Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-04-07
NO. s3.
THE LYNCHING BLUNDRR.
STORY OF THE OHIO TRAGEDY.

STORY OF THE OHIO TRAGEDY
The telegraph has briefly told the story
of lynching of two innoctnt men in Chic
in 1872, and of the recent confession Of
the real murderer Of a little girl. A Fort
Wayne correspondent Of the N. Y. World
relates the whole tale as follows:
Two years ago this community was
shocked by the murder of little girl in
Mercer County, O.. followed by the prompt
hanging of the supposed perpetrators Of
the crime by an infuriated mob. The
county Of which Celina is the capital, ad-
joins the Indiana State line. Ten miles
from Celina, in Liberty township, 1t the
time mentioned lived farmer named
Seiderly, who had large family, and one
of those who made up his household was
his niece, Mary Belle Secore. She was
thirteen years Of age, very handsome, and
a great pet with all who knew her. She
was constant attendant upon the country
Sabbath school located about two miles
from her uncle's residence. On SUNDAY
morning in June the girl attended schcoi
as usual, and started to return home about
noon. Her aunt accompanied her part
Of the way, but stopped at the house Of q
relative about three-quarters Of q mile
from her sister-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,
and week after her body was found with
the head completely severed from the
body.
The most intense excitement prevailed,
and the Sheriff at once offered q reward
of $500 for the arrest of the perpetrators.
Two brothers, Jacob and Absalom Kimmel
were arrested on suspicion and locked up
in the icounty jail. On the next Friday
the Sherff and an assistant visited Fort
Wayne. and while riding along Calhoun
street jumped from closed carriage at
the corner Of Washington, seized two men
who were quietly walking quietly along.
conveyed them to the carriage. and drove
rapidly off. These men were Alexander
Mcleod and Andrew kimmel, two pedfers
in the employ of A. j. Dillingham;, rag and
tinware dealer. They were said
to be in Celina on the day of
the butchery, and were regarded as par
ticipants. When they were taken to Ce-
lima, Kimmel proved an alibi and was re-
leased. The general superstition, how
ever, was that Mcleod and the two Kim
mel brothers previouly taken into custody
were the guilty parties, and the attitude
of the people became threatening.
The Sheriff telegraphed to the Cover
nor for troops to aid him in protecting his
prisoners, but the despatch was sent too
late. Previous to that messengers had
been sent to the people Of towns and viii
lagos miles distant, inviting all to be
present in Celina on Monday. the 9Th OF
July, to witness triple hanging. On that
day men, women and children came pour
ing into town by hundreds from all the
surrounding country, in holiday attire.
with baskets of luncheon, and very much
the air of attending circus or Fourth
of July celebration pervaded the mass.
But they were fully determined to see
full justice meted out to the criminals. A
corps of lynchers had been carefully
picked, and at noon they formed in reg
ular battalion order and marched to the
Jail, followed by the mass of mail and fe-
male humanity. The Sheriff had taken
his position in the second story of the Jail,
and like hero he resolutely refused to
admit the mob. His unflinching nerve
only rendered them the more desperate ;
axes were brought into requisition, and
the doors quickly battered down.
The Sheriff was easily overpowered and
relieved of his keys. The prisoners we're
taken from their underground cells,
placed in a wagon and driven of under
guard of corps Of executioners. Prepa-
rations were made for the execution Of
Mcleod and the two Kimmels. when q
brother Of the murdered girl interfered on
| behalf of Jacob Kimmel, saying that he
was not fully satisfied of the guilt Of this
man. lie was, therefore, released, but
nooses were adjusted around the necks oil
Mcleod and Absalom kimmel and the
loose ends of the ropes were thrown over
the plank. The committee oftive selected
to conduct the execution were then called
upon to carry out their part Of the pro-
gramme. but they grew faint hearted and
refused. At this juncture q party of
lndianians volunteered and pulled on the
ropes while the wagon was driven from
under the feet of the dying men. just
before death kimmel muttered out an In
coherent statement which was taken for
a confession. Mcleod died hard, but
scarcely struggle marked Kimmel's
tragical exit from the world. The sick
ening scene found an appropriate finale
in a revolving quarrel between the attend
ant physicians as to the disposition Of the
bodies.
The facts were fully detailed in the local
papers at the time. and however much
such summary proceedings may have been
deprecated by the more law abiding citi-
zens, no doubt was expressed as to the
guilt of the men who were hanged.
curious sequel to the story has with
in a few days reached here from Colorado.
Thomas Bradwell Douglass died few
days ago in Denver, Colorado. Of con-
sumption, for the cure Of which he had
sought change of climate. Half an
hour before his death he became very
excited, and insisted upon the attendance
of Catholic confessor. The priest came,
and the result was the following confess
ion, written by the priest at the dictation
of Douglass:
In this my dying hour, in the full hope
that by doing so will secure absolusion
from my sins, / make free and full con.
fession of deed that has weighed upon
my mind like dead pail from the day Of
its commission. | am the guilty wretch
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