The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-05-27
SUSPICIOUS AFFAIR.

SUSPICIOUS AFFAIR.
Mysterious Death of an Old Man,-suspi-
cions of Foul Play The Wife Implicated
The Body Exhuned-An investigation
Progressing.
From the Daily Akron Beacon Of
the 10Th inst, we obtain the following
particulars of an affair which has re-
Gently occurred in Brimfield, and
which is creating considerable excite
ment in that vicinity:
The rumors of case of poisoning
at Brimfeld, Portage County, the
township Immediately adjoining Tall
niadge on the east, reached this city
yesterday afternoon, and BEACON re-
porter at once proceeded to look the
matter up. The first peeson inser-
viewed was DIR. Amos Wright, of
Tallmadge, under whose charge the
deceased man, Joseph Coon, was, at
the time of his death. DR.. Wright
gives history of the matter from the
beginning, which is substantially as
follows:
THE PARTIES.
Joseph Coon, the supposed victim
OF the poisoning, was at the time OF
his death, siXty-siX years Old. Ills
wife is about forty years OF age, being
twenty-five years younger than her
husband. The couple were married
when the wife was only sixteen years
OF age. The father OF the man Coon is
still living, and is ninety-thrce years
old, and lives i'll Sufiieid, Portage
~ had
large farm, and some time since sold
it. When they came to overhaul the
old house there was found about 500
in gold and quite an amount Of curren-
CIV hidden away. How this was Sc
creted or when, it is not known, and
in fact, it has nothing whatever to do
with the case in hand. The man Jo-1
seph Coon, in some manner became
appointed guardian of his father and
obtained possession of all the proper
ty.
MYSTERIOUS SICKNESS.
On the 17th day of last March, DR..
Wright was called to attend Joseph
Coon, who was taken with a violent
fit OF vomiting. After two days he
considered him better. but the mans
wife kept protesting that he was ne
no better, that he was constantly
falling, &c The doctor saw him
three times within a short space
and each time he thought him
recovering, but every time the wife
made the same remarks. The man
desired something to eat, and it was
recommended to him, but his wife
continually said that it would be i'm
possible for his stomach to retain food.
On Friday, March 21st he died very
suddenly in the night, and was buried
on Sunday. But one or two of the
dead mans relatives were notified Of
his death. After he died it was ru-
mored that all was not right. Strange
facts in relation to the case continually
were becoming known, and suspicion
was aroused.
BETTING ON HIS DEATH.
1t is stated TO be true that day or
two before NJ. Coon died his wife bet
SIS with a man who watched with the
sick man, that he would be dead with
in three days, and moreover she pnt
UP the money Oh this heartlcss wager.
Things went on in this manner for
seven weeks, when his brother pro-
cured the necessary papers to
EXAMINE THE BODY.
Last Monday they procured the at
tendance af DR.. Wright, OF Tallmadge,
and DR.. Belding, of Rayenna, and
proceeded to disinter the corpse
When Mrs. Coon found out what was
being done she became perfectly fran
tic and declared that it should not be
done. When the grave was partly
opened she jumped into it, and max
ing violent demonstrations, dec Jared
she would ahoot the first man who
undertook to go on with the work.
She was overpowered and led away,
and the work proceeded. When the
grave was opened it was found
that the corpse, though it had
been buried several weeks, was in as
PERFECT A STATE OF PRESERVATION.
as if it had undergone a preserving
process to prepare it for the dissecting
room. On the stomach, for a space of
about as large as a mans hand, there
was spot the color ct living flesh.
When this was cut into 10 remove the
stomach, it was found that slight de-
composition had set i'll, and had been
arrested when it reached this place.
The inner coating of the stomach was
of livid red color, showing acute in
fiamation, as did also the intestiues.
The stomach was taken by Dr.. Bel
ding to Ravcnna for the purpose of
analyZing its contents.
MRS. COON S EXPLANATION.
When Mrs. Coon found that post
morton examination had been really
made, she told Dr. Wright that the
medicines in the drawer had all got
mixed up, aud that her husband had
some medicines which he had ordered
himself; perhaps Mr.. Coon had taken
something he should not have taken,
she did not knew what was in the
drawer. She also said to some of the
neighbors that just before her husband
died he was taken with violent fit of
vomiting.
THE ANALYSIS.
A BEACON correspondent went to
Ravenna this morning TO ascertain the
results of DR.. Belongs analysis of the
deceased mans stomach, but the anal
ysis had not vet been completed. This
physician also thinks that the circum-
stances are very suspicious, but did
not express an opinion in regard to
what he had discovered TINS far in his
investigation. Arrangements have
been made with DR.. Belding to fur
nish the BEACON with the results of
his analysis as soon as completed,
which is expected to be done in day
or two.
WAS IT MURDER?
Mrs. Coon and her daughter carry
the mail between Kent and Brimficld,
making trip daily. There has been
difficulty existing between the hus
band and wife for Some time. and it is
supposed the motive she had in doing
the deed, if she did it, was On this &C
count. Every circumstance conn ected
with the affair throws suspicion upon
Mrs. Coon, but nothing definite can
be known until the chemist makes his