The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-12-01
AN OHIO TRAGEDY.

oHIO-A MAN al HIS
DooR-THE VICTIMS OWN FAMILY sUs-
PECTED.
The Cincinnati Gazette of the 25th inst.
contains the following additional particulars
of a tragedy already referred to by telegraph:
A cold-bloodsd murder occurred on Sunday
evening in the vicinity of Huntsville and
Bethany, in Liberty township, Butler
county, Ohio, tho circumstances OF which are
still envelOped in mystery. The location Of
the tragedy is in a populous and well-settleo
part of the county, about one mile east oil
Hughes Station, on the Short line railroad,
not more than two miles from a telegraph
station, but little over 20 miles from Clncin-
natl. and within reach of the daily papers
by breakfast time. Notwithstanding the
facilities afforded by that amount OF clvlll-
cation, knowledge of the affair seems to have
been limited almost 10 the locality OF the
occurrence, and if any additional circum-
stances are discovered, it Will he because the
awful majesty of law e~nveloping a ~roner
inquest invests the wheels Win power
enough to grind fine testimony from the OBJ
servstions OF the most stolid. From what
has already bean ascertained, the dramatis
perso-n of the tragedy are a family, named
Harris, composed of tire father and mother.
who are evidently over sixty years OF age,
and six or eight children, most OF whom
are grown, and live in mod
crate circumstances On a hin
farm rather nearer Huntsville than Bethany.
On Sunday evening, about 3 O'Clock. a
neighbor named Dykes was 10 by
one of the younger Harrises, ana Durrylng
over with him through the rain, and mud,
and darkness re found Christopher Harris,
a young man about twenty years OF age,
living on a bed at home, his face and cloth
ing covered with blood, and breathing his
last. He spoke to him, but the young man
was too far gone to answer, and died In a
minute or two after Mr.. Dykes arrival. he
was told by the family, who stood around
the bed, that they knew nothing at all OF the
affair, except that they had all been sitting
around the fire, and Chris went out to the
wood pile for au armlul of wood, aud just
as he got to the corner of the house they
HEARD HIM FALL.
jeff Jan elder brother of the deceased) went
out to see what could be the matter, and
finding him lying on the ground, he dragged
him into the house, and they lifted him onto
the bed" He was found with a deep stab in
his left breast, just below the heart, in the
back, and in the lips. b family say ne
was not able to tell them anything about
the affair. The news spread among
the %neighbors the same night, and
many others visited the house. IL the
suggestions of the neighbors, Squire VII
hanson called an inqust and summoned Dr.
AdIl6N ANU ~ July COAAoAoNAb6 VI 0@FAA
Beatty, VIM. Slayback, Jas. +. Hare, Daniel
Carter, Thos. Hszzsre, and Daniel Currier.
The inquest appears to have been OF a most
superficial character. A few witnesses were
examined, including several member OF
the Harris family. Tn verdict That deceased
"came TO his death by hands unknown to
the jury" was rendered, and the body re-
turned to the family. If the verdict salts
fed the jury and the relatives, 1T certainly
did not satisfy the minds of all the intelll'
gent neighbors. The family prepared the
body for burial, and when the funeral
started yesterday morning, a very large
number of people took part. On
the way there was more spec
%ulation, and when the cortege reached
the little burying ground at Chester, the
Rev. Mr.. Holsinger, pastor OF the Presoy-
terrain Church, announced that In conse-
quence OF new developments the body would
not then be inferred. 1t was locked in the
vault and the funeral was dismissed. Two
messengers were at once dispatched to
Hamilton to notify the coroner to hold an
additional inquest, and the prosecuting at
torney to order the arrest of tho Harris
family on suspicion.
THE CONFESSION OF THE MURDERER AMI THE
MOTHERS TESTIMONY.
The Cincinnati Gazette of the 10th gives
the following additional facts: Officer
Miller quizzed sammy, and only learned
from him that he was not the one who COM
mitted the deed. In the other wagon, a few
words of questioning drew from Jasper a
confession that the murder was committed
by his own hands. At the final inquest the
first witness sworn was Mrs. lane Harris,
mother of the deceased: Am SO years of
age. Have lived in Butler county 81
years. Jasper and Christopher got to fuss
ing in the family room on Sunday evening,
between q and Z o'clock. There was present
Nancy, Charlotte, Ann Elizabeth, my hus-
band, who was in bed, and James; my son
Samuel was up stairs above the room. The
boys, Jasper and Christopher. were sitting
in the room, when Christopher accused Jas
per Of committing an. offensive indec0rum,
and said If IL was daylight they would go
out and Eight il ont. as he wasn't going to
have any such conduct in the house. jasper
said we will fight it out tonight, and Chris
doors and Jasper followed. The BOYS had
not been out five minutes when my son
Jimmy looked out and said Chris. is hurt. I
went to the door and saw that Chris. had
fallen near the door. His brother Jimmy
and Jasper helped to bring him into the
house. We laid him on the trundle-
bed and he drew about three breaths,
l spoke to him, but he did not answer
me. / asked him no questions, but sup
posed when Isaw the wound in his side, tbs
trouble was between the two boys as there
was no one else about. Chris. and Jasper
had often had spats before this. After the
fuss was over Jasper gave me a knife, IA two
bladed pen-knife was here shown which she
recognized. 1t was also recognized by Con-
stable Miller as the knife given to them by
Mrs. Harrisl. Christopher was a good work
ing boy, and helped to support the family.
He was not addicted to drinking. Eliza
beth and Charlotte Ann were next exam
ined, and their testimony corroborated
closely that of their mother. Jasper Harris,
the murderer. Is a thick-set, low-browed
young man, with a half witted. but logged,
expression OF countenance. He speaks with
a thick, inarticuiate utterance, which his
father was frequently compelled to translate.
He made no attempt TO conceal his crime.
and spoke freely and utterly without feeling.
He said Chris. was overbearing and wanted
to be boss, probably because he earned the