The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1873-06-06

learn Sawyer was missing until Friday; ol
Saturday heard the body was found, and tn
hat in Tobin's possession, then remembered
seeing the boy Tobin having it.
William Wilt when going to plow, passed
the fume and saw black hat lying crown mp
ward; did not notice any hole in it.
William Tobin, father of Thomas. knew ths
kind OF hat Sawyer wore; saw the hat when
he returned from Sandusky, about 2 O'Clock
on Tuesday; knew it as soon as he saw it
the hat shown is the same; looked over the
papers, saw whose they were and put them in
bureau drawer with hat; on Friday gave them
to Squire Merry.
w. Il. Moore, druggist, had closed his store
twenty minutes of 10 o'clock, and in going
home passed Mr.. Sawyer at the corner east Of
his store; Me was going in direction Of depot;
saw nothing unusual about him; he did not
make any sign of recognition; four men were
at the corner and he passed between them.
Albert Stahl, clerk for Mr.. Moore, testified
to the same facts, as Mr.. Moore; was with
Moore when they passed Sawyer.
Enoch Heal was at depot at 10 O'Clock;
train was an hour late; remained there wait
ing for his wife whom he expected on that
train; did not see anything of Mr.. Sawyer
that night; if he had been at depot thought
he should have seen him.
Geo. W. Richey, brother-in-law of Sawyer,
testified that Sawyer had told him he was GO
ing TO Elmore to see Jacob W. Harmon, to
take up mortgage for him, which was being
foreclosed; it was for $400 or q little over;
Harmon was an old acquaintance and he
meant to help him; said he had the necessary
amount, or nearly so laid away; did not see
any amount of money in his possession when
he left home; he usually carried q large calf
skin pocket book, long enough to lay bills in
full length; usually carried papers in his hat;
don't know if he had the pocket book with
him; search has been made for it, but it has
not been found; usually carried it in the inside
pocket of his coat; sometimes carried small
wallet in his pocket; had a silver watch, hunt
ing case, with twisted link chain and slide,
which he borrowed of me; he carried it in his
vest watch pocket, with chain hook fastened
in button hole; asked me for watch when
ready to start; gave it to him, and got the key
for him; said he would be back next day at
noon, or by night any way; Mr.. Craig took
him to town, and got back about 6 or Z
o'clock; witness stayed at home that night;
some papers of settlement with Squire
Schuyler made that day; don't know of saw
yer's getting any mouey lately; his money
was generally in his Wite's possession; his lit
tie girl asked him if he wanted the $40 in the
house; he said not he had enough; he usually
took the county line road going to the depot;
watch cost S58; he intended taking some notes
with him, due on land at Elmore, but forgot
them; seemed to be feeling unusually well
when he went away.
Hollister Bartlett had Joined in the search
for the body, and discovered it across the
pond from the fume, near the shore; gave
the alarm and went to town for Squire Merry;
body was still in the water when they got
back; was present when the body was remov-
ed and taken charge of by the coroner.
Alfred Stebbins' testimony was to the same
effect The testimony Of P. H. Schuyler ESQ.
revealed nothing different from other witness
es.
Mrs Many Squire, had been to church; saw
q man near the church walking slowly; when
near home heard a shrill whistle, which was
answered by some one near Harris's corner;
saw no movement after the whistle.
Lamen Squires had heard the sharp whistle
and answer, but saw no movement.
DR.. Severance's testified that he was pres
ent at the examination of the body, with Drs.
that a severe blow or blows had been inflicted
on the head across the eyes and nose; flesh
seemed to be mangled and putrescent; took 3
knife and passed it down through the flesh to
the bone; did not discover any fracture or de-
preston; flesh seemed to be more putrescent
about the injured part than could have been
expected in four days, from mere decay, if no
blows had been given. In his opinion the in
juries had been inflicted before death; dis
secte1 the scalp from the Uranium, but found
no fracture OF breaking of the scalp or frac-
ture of the skull; to the right of the median
line, and extending back over the upper part
of frontal and parietal bone, the scalp was ev-
identity thiekened, and presented what sur
geons call ecchymosis, severe enough to rup-
ture the vessels and cause extravasation OF
blood In the cellular tissues; his opinion was
that the force producing the same happened
during life; think the force of blow sufficient
to have caused insensibility during life; there
was less decomposition of the scalp than the
face, over the spot showing ecchymosis, the
periosteum was loosened from the skull; and
decomposition would proceed faster there than
elsewhere; would not be willing to swear the
injuries were sufficient to produce death, but
sufficient to produce stunning; would not be
willing to say there was no fracture Of the
skull, but found none; found no depression of
the skull at any place it is more difficult to
determine whether violence had been used, in
consequence of the body having remained in
the water so long; in his opinion o blow suii-
cient to cause ecchymosis had been received.
d. M. A. Frost, was present at examine
ton; the face and frontal region appeared
bloated, pulled and enlarged; could not de-
termine from appearances whether violence
had been used during life; some appearance
of a puneture near the angle of left eye, but
not certain; scalp varigated; in some places
appearing more natural than others; agreed
with DIR. Severance in regard to the ecchymos-
is, and insensibility resulting from blows pro-
ducing it; there was ecchymosis in two places,
one near the crown of the head; thought force
had been used before death, sufficient to pro-
duce insensiOility. ..-.s t.i
DR.. Woodward was present at examination;
decomposition of that part Of the body lying
next the huae was greater than would be in
ordinary water, as warm water was returned
through the hume from the distillery; on be-
ing taken from the water, the facial region
looked as if it had been smashed, but on fur
ther examination thought no force had been
applied; frontal part much decomposed; re-
moval Of scalp showed some extravRsation;
skin of scalp was not abrased; cutticle intact;
don't kaow that ecehymosis showed in more
than one spot; no extravasation of blood be-
tween scalp and periosteum; no depression OF
skull; could not determine from appearance
whether force had been used or not; would
not like to swear that force had been used or
not, during life.
The jury held their verdict until Tuesday
evening, when 1t was rendered as follows:
THAT Stephen Sawyer came to his death by
personal violence received at the hands Of
some person or persons unknown to this Jury,
on the night of Monday, May 26, 1873"
Signed, S. F. Harris, W. ]. Heal, W. E.
Greene, Charles Nicolai, Melvin Wood, Eugene
Smith.
Deceased was native of Kent, England
was five years old when brought to this coun'
try, and settled with parents at Lyme, Conn.
from thence they moved to Cincinnati, and
in 1926 settled in Lyme Township, near Belle
vue. He was one of the old pioneers, having
resided at that place forty-seven years. Ht
was well known and highly regarded, and hi
funeral, which took place on Saturday, wa
attended by a large concourse Of sympathizinl
friends.
Elegant Jewelry just received at Cross's