounds.
His head is small for a person of his bod
fly proportions. 1hs stiff, black, short
hair with which his head is covered,
grows thickly down the forehead, giving
it q narrow and unintellectual appear
.Dca C,mnIexion dark Evidently he