Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-12-18
New Philadelphia Correspondence Clevelan
Herald.
A "Reminiscences of Early
Times.

| lctuUcT, civil, quiet man nafneu JOnn-
ston, fell in with the post-boy, young
Cartmell, as he was carrying the mail
from Freeport to Coshocton, and when
night came OH the two stopped at the
tavern kept by Mrs. Sarah Booth, on
the Coshocton road. The next day they
continued their journey together, and
after going about three miles came to a
spring of clear cool water, where john
ston paused to get drink while the
mail carrier rode on up the hill. The
sharp report of a gun and scream OF
terror burst simultaneously upon the
ear of Johnston, who hastily ran on and
found the poor boy sweltering in his
own blood, and so near dead that he
could not speak. No one else was in
sight, but as he leaned over the dying
youth man came out of the woods and
remarked, ''Do you say that 1 killed
that man?" Johnston replied "No, !
have not said so." Again the stranger
asked, 'tDo you say | killed him?
Johnston looked full at him and said,
"No, sir, but somebody has killed him,
and we must alarm the neighbors.'
swell, go you to Booths and I'll go to
Morgan's, and tell them about" was
the answer. CThe circumstances oc-
Cured about midway between these two
houses.) Johnston hurried away,
brought help back with him, but the
other man alarmed ne one and came not
back himself. Consequently Johnson's
word was doubted, in spite of his appar-
ent sincerity, and he was arrested and
brought to the New Philadelphia Jail,
which was 4 log house standing on the
ground now occupied by our public Of
fees. He protested his entire innocence
of the charge, over and again, but cir
cumstances were all against him, some
persons even declaring that he had a
gun when he passed by that day with
Cartmell. A ten dollar bill that the
mail boy was known to have had in his
possession was missing, but could not
be found about the imprisoned man.
Hence notice containing deserip-
ton OF the bill was printed in the Tus-
carawas Chronicle edited by Judge Pat
rick,) and went forth to do Its work.
A young man named Funston, then
living near Newcomerstown, went to
Shanesville to have gun repaired, and
gave the gunsmith ten dollar nete
from which to make change. This man
went in turn to the dry goods store of
Mr.. Smith of that town, and gave the
same in exchange for goods. Smith at
once recognized it as the one advertised
and traced it back to Funston. john
ston was asked if he would know the
man he had met on the day of the MUIR
der, were he to see him again. He said
he could select him from crowd. Ac-
cOrdingly many of the citizens and
country people were formed in circle
around the prisoner, with Funston
among them. Johnston raised his hag-
gard face and cast his eyes over the as
semblage until they Glanced to fall on
Funston. Springing to his feet he point
ed toward him with an emphatic gesture
and exclaimed, 'sThat is the very man."
"Y on are liar," said Funston. "YOu
are the very man; know your voice."
reiterated the prisoner, and then turn
ing to the officers present, he told them
of scar they would find on the hand |
of the man, and said, in case of its abb
sence, he would acknowledge he was
mistaken. The scar was found just as
he said it would be. Two maiden sis
ters of Jobnston's were present at this
discovery, and could not repress their
joy, but screamed out, thanking God
that "John, guide old John, would be
free." 1t was then remembered that
Funston had peeped from between the
logs of an old house to see Johnston,
as he was brought to New Philadelphia,
but had not gone out to the road side
with the other people. The innocent
man was released and went to his home,
in the vicinity of Steubenville.
1t is supposed, as the long, dresry
months passed away, Funston would
confess to some one the motive that in
cited him to the commission of the deed
but though the pangs of remorse wore
upon the poor mans body and soul, he
was silent. His trial came of under |
the jurisdiction of Judge Harper of
at the November term of
Court of Common Pleas, in the year
1925. find that the indictments fer
Johnston and Funston were made out
by B. NJ. Atherton, prosecuting attor- !
ney. f. W. Garfield was at that time |
Clerk of the Court. VIM. COnwell was,
in this case, foreman of the grand jury.
was found guilty OF murder in
the first degree, and sentenced to be ex-
ecuted the latter part of December, 1925.
The night of the 29th he attempted to
take his own life by hanging himself
with his suspenders. They broke, and
he fell on his head, hurting himself bad
ly. Judge Patrick then went to him
and obtained full confession. He said
it was love of money that urged him
to the deed; and that it was his inten-
ton to waylay drover named Smeltz-
er, who was known to have with him
the proceeds of a considerable sale, and
who was expected to pass over the Co
shocton road on the day of the murder.
He was three hours late and young
was killed i'm his stead. Funston
said he would have given his own life to
have restored the innocent young man
who had once taken him to his mothers
house, and during sickness of some
time, lavished upon him the kindest at
On the 30th of December, Funston
was taken to the place of execution,
which was on an elevation OF ground
west of New Philadelphia, in what is
now called Allentown, but then large
open space. Long before daylight men,
women, and children were on their way
to this place, and Tuscarawas has never
known such crowd as was gathered
from far and near on this occasion.
Some persons climbed on the high trees
about the place to get a fun view of the