Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-08-15
An Eloquent Temperance Lecture.


SOME sixty years ago there was born in
one of the midland counties of England
one William Hopps, who, when about
twenty years of age, came to this country
and settled in Vermont. He possessed a
powerful frame and an indomitable will,
and amassed considerable sum of
money, while cultivating a small farm in
a comparatively sterile country. Hints
were sometimes thrown out that he OBJ
tanned his money not so much from agri-
culture as from smuggling goods over the
border from Canada. After time he
concluded to come West, and bought a
farm near Wheeling, in Cook County,
where he settled with his wife and family
more than thirty years ago. Every thing
he touched seemed to prosper, his farm of
three.hundred acres was one of the best in
Cook County; he built upon 1t splendid
mansion, entirely of pressed brick, and
for years everything was lovely. With
the increase of his wealth his family also
increased, until, in 1868, he had thirteen
children, all living. Hops had, however
become an inveterate topper, and in coDse-
quence, family troubles frequently arose.
In the month of June of that year, the
whole community was startled with the
news that William Hops had murdered
his wife. The news proved true. While
under the influence of liquor, he disem-
boweled her. An inquest was held, and
he was found guilty and committed to
take his trial. He had no sooner been
safely lodged in the Jail of Cook County
than he inquired for the lawyers who had
defended Jumpertz, and soon after Col.
John Van Arman and Mr.. Il. w.
McComas became his counsel. by the
time the trial was reached, Col. Van
Arman had left, with his regiment, for
the seat of war, and his place was filled
by Mr.. Writ Dexter, who put in a plea OF
before the Hon. George Manierre, then
Circuit Judge, and the prosecution was
conducted by the Hon. Joseph Knox,
States s-Attorney, assisted by the Hon.
w. X. MacAlister. After twelve days
trial, the jury, on the 31st of December,
1868, brought in verdict of guilty,
and William Hops was sentenced to
death.
On the application of his attorneys, a
supersedeas was obtained from the
Supreme Court and, on appeal, that
Court reversed and remanded the case,
and ordered a new trial. 1t was not until
1866, however, that the new trial took
place, his counsel evidently considering
that the fact ofhis having been long
time in Jail would have a good effect
with jury. At last the trial came off,
and he was aquitted, and again walked
the earth free man. He went back to
his old neighborhood and commenced
work but no one would have anything to
do with him-even his own children re
fused to see him, and he felt that he was
truly and utterly alone in the world. His
farm had been mortaged to pay the ex
penses of his defense, and was at length
sold for $4,000. OF this sum, $40, 50(
went to his counsel for their own and the
court fees, and s., 500 was left to him. Thi:
quickly disappeared in the maelstrom o.
| whiskey; and then, as if good fortune
and kind Providence were always help
ing him with golden opportunities to dc
well, legacy of $1,000 came to him from
England. AT last this all disappeared
and William Hops, upon whom brigh
hopes had so often dawned-Willian
Hops the whiskey -drinker and wife
head; not friend in all the world; not {
child who did not revolt from contact OF
conversation with him. Alone, and al
outcast, his misery and destitution a
last caused him to ask for admittance in
to the Cook County Poor House, a
Jefferson, and few days ago he became
an inmate in what will probably be hi
last home on earth, and when he dies
instead of leaving magnificent inherl
tance to his children, and having
splendid monument erected to his mem
ory, he will descend to the grave union
ored, if not unsung.-Chicdqo Tribune.