The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-02-16
AN OHIO TRAGEDY.

A REVOLVING MURDER AT MI. VERNON,
oHIO-A PROMINENT CITIZEN KILLED IN
AND TREACHERY. ~
The Cleveland Leader OF the Sd inst. gives
the facts concerning a dark tragedy in that
part Of the state: The quiet town of Mt.
Vernon, on the line OF the Cleveland, Mt.
Vernon 81 Columbus railroad, this state, was
thrown into a state of great excitement Sat
urday morning by the discovery of the dead
body of Deacon John Mccormick, one OF the
oldest and most respected citizens OF the
place, lying on the floor in the middle of his
store, with his head pounded almost to
Jelly. From a prominent citizen OF this
city who was at Mt. Vernon whom the hOrri-
bic deed was discovered, and who visited
the scene of the affair, and is
stances connected with the case, the
following has been obtained: The murdered
mans body was found lying on the floor in
his store Saturday morning about O'Clock
by blacksmith of the place, who went
there for the purpose of purchasing a guam
titv of iron. an article in which the deceased
dealt exclusively, The news of the murder
spread rapidly, and in a very short time
large crowd had gathered around the store
and a search and examination OF the premises
begun. The body was lying on the floor
with the face downward, and within few
the base of this was a bar OF iron with
slightand fresh cut in it. A cold chisel was
also there, and one or two light hammers
and heavy sledge were near By. The
blinds which the deceased used to put up
before the front windows of his store every
night Just before closing were not there, but
were found in the place where be kept them
during the day. The blacksmith, when he
came for iron, found the door open a few
inches, as was the case with the rear door.
TRACKS OF BLOOD
were on The floor leading TO the back en-
trance, and on boards outside. The pool of
gore in which the body laid showed that it
had been stepped in by the murderer, and
the foot prints on the floor and out of doors
indicated that the perpetrator of the deed
wore either rubbers or overshoes. The safe
was open and its contents had the appear
ance of having been hastily over-hauled,
but there was nothing about it 70 indicate
that the lock had been forced or
that it had been subjected to any violence.
In pile of iron slowed away in the store
within few fest of where the crime YVES
committed, was found a box containing
IS, 400 in government bonds and four or five
bags OF gold and silver, amounting TO about
$4,000. Inasmuch as.this was not secured
by the murderer, and the person of his VIC
tim was disturbed in no way, 1T Is be-
lieved that he secured no large sum, and
thas he took his departure somewhat dissp-
pointed at not finding a larger amount.
There is but one theory to the murder. II
is believed that the deed was com United be-
tween and O'Clock Friday evening, and by
| some person who was we'll acquainted with
Mccormick, and who entered the store aud
purchased some iron. To substantiate this
| is the fact that the window blinds were
| found down and the safe open, as McCOr-
mick had it during his business hours. 1t
is thought that after the murderer had closed
his bargain for the iron, and Willie MS
victim was on his knees, as was his custom,
cutting the piece partially off with cold
chisel before placing il on an anvil, where
| he would strike it off with hammer, that
he stood behind the old man while thus
stopped, and with one of the light hammers
dealt him a blow on the front part of the
| head, which sent him TO the floor and
rendered him insensible for a minute or
/ two; that he then recovered partially, and
was in the act of getting on his feet, when
he received two or three more blows from
the same hammer, which laid him
PRosTRATE ON THE FLOOR,
and made him unconscious, and that while
in this condition the final and finishing blow
was dealt him with heavy sledge, which
| broke in almost the entire rear part of the
head. Having finished his horrible work,
he went to the safe with the intention OF Sc
| curing the object OF his fearful crime, and
| getting the small sum, or Whatever was
there, left, fearing TO remain longer, OF
{ believing that he had secured all the
money in the store. John McCOrmick
was an iron merchant. about 20 years
old, and had lived in Mt. Vernon nearly
| forty years, the last thirty-fve OF which he
| spent in keeping an iron store. The deceased
was started in business by the Cooper family
of Mount Vernon, under whose influence he
gave up the use of strong drink and fol
many years led purely temperate life. He
was rather eccentric and somewhat odd in
his ways, seldom mingling much with
men or taking a lively interest in any
thing, vet when asked to ai0 in any noble
work he was ready to give according tC
his means, which by economy and close
personal attention to his iron business dur
ing the past thirty years, he had increased
to between S75, 900 and 100000. He boarded
with private family, did not sleep in the
store, and employed no clerks, preferring tC
keep his own books and do his own work
His money he rarely deposited in the bank
but either invested it in real estate or KEEP
it by him. The guilty person has not ye
been discovered, but it is thought that hl
will be brought to justice. A reward o
g, 900 is offered for his apprehension, which
) Is made up equally by the Common Council
of Mt. Vernon, citizens, and the admins
traitor of the estate of the deceased.
CAN AN ATHEIST TESTIFY.
TEST CASE TO BE APPEALED BY THE NEv