The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-08-20

Our readers viii recall to memory
the sad occurrence that transpired at
North Benton, this county, on the 23d
of June last, that resulted in the kill
ing of DR.. Hiram A. Conrad by Ed
ward HartzeIl. HartZell was at once
arrested upon charge of murder, and
brought to this place and lodged in
the county Jail, having waived an ex-
animation before the Justices Court
to await his trial in the Court of Com
mon Pleas.
| A wild determination seemed to
! possess him to have his miserable ex-
/ isIeuce brought to a close. He first
attempted to cut his throat with dull
case-knife given him to eat bis break
fast with, but the return of the Sher-
/ ifs Deputy, prevented other injury
than a severe cash in the neck, ex-
| tending from the ear halfway around
his neck, yet not having reached or
| injured the jugular vein, and by care
| full treatment he recovered from this
wound.
In few days after this attempt at
suicide, he tore some of his clothing
into strips ana tying it to the iron
grating suspended himself by his neck
but was cut down before he had time
| 10 complete his desperate purpose.
Foiled in all these attempts upon his
life, he seemed to grow more deter
mined than before, and laid still deep
er plans in order to athWart the vigil
ance of the Sheriff in which he at
last succeeded.
He was closely watched almost con-
stantly and everything taken away
from him that was thought could be
used by him in any way to destroy his
life, and his hands confined in a
"straight-jacket," which had become
so soiled that it was removed on last
Tuesday for the purpose of washing
it. When his hands were freed, he
again made a successful attempt at
suicide. He went into his. sleeping
cell and tied his pocket handkerchief
around the post of the iron bedstead
and with the other end fastened in a
loop-knot about his neck and seated
himself in the corner of the cell he
braced his feet against the bedstead
and in that way strangled himself. A
fellow prisoner missed him, and on
| looking into his cell saw him seated
1 in the corner with his hands hanging
upon his breast, and gave the alarm.
The Sheriff being in Y Youngstown and
his deputy having gone down street
on an errand, there were no persons
in charge of the Jail at that time ex-
icept the lady members ofthe Sheriff7s
household. They at once summoned
Treasurer Dickson, who, upon enter
| ing the cell, found Hartzell in the pos
ture above described, and loosing the
handkerchief laid him npone the bed,
and summoned a physician. The body
when discovered was warm, but life
was extinct. DIR. w. M. Caldwell, af-
ter applying several tests, pronounced
him dead.
The family, now 4iTiHg -iA North
Benton, were notified of the sad oc-
currence, and one Of his sons came to
this place to take charge of the re-
mains of his father, and yesterday af-
ternoon the body of Edward Harfzell
was taken to his home in North Ben
ton for interment.
Hartzell leaves a wife and three
children, who are very we'll esteemed
by the people of the neighborhood
where they have resided for several
years past. He was in his fifty-ninth
year, somewhat bald, with hair and
Whiskers almost white.
is perhaps well that this sad affair
should thus culminate, although it
causes a shudder when we think of a
man thus deliberately (although in
sane) ending his mortal career.-MG-
honin1 County Neaos.