Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1873-05-29

come one dent know. Lydy came up to him
and said "Bill. if you don't get that horse
and leave town, II have you in Jail in less
than ten minutes" Deceased got on his horse
and started. got about ten steps, checked his
horse. turned around and said to Lydy, "Go,
go to hell, You id son of a b-h." Then
Lydy stepped from the sidewalk and picked
up rock and threw at him, missing him about
SIX inches. Deceased proceeded toward the
depot, repeating the words above quoted
and Lydy threw at him again before he crossed
the railroad. Marshal Stewart and Lydy both
followed after him, deceased being in lOpeon
his horse. When Koontz got to the creek and
found he could not cross he turned around
The officers by this time had got within about
thirty feet OF the creek, and both threw at him
as he turned. When deceased came within
about thirty feet of the main track, he passed
Peter Sheierman. was about fifteen feet fur
ther North than Sheierman 1 hearz Marshal
Stewart halloO stop him.. Robert Bass
was about thirty feet North of me, ap-
proaehing Koontz from the direction OF Ely's
Elevator. When I first saw Bass, he had
base ball club in his right hand, standing on
the railroad crossing, Koontz was riding to-
ward him as fast as his horse could go. Bass
swung the eIah over his shoulder and threw it,
striking Koontz. as | suppose, on the right
temple. koontz fell from his horse on the
left side, striking on the left side of his head
IN the railroad track. When / saw deceased
lying on the railroad platform, 1 saw the
HOuAO WHSFS supposed the cIQ0 SGfuek nlIQ-
When the deceased passed me, the officers
veIe not less than 200 feet behind him. When
Bass threw the club, he was about to 10 feet
from deceased. Bass picked up the club after
ne struck deceased, stood with it in his hand
fer few minutes, seemed very much bewil-
dered and then started off in the direction of
the elevator. [ saw no thing more of him for
about minutes, when I saw him in charge of
the officers. When Lydy told deceased to
get on his horse, he spoke imperatively, but
not unkindly. Deceased seemed to be under
the influence of liquor. 1t was with difficulty
he could get on his horse by himself. De-
ceased rode well, and lodged remarkably well,
but seemed to me to be somewhat frightened
should think there were from 25 to so men
in the vicinity of the depot as Koontz came
back, and many of the EN- hallooed something,
but could not tell what. | don't think any
of the officers called for assistance.
Peter Sheierman corroborated the above tes-
tImOny in the main. He heard Lydy say
''stop the man, and after Bass threw the club,
he asked him why he threw such heavy club
ct the man. Bass said he did not throw at the
man, but at the horse.
SamI Edwards testified that he saw de-
ceased riding down the street, and saw Lydy
throw his cane at him; also saw Stewart
throw at him, and saw Bass throw the base
ball club did not hear either officer call for as
sistauce or order Bass to stop him; was near
enough to hear such an order if 1t had been
given.
A number of other witnesses were exam
ined, their evidence agreeing in the main
with that of the witnesses above quoted.
We have not room to give the full evidence
before the jury, but quote the evidence of
the principal witnesses in full.
The Verdict.
State Of Ohio. Fayette Comfy, S.:
Westhe undersigned jurors. empanneled and
sworn on the 26th day. of May, A. u. 1873, at
Esq, Coroner, in and for said County, to inquire
and true presentment make, in what manner
and by whom Jerome Koontz, whose body was
found at the R. R. Depot in said town and county
aforesaid. the oath day of May, 1873 came to
his death and having heard the evidence and
amined the body, we do find that the deceased
came to his death by violence, and said body has
upon it the following marks and Wounds A
tending longitudinally nearly half way around
the brain, which caused the immediate death of
said Jerome Koontz: Said wounds caused
by blow from Base Ball club in the hands of,
or being thrown by Robert Bass a colored man,
as principal, prompted to the act by the conduct
| OF Horace E. Lydy and Robert Stewart, as off
GERS and accessories, before the act was commit
| ted, and other persons. to us unknown.
And We, the jury. do find the immediate cause
ofthe death OF said person, whose body was found
| as aforesaid tO-wit: A fracture on right temple
extending Iongitudinally halfway around the
->sSer0me Koontz. said deceas ed, was about %
years old feet inches high, dark complexion,
hazel eyes, small chin beard, and weight about
| Given under our hands and seals at
| IsEAL.l ! w ashington, Fayette County, Ohio,
- this 9th day of May, 1873.
JEREMIAH HOPKINS,
| jz[ .,-,-zzs--= W NJ. sNIDER, R,-~.--T.I.
| GEORGE DAHL, II
/ e. DUFFEE,
| w. G.. GOULD,
| A. W. BLACK.
| E. D. UPDEGROVE, Coroner of Fayette Co., o.
The friends of the young man, who live
in Gallia county: were telegraphed to, and
on Tuesday a cousin of deceased arrived
here and removed the body.
sPhe colored man Bass, who struck the
fatal blow, was Immediately arrested by
officers Stewart and Bloomer, and placed
in jail. His examination commenced be-
fore Esq Kerr yesterday, and up to the
time we go to press is still going on.
officers Stewart and Lydy were arrested
on affidavit of Elijah Carr, and are now un-
dss bail Tn case the examination of Bass
deVelopes evidence sufficient to warrant
the justice in holding them, they will waive
examination and be recognized to Court.