The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-04-09
Et1scE9Mq9.
Lynch Law.
Did it Hang the Wrong Man in A1er.
Ger County,

Ger County?
In the month of June, 1872, one of the
n ost horrible atrocitles ever placed on the
records of crime in America, was perpetra-
ted IN Mercer county, Ohio, few miles
southeast of this city. All the circum-
stances of the affair were of the most dra-
matte character, and its details are per-
fectly revolving In their
HORRIBLE NATURE.
The portion of Mercer county IN which
the traglcal dramas were enacted are
sparsely settled, and its inhabitants are
not up to their neighbors in the matter of
intelligence and civilization, owing par
TALLY to the lack of railroad communica-
ton with the outside world. The county,
of which Celina is the capital, adioins the
Indiana State line. Ten miles from Ce-
lima, N Liberty township, at the time re-
ferred TO, lived a farmer named Seideriey,
who had large family, and one of those
who made up his household was his orphan
niece, Mary Belle Secore. Mary was thir-
teen years of age, very handsome, and a
great pet with Mr.. SeIderley, and indeed,
with all who knew her. She was possessed
OF an afectionate and loveable disposition
and inclined to be very deVout and pious.
BY reason OF this latter trait in her char
acter, she became constant attendant to
the country Sabbath school, located about
| two miles from her uncle's residence. On
| Sunday morning the gIrl attended school
as usual, and started to return home about
noon. Her aunt accompanied her q part
Of the way, but stopped at the house of a
relative about three-q quarters of a mile from
her sister-ln-law's, leaving the little girl
to pursue her way alone. She followed
/ her path home, wholly unconscious of the
| fate she was soon to meet, merry and hap
py in her child-Iike innocence. Finally
she came to small woods, through which
the road ran, and just as she entered, three
men jumped from their hiding place IN
some bushes, and seized her. One feeble
! cry for help was all that escaped from her
lips, but she was at once rendered helpless
by means Of gag, mercilessly thrust into
her mouth. Still Mary struggled, with
almost superhuman strength, to escape
from the brutal wretnhes who held her,
but they tightened their grasp, and finally
the Oldest and most degraded of them
placed her hands together and thrust them
into his mouth. Then he closed his teeth
on them, and while one OF the villains held
the victim, the other one accomplished
HIS pIABoLICAL PURPOSE.
The others then followed the rinelead-
er's example, and successively violated the
person of the poor girl, who was rendered
speedily unconscious by the devilish treat
ment she received. Before she repained
the use Of her faculties, the fend who led
the gang took a short, thick club from his
pocket, and with one fell blow crushed the
skull Of the already nearly Ifeless child
causing death to follow instantanously.
The murderers went from the scene OF
butchery to the Kimmel farm, near BY,
watered the teams which they used in
their capacities as peddIers, They contin
ued at this work for several hours, when
the leader visited again the spot where the
hellish crime had been committed, and
with long knife he carried in his belt,
detached the head of the victim from the
body. Having given this finishing proof
OF his utter depravity, he fed, as was sup
posed, 10 Fort Wayne
On The followin Sunday, one week after
the crime had been committed, a party who
had been constantly searching for the mis-
lug girl, came upon the remains which
had. IN The interval, been partially de-
voured by hogs. 1t was fi6ult To recoS
nize the I, atHres of the once beautiful girl,
SO terribly had they been mHtilated By the