Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-01-30
THE MURDER OF sAMCEL HATCH.
The Particulars as Elicited from the
Testimony Before ESQ. Holiday,

| of duty In behalf of the JouRNAL. will not at
tempt to offer any apology for tardiness, but let
Il suffice to say II you were duly advised In the
premises you would gladly excuse me.
Our little Town is 10 an intense excitement
over the murder Of Samuel Hatch, former
residen, Of Richhed Twp. Henry Co., aud
about four miles west Of this place. The cir
cumstances surrounding this act are the most
peculiar that have ever come within the scope
Of my Observations. II appears that . family
feud has existed between this Hatch and hia
father-in law, one y. Weaver for some time
back, which grverise to many harsh threats ~
the part OF the lattSr party. This disagree
ment grew out Of land contract between said
Hatch and Weaver Hatch agreeing to mako
Weaver deed for certain piece Of land at the
expiration of certain time, in consideration
whereof Weaver did agree with Hatch to pay
a certain sum Of money. But when the time
came for Hatch to give Weaver the deed; and
Weaver pay Hatch the money, Weaver met
his part OF the contract as he is known 10 dis
puss Of all agreements he makes-by paying
nothing, Asa matter of course Hatch refused
to give Weaver the deed without his pay, hence
be Incurred his dapleasure. Weaver, IL ap.
pears, at once set out to reap vengeance upon
the person of Hatch. 1t now follows that
weavers wardly nature did not allow him
10 assail Hatch himself, but he laborod for
weeks to rope others into the snare. lie CROWN
cd his Efforts by winning the confidence Of one,
| A, Lnuis, who he knew had been WORKING direclt
/ against Hatch Of late. This being completed
the next thing was for them to arrange an op-
portunity to perpetrate their hsllsh act, This
on further ation, proves to have been a
well.arranged scheme. ln order to let you into
! the secret must invite your attention to the
circumstances surrounding IL.
The matter Indifference between Hatch and
Louis grew out of a quarrel in relation to cers
| tain road cut through the woods for the purpose
OF accommodating DOT only Hatch and Lewis,
! but also several Of their neigh6ors. The fact
| is part Of this road was across Lewis prem
ises II now seems that Lewis was glad to
reap the benefit of his nsighbor's labor, made
use Of the road himself, but forbid Hatch and
others Of using that portion Of the road running
| across his premises. The result was, that
/ Hatch aud others cut a roal around Mr.. Lewis
and advised him that il he did not want to
! neishbor with them that he was not Obliged to,
but that he peed not expect further favers fr"m
them. But Lewis persisted in using the road
until he saw trouble brewing II he did not de-
sist. Thus matters weBt on tor some time.
. Meanwhile Weaver taking aH opportunity to
tell his daughter. Mrs. HAtch) to get him
deed for said premisis that if he did not gee
one she and Hatch would MT live long together
/ Also Lewis. during this time on certain occA-
] sion expressed hia,self that the first time Mr.
Hatch crossed his path he would knife him.
Thus matters went on untll the morning of the
. 18th inst. It noS appears that Mr.. Lewis had
ruushort for rough feed for his stuck, and had no
way for getting IL IN his place except over this
road. He knew he was deprived of that priv
! ilege, hence we see what follows:
Mr. Lewis nj once makes his troubles known
TO his conflant, Mr.. Weaver. who there aud
Z then volunteers tn see the matter thr Ongh. Mr..
/ Weaver ut once took Lewis team and started for
laa d Of fodder. Mr.. Weaver passed over the
road after the fodder unmolested but on his
way back was slapped bv one Erwin, who told
him that Mr.. Louis team should not pass there
.ay more fac the reason that he tWeav,rD
his premisis. he had leIal right to forbid it.
| Mr. Weaver then told Erwin that tho fodder
was f0S himself Mr.. Erwin doubted this state
ment, and altar short time saw weaver unload
the fodder AZ Mr.. LewiS' h"Rse. Weaver snon
returned for another load aad Willie gone Mr
Erwin cut two large trees across the road
When Weaver got u whera the road was OBJ
structed he unlOosed his team from the luad,
left it stand there took the team 70 Mr. Lewis
yard and then came to this Place. During the
( day MIR. Weaver g expressed himself that tue ball
was row open, and that this would be good
place TO settle the whole affir also said he
would go through there il it cos, blood. WAen
Dir. Weaver arrived here, he (ound Mr. Hatch
and his brother were alsn 10 town.
After ascertaiung about what time the darty
would be likely 10 return home, he got int"
ueighbor,s wagon md rode west with him
While in tie wegon lie expressed himself in
this way: al dread to have this night come.'
On beng asked why, he said some one
would be ushered into eternity before morning
and God only kHew who it would be" Ne
also said he knew at least blood would be
split.
Some time in The evening Mr.. Weaver and
Mr.. Lewis took the team and an ak, after invi'
ting five other parties 10 assist them, and went
TO where Weaver had left his load, this being
brt short distance from the house Of Erwin
II now appears tia. Hatc,, and lis Jr,her had
by this time get as far on their way home as
| to said Erwin's house. Erwin came out te
talk with them. aDd while the latter parties
were talking, Erwin heard Weaver aud III:
possy renewing tho distractions he had Gu
across the way. At this time Hatch aud hi'
brother started on theiS way home, and wer'
obliged to pass Weaver and his pnssy, it beinl
on their direct road heme. Erwin said, "'
| will 90 with you to where those fellows ar
aud see what they are dnipg." When ErSi'
aud Hatch reached the place who're Weave
: and his party were, Trey found them remori1i
the obst, uctinn Erwin had cut across the way
Then Erwin addressed WeArer by asking hin
> if he did not remember that he had tld hin
. Mr.. Lewis team could not pass there be
3 cause Mr.. Lewis bad forbid himself aud other
Z of passing that portion 0f tho road runnip
across his premises. Mr.. Lewis stepped u
q and said il WAS not sos ErSin said, Lewis ="
! knhW yhu lWSiu Wv h"'S" NJ" "t'N's' ''S"'
said never did In reply to this Mr.. hA'cl
a said Mr.. Lewis you know you dl forbid me
=, Mr.. Lewis then said, you are liar. Hazel
said. Mr.. Lewis. do not call me a liar. To
this Lewis said you are I'D liar. Than
Jlatch drew oa bis coat seized Lewis by III
n brest and insisted that Lewis take back hi
= words, but Lewis YoNld rot Then Hatch dre'
O back In strike Lewis, Lewis at the same tim
raising his hand. Hatch struck lie wis on til
left eve and Lewis at the same time made
pass at Hatch with a large sized pocket knit
D. innicting a fatal wound in Hatch's bres
d Hatch then fell forward on Lewis and they bot
~ went down together. While on the Rroun
y Lewis inflicted six more wounds one completed
le cutting Halelfs thrOat. Lewis eonfeSssd th'
le Hatch made no demonstrations to strike hi
/ while on the ground. Hatch lived abol
= twenty minutes after he was raised upon h