The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1873-06-06
MURDER OF STEPHEN SAWYER
The Body of the Murdered Man
Pound in a Pond-Coroner's In
quest.

On Monday May 26th, about o'clock p.
NJ, Mr.. Stephen Sawyer, who resided south
east of Bellevue, was driven nearly to the
village by hired man, where he got out and
walked the balance of the distance. His in
tention had been to take the western train for
Elmore, but stopping to talk with some one,
he did not reach the depot till the train had
pulled out. He then went to his brothers,
George Sawyer, and took tea leaving there
about half past seven to attend to some mat
ters up town, but with the expressed intention
of taking the 10 o'clock train, and returning
the next day. About o'clock he went into
the office Of the Exchange hotel, took seat
by the window, and remained until nine or a
few minutes after nine o'clock. He talked
with Mr.. Ford and spoke Of going to Elmore
on the 10 o'clock train. Where he went after
leaving the hotel is not known, but ne was
seen crossing the square going south toward
the depot, by W. H. Moore, druggist, and Al
bert Stahl, his clerk, who had closed the store
at 20 minutes Of 10 o'clock, aud were on their
way home. That is the last time that he is
known to have been seen alive.
Not reaching home on the following day,
his friends became alarmed, and on Wednes-
day telegrsphed to Elmore to learn what de-
tanned him, and received a reply stating he
had not been there. Their anxiety increased,
and suspicious of foul play were entertained,
but no clue was gained of the missing mans
whereabouts until on Friday. After the dec
Grafton services, by the advice of Rev. E. Per-
sons, search was made in the vicinity, and a
party of five or six persons visited the pond
to the south of Woodward's distilIery, and
there found the body, floating near the south
side of the pond. The alarm was at once Civ
en-, and Squire E. o. Murray summoned to act
as coroner. Drs. Severance, Frost and Wood
ward, made an examination of the body, a ju-
~ was empannelled and such evidence as
could be gathered submitted.
Various stories are in circulation regarding
deceased and the manner of his death, some
claiming that it was from suicide in conse-
quence of financial embarrassment, and others
that it was by murder. We could not trace
the stories of financial embarrassment to any
definite source; whereas the testimony before
the jury, the missing watch, the absent pocket
book any money he was supposed to have,
together with the mark of violence on his
face and head, point unmistakably to violence
and robbery.
It is in evidence that the old gentlemen
was quite deaf; it is also in evidence that
about the time he was last seen, shriIl
whistle as of a call was heard and answered
Our theory would be that he was followed,
and having learned the train was an hour
late he concluded to go home; his way led
him past the pond; being deaf he did not
hear his followers; when the pond was reached
a sudden attack was made, and Sawyer fell
senseless, robbery followed, and the body was
lifted over the fence, hurried to the pond and
thrown in, and life became extinct under the
water How else account for the marks of
violence, the missing watch and pocket bookP
1t is a theme for detectives to work out, and
as we understand reward Of s., 600 will be
offered for the arrest of the murderers-theTs
must have been two-will doubtles engage the
services of experts. We trust the guilty may
be speedily brought to punishment. Below
we give lengthy synopsis of the testimony
taken before the Coroner's inquest, E. o.
Merry, Esq, acting as Coroner:
George Sawyer, brother of deceased, saw
him last alive on the evening of Monday,
May 26th, 1878, at hslf-past seven o'clock; de-
ceased was at his house for tea; said he had
missed the o'clock train; thought he would
take the 10 O'Clock train for Elmore; said he
was going to take mortgage for man nam
ed Harmon; mortgage was for $4OO, and he
was going to take it up for Harmon and hold
it for him; Harmon was an old acquaintance
and tenant of Stephens; next saw his body at
the mill pond between four and five o'clock
on Friday aft tsrnoon; know nothing of money
or papers had at the time by my brother; when
he left my house his health and spirits were
good; appeared in his usual state of mind;
said he would be back next day.
William Craig testified that he lived on
Stephen Sawyer's place; last saw him on Mon
day afternoon, May 26th, about half-past five
O'Clock, at Quinby's crossing; deceased had
asked him to take him to town, and he had
got horse and buggy and done so; at crossing
deceased said he would rather walk than ride,
and got out; witness then went home; told me
he had $500 with him, and meant to help
friend; thought he would be back next day;
asked him if 1 should come for him; said no,
he would get home best way he could, might
not be home till evening; saw nothing unusu-
al about him; the hat now shown was the one
he wore that day, and am sure it was then
sound; he carried his papers in it, but do not
know that he carried his handkerchief in it;
passed his brother James on the way up, who
gave him two letters TO mail, which he put
in the hat; he followed the carriage road to
town; asked him if he had time to get to the
depot; pulled out his watch, silver one, and
said he had 25 minutes; the road he started to
town by leads past Woodward's distillery; it
was the road he usually took; have lived on
his farm two years; on the way he stopped at
Squire Schuyler's got q roll of papers which
he gave me to give to George Richey; gave
them to him.
Mr.. Ford, Of the Exchange Hotel testified
that Mr.. Sawyer came into the hotel Office
about o'clock in the evening, and took
seat by the window; said he was going to
Elmore; said something about a mortgage;
but did not understand distinctly; thought
he would get back next day; saw nothing un-
usual about him; sat as if considering whether
to go or not that night; was in the Office about
an hour; know it because 8 stranger came in,
settled his bill and said he wanted to go to
Clyde; looked at clock; it was half-past nine;
stranger looked like an agent, had valise; don't
think he saw Sawyer, who had gone out a