The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1873-01-24

son and the Recovery Of the Stolen
Money.
Information reacIed the city yes
terday Of the arrest Of Simpson 7.
Caldwell, the murderer of X. II.
johnson, at Thy stars, Saturday eve
ming. The circumstances of the mur-
der and robbery are briefly as fol
lows; New Years day, Mr.. r. Fl.
Johnson, q planter living near Cold
water depot, Mississippi, hired q man
named Simpson T. Caldwell to work
on his farm. The next day Mr.. John.
son sold piecs of land for s1,100,
and
PLACED THE MONEY IN A TRUNK,
in the presence OF Caldwell, which he
locked and put the key in his pocket.
In tie afternoon he and Caldwell went
to the woods with axes on their
shoulders, and, soon after they reach
ed secluded spot, Caldwell, taking |
adVsntsge of a favorable moment,
dealt Mr.. johnson q blow % the head !
with his ax which felled him to the
ground. He then dealt him
TWO OTHER SUCCESSIVE BLOWS,
with the same wespon, one in the |
forehead and another on the top of
the head, crushing the skull and in
flicting fatal iujurIes. The murderer |
then took the trunk key from Mr.. |
Johnson's pocket, and gong bsck to
the house, compelled Mrs. johnson
to unlock the trunk, and give the
money, Sl,100, contained therein.
Having done this he jumped through
the window and made his escape.
Sheriff Daily, who lives at Cold
water, Immediately set every avenue
to work to ferret out the murderer,
but, Notwithstanding the whole eoun-
ry was aroused, and every available
means adopted to secure bis capture,
Caldwell escaped, and nothing could
be heard of his whereabouts.
DIR. RTTCHIE's JOKE.
Last Saturday DR.. Ritchie, who
lives at small interior town about
thirteen miles from Coldwster, known
as Thyatars, was on 9 little spree,
and the murder at Coldwater being
fresh in bis mind be accused every
one he met, in q jocular way, OF being
the man who had committed the
murder. Finally he met q stranger,
and eeing just tipsy enough not to
care whom he accosted or what be
,aid, he addressed the stranger in the
same manner; "Yes--you-
YOU ARE THE MAN
Who murdered johnson at Cold
water :" A look of guilt overspresd
he mans face, and simultaneously
le ran his hand in his bosom as if to
lraw a weapon. DR.. Ritchie obse-v-
ng the movements collared him with
MS left hand and with his right drew
! dirk from his pocket, and holding
t threateningly above him told him
I he attempted to draw q weapon he
would
PLUNGE THAT B.;IFE TO HIS HEART
q a second. He then commanded
he man TO withdraw his hand from
lis bosom, which command was
peedily obeyed, and, instead of a
the man drew out the sum
II 81, $50, which he dropped on, the
,round at his feet. Meanwhile q
.rowd had gathered around the Doc
or and his prisoner, and the evil
lences of the mans guilt were by this
ime so palpable that he was declared
o be under arrest and securely tied.
The next morning the suspected
nan, securely bound, was taken to
he residence Of Mrs. Johnson, by his
who, when they reached the
gate called the lady out.
THE MURDERER IDENTIFIED.
Mrs. johnson came out to the gate
and after speaking few words to the
gentlemen Of the party, her eye rest
ed on the face of the prisoner, whom
she Immediately recognized. She st
once became frantic, and begged to
be allowed to treat the man Caldwell
IN the same manner that he had treat
ed her husband, and it was with diff
,ulty that she could be restrained
rom doing the prisoner harm. The
lext step taken was to visit the gen.
lemsn who had paid the money to
Iir. johnson, and as soon as the
money found on the person of Cald-
yell was shown to him, he identified
ome OF the bills. The chain ct evi
ence was now complete, and the
risoner was turned over to Sheriff
,aily, to be taken to Hernsndo and
,dged in the county Jail at that place
N the way to fernando
CALDWELL CONFESSED y
} both the murder and the robbery,
ut gave no other excuse for the
orrible crime than the desire for
be eleven hundred dollars which he
ad seen paid to Mr.. johnson and de-
osited in the trunk.
At Coldwater he would certsinly
ave been mobbed but for the vigi-
snce Of the officer, so great was the
xeitement and indignation OF the
eople against him, and when lodged
4 the Hernsndo Jail the sheriff con
Idered it prudent to place 8 strong
uard around the prison to prevent
ny "mysterious escape.'