Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-01-30
The LeMis.Hatch TragedY.

The examination of AMAztAH LEWIS,
VIM. PRATT. ANDERSON IRWIN, JAMES
WEAVER and SAMUEL WEAVER, before !
Justice PARKER began at Napoleon. Hen
ry county, on Monday the 26th inst.-Mr.
J r. TYLER. of this place j II. Tyler,
of Napoleon, and Mr.. SHELDON, of Gus
tar, thi, county. appearing for the de-
PENDANTS and Messrs. HAYNES & STEPHEN
son for the State. The evidence disclosed
upon this occasion furnish substantially
the following state OF facts, as we get
them from report of the testimony as
taken at the examination, which is in the
possession Of Mr. Tyler:
Mr.. LEWIS; the principal defendant. had
incurred the displeasnre Of SAMUEL
HATCH. the deceased, and his brother
WINFIELD HATCH and ANDERSON IRWIN,
By refusing, as they claimed, to allow
them to pass over his land with their
teams. On the evening Of the 18th inst.
SAMUEL WEAVER was endeavoring to
draw from his field to his house a1oad of
oorn-fodder. All at once. near the
house OF IRWIN he found tree, recently
cut, across the road. This was cut there
by IRWIN for the purpose of retaliatiny
on LEWIS by preventing him from going
10 and from his house. When WEAVER
found the tree across the road he left his
load of fodder and went to Mr.. HILL
who was boarding at his house at the time
and asked him to come and help get the
tree out of the road. Thereupon HILL
and his two hired men went down and
commenced chopping the tree out of the
road. On their way down they passed
LOUIS house and asked him to take his
lam and go down ard help remove the
obstruction, and to haul his load Of fodder
up for him. LEWIS thereupon took his
team and went do wn to where the men
were cutting away the tree. Here he met
with HATCH his brother WINFIELD, and
IRWIN. IRWIN said at once that LouIs'
team should not go through there because
he, LEWIS, had forbidden himself and
HATCH from crossing his land. LEWIS
replied, "that l. a mistake" IRWIN then
said, I" 1t Is not mistake, HATCH say'
you told him so LEWIS again said, ''i.'t
a mistake. never said So" HATCH tht Z
pulled eff his coat and commenced calling
LEWIS liar and confronting him shook
his fist in his face and with much profa !
ty again called LEWIS liar and challeng
ed him for i2ht. LEWIS 1t will be borne
In mind Is an ol man, fif5y-four years o
age, and has bad breach and feeble con
stitution, whereas HATcR was a young
supple athletic man, Of about thirty year.
As HATca repeated the epithet he stru
at Lewis, who stepped back. saying HI
did not want any trouble. HATCH fellow
ed him up and struck him In the face 1
heavy blow which cut him 81 everely owe
the left eye, and then followed up hi
blows uniil both fell, LEWIS underneath
on his back. While In this position IRwI'
and WINFIELD HATCH were urging thu
dtccased.on with the cry of "go for him,
"give It TO him." &s. After short um'
however, 1t was dis 'ow red that HATcI
was bleeding, and he was pulled off from
LEWIS who got up and walked away, al
80 bleeding II was soon ascertained tina
!. HATCH had received two.or three morta
wouads and was in a dying condition
He was carried to IRwIN's house and II
about twenty minutes expired. LEVI
did not attempt to escape, but was arrest
ed on n eff lowing Gay. lie is still Il
Jail at Napoleon, his bail b ing only 5000
which he expects to give in a few days
The ether defendants were III discharged