The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-11-04
BEFORE THE JUSTICE.

Saturday morning was the time set for
a hearing before Justice Clapsadd!e, OF
Leetonia. The prisoner was taken upon
the O'Clock train by Constable Roller,
who received him from the county Jail.
When the train arrived at Leetonia. the
party were met by about one hundred
persons, who had congregated there,
from curiosity no doubt, but the prisoner
seemed anxious to be confined on the
lookup until the hour for trial. The ex.,
element Oft the last few days had died
out and no body made any threats or en-
couraged any interference in the mat
ter, that might cheat the law of its just
demands. The prisoner was brought out
of the lookup and marched through files
of citizens and strangers attracted thlth-
er by the desire to see murderer.
Mead was defended by Judge Amber
and Mr.. Barnes, while Major Wallace
and j. NJ. Myers assisted the Prosecut-
ing Attorney, Mr.. Potts, Testimony was
introduced to identify Mead as being the
person who called to see Davidson, and
the barber who oshaved him Oh the day
of the murder testified that the prisoner
was the person he had shaved. The
prisoners brother-in-law testified that
Mead had been at his house in Middle
ton, the Thursday preceding the Murder
and said he was going to North jackson
on business. On Sunday morning after
the murder, Mead returned and was
found in the cellar by the brother-in-law,
who asked him what was the matter,
and Mead told him he had fuss with a
man and he would hear it soon enough.
Mead had black moustaOhe and goatee,
and heavy hair slightly curled, when ne
left the Thursday before, but on his re-
turn he cut off his moustache and goatee,
had his hair cut short, and changed his
clothes. One of the boys went with him
short distance on the road towards
East Liverpool, on Sunday morning The
prisoner was recognized by his mother
and father, and his age given as twenty
three. He is rather below medium size,
weighing about 125 pounds; has small
hands, black hair, prominent cheek
bones, and does not look like man that
would commit such horrible crime,
The trial lasted until about B o'clock
D. M, the testimony being very full and
complete. AT the conclusion of the mid
ical testimony, the Justice committed
Mead to the county prison under the
charge of murder in the first degree,
Sheriff Fountain, who had been in at.
tendance all day took the prisoner
aboard the local freight train, and fasten'
ing himself to the prisoner brought him
to iail, where he has been confined evel
since. At the last term of Court he was
indicted for "Marder in the First Degree
His attorneys asked for continuance o
the case and it was postponed until the
present term.
A DESPERATE BUT UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPi
TO ESCAPE FROM PRISON.
On Tuesday morning, August oath
Mead made a desperate attempt to es
cane from prison, while the guard waI
placing a bucket in the cell. AS he un
locked the door Mead was engaged il
wiping his face with a towel, but held il
| one hand about two-thirds of larg'
! brick wrapped in a cloth, all hidden b.
one end of the towel. The guard dit
not eQJef CQ6 cell, DuJ Opcnlh8 bhO Wv"
Just wide enough to admit the passage, o
the bucket, he stopped and set it on thu
floor, inside the cell. Quick as flash
Mead let fly the brick, striking the gua.r'
terrible blow on the left side of tn
head Just above the temple. With grea
presence of mind the guard pulled tn.
door shut. locked it, and blinded witt
blood and suffering with pain, he grope'
his way down stairs.
Last Tuesday morning Court convened
Judge Frease presiding. AT 10 oclocl
Samuel Mead was brought into Court
looking somewhat pale from long con
finement, and took a seat between hi
counsel. He seemed to be uneasy unde
the gaze of the spectators, and move
restlessly on his chair, his eye occasion
ally wandering about the room. liner
is a wild gleam in his eye, and his coun
tenance is defiant and morose.
Mead is isrepresented by Judge AmDle
and NJ. E. Taggart, Esq. and the Prose
cutting Attorny is assiste ) by Major wa
! lace and N. B. Billings, y, Esq.
y During the forenoon )fThursday, th
prisoners wife and two children cam
into Court and sat near him. The oldei