The Portland daily press., 1874-04-06

AN OHIO TRAGEDY IN WHICH LYNCH LAW
WAS AT FAULT. THE DANGERS OF vIGI-
LANTs' JUSTICE" ILLUSTRATED IN THE
MoBBINa OF TWO INNOCENT MEN, THE
STARTLING CONFESSION OF A DYING NAN.
Fort Wayne QndJ correspondence New York World,
March "a.
Two years ago this community was shock
ed by the murder of little girl in Mercer
county, O., followed by the pro npt hanging
OF the supposed perpetrators OF the crime by
an infatuated mob, The county, OF which
Celna is the capital. adjoins the Indiana
state line. Ten miles from Celina, in Liberty
township, at the time mentioned, lived a far
nser named Seiderley, who had a large family
and one OF those who made up bis household
was his orphan niece, Mary Belle Secore.
She was thirteen years o. age, very hand
some, and great pet with all who knew her.
She was constant attendant upon the coLn
try Sabbath-school located about two miles
from her uncles residence. On a Sunday
morning in June the girl attended school as
usual, and started to return home about
noon. Her aunt accompanied her part of
the way, but stopped at the house OF a rela-
tive about three-quarters of mile from her
sster-in-law's leaving the little girl to pursue
her way alone. Following the pathway
toward home she had to pass through wood.
Here she was murdered, ana week alter nor
body was found with the head completely
severed from the body. The most intense
excitement prevailed, and the sheriff at once
offered reward OF $500 for the arrest of the
perpetrators. Two brothers, Jacob and Alb
salon Kimmel, we're arrested on suspicion
and locked up in the county Jail. On the
next Friday the sheriff and an assistant visit
ed Fort Wayne, and while riding along Cal
houn street jumped from closed carriage at
the corner Of Washington, seized two men
who were quietly walking along, conveyed
them to the carriage and drove rapidly of.
Tnese men were Alexander Mcleod and An
drew Kimmel, two pedIers in the employ of
A. j, Dillingham;, rag and tinware dealer.
They were said to have been in Celina on the
day of the butchery and were regarded as
participants. When they were taken to Ce-
lima, Kimme
PROVED AN ALIBI
and was released. The general supposition,
however, was that Mcleod and the two KIM
mel brothers previously taken into custody
were the guilty parties, and the attitude of
the people became threatening. The sheriff
telegraphed to the governor Tor troops to aid
him in protecting his prisoners, but the dis
patch was sent too late. Previous to that
messengers had been sent to the people of
towns and villages miles distant, inviting all
to be present in Celina on Monday, the 9th of
July, to witness the triple hanging. On that
day men, women and children came pouring
into town by hundreds from all the surround
ing country, in holiday attire, with baskets of
luncheon, and very mucn the air of attend
ing circus or Fourth Of July celebration
pervaded the mass. But they we're fully de-
termined to see full justice meted out to the
criminals. A corps of lynchers had been care
4,,llvr of fnrrr md
ular battalion order and marched to the jail,
followed by the mass of male and female hu-
manity. The sheriff had taken up his posi-
tion in the second story of the Jail, and like a
hero he resolutely refused to admit the mob
His unfinching nerve eniy rendered them the
more desperate; axes were brought into re-
QUESTION; the doors quickly battered down.
The sheriff was easily overpowered and re-
lieved Of his keys. The prisoners were taken
from their underground cells, placed in a wag-
on and driven off under guard of corps OF exc
cutioners. Preparations we're made for the
execution of Mcleod and the two Kimmels,
when brother OF the murdered girl interfer-
ed on behalf of Jacob Klmmel, saying that
he was not fully satisfied of the guilt of this
man. He was was therefore released. but
nooses were adjusted around the necks OF Nc
Leod and Absalom Kimmel aud the loose ends
of the ropes were thrown over the plank. The
committee OI I'VE SticcItu W CoHuuct the exc
cuton were then called upon to carry out
their part of the programme, but they grew
faint-hearted and refused. At this juncture a
party of 1ndianians VOLUNTEERED and
PULLED ON THE ROPES
while the wagon was driven from uner the
feet of the dying men. Just before death
Kimmel uttered out an incoherent statement
which was taken for Confession. Mcleod
died hard, but scarcely struggle marked
Kimmel's tragical exit from the world. The
sickening scene found an appropriate finale in
a revolving quarrel between the attendant
physicians as to the disposition of the bodies.
These facts were fnlly detailed in the local pa
pers at the time, and however much such
summary proceedings may have beeu depreca-
ted by the more law-abiding citizens, mo doubt
was expressed as to the guilt OF the men who
were hanged. A curious sequel to the story
has within few days reached here from Col
orado. Thomas Bradwell Douglas died few
days ago in Denver, COL, for the cure of
which he had sought change of climate.
Half an hour before he died he became very
much excited, and insisted upon the attend
ance of a Catholic confessor. The priest came
and the result was
THE FOLLOWING CONFESSION,
written by the priest a. the dictation of
Douglas:
In Shis my dying hour, aud in the full hope
that by doing so I will secure absoution from
my sins, ! make free and full confession of a
deed that has weighed upon ms mind like
death pail from the day Of iis commission.
am the guilty wretch who outraged and MUIR
dered the girl SecOre near Celina, O., in the
summer of 1872. Heaven alone knows what
hellish motive prompted me TO do the deed; but
at the time, my brain was on fire from drink
and was veritably mailman, past the power
to control my actions. The hanging of the two
men, Mcleod and Kimmel, was as vile a mur-
der as was ever perpetrated. was one of the
it, for felt it necessary to secure my own safe
ty. I now know and feel that in acting as
did throughout this horrible affair committed
sins of most grievous character. hope God
will pardon me, and that the publication of
this statement will relieve the families of the
men Mcleod and Kimmel from the stigma of
dishOn0r resting upon them. l feel that have
but a few mole moments to live. and with my
last breath l avow the truth of all statements
herein related.
THOMAS BRADwELL DOUGLAS.
his H mark.
In this strange and unexpected manner has
the truth of the tragedy been revealed, relev-
ing the friends Of the murdered men of the
accumulated sorrow and disgrace which has
surrounded them, and, in an argument that
cannot be answered, added cumulative proof
to previous examples of the danger of surren-
dering the regular process of justice to the
adjudication of an excited mob.
The Pleasures Of Imagination.