Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-06-21

L
mother, wife asa ChllA.
LIMA, O., June 13.-On Thursday
asst one of the most terrible TRACE
les that have made conspicuous the
annals Of Northern Ohio for
he last few years, took place in
orange township, Hancock county, /
bout three miles from Button, and |,
short distance from Ada, Harding
county. The entire community in
his region, both in Harding and
counties, have been wrought
Up to pitch of excitement never be-
ore known in their history. The
was the
POISONING OF THIRTEEN PERSONS,
members of the families Of two
brothers and a nephew, by Isaac B.
a resident Of Ada, and late
City Treasurer Of Ada q man who
has, up to a short period, borne an ex-
cellent reputation, and who has been
as consistent member of
the Methodist Church, and as an
man and valuable citizen.
In order to observe a proper Sc
quence Of events, it will be necessary
to go back several years in the narra-
tive. Isaac Charles, ST., was one Of
the old settlers of Allen county, and, |
in course Of lifetime of frugality,
hard labor, and energy, amassed
valued in the aggregate at
100000. He had four sons, Isaac B.,
Elijah, John, and another, older than
all three, who died a good many
years ago, leaving boy, Thomas
Charles, who was reared by his grand
parents. The boys, as they grew to
married, and, leaving the.
paternal roof and scttling-Eliiah
and John in Hancock county, and
Isaac in Hardin county, all within
short distance of the homestead in
the same manner as had their father
acquired each a moderate amount of
property. The old folks were consis-
tent members Of the Methodist church
and the children likewise became
members of that religious organiza-
ton. Isaac, SO far as Is known to the
outer world, was an upright man un-
til some two or three years ago. He
was not SO steady in his habits of
business as his brothers, and was
possessed of desire for speculation,
which he indulged to some extent,
and to his detrimeut financially. At
the time mentioned he became mex.
tricably involved in debt and, in his
desperation, gave his notes for yari-
Gus amounts, aggregating, 1t is said,
500, and
FORGED HIS FATHERS NAME,
as an Endorsement. This became
known In the course of time to the
holder of a note for 81 500, and he, it
is supposed, informed the father of
his sons rascality. At any rate, the
two had meeting and stormy scene
ensued; and the forged note was re-
placed with one bearing a genuine
signature.
Shortly after, about the time that
the other forged notes were supposed
to be approaching maturity, one night
A SHOT WAS FIRED
into the window of the old mans
house by some one evidently intent
on killing him, and he escaped death
by narrow chance. The occurrence
was q nipety-days wonder, as the
old man hadn't an enemy in the world
1t was supposed. It is now asserted
that on that day Isaac procured o
revolver at a hardware store in Ada,
saying that he was going on jour-
ney, and would need such an instru-
ment. That night he was absent from
home, and the next day he returned
the weapon, declaring that he had
changed his mind. About this time
Isaac again visited his father, to talk
over the affair of the note, and they
repaired to the harm together. Short
ly'after he returned and reported
that
HIS FATHER HAD BEEN KILLED
by horse. The old gentleman was
found lying in the barn senseless, and
with an ugly wound in the back of
his head. He lived few days, but
never recovered sufficient conscious
ness to tell how he was hurt, Strange
to say, the old lady was taken sudden
ly and violently i'll, with grief, 1t was
said, and she rapidly declined and
band.
These events excited no comment
at the time, Isaac's story Of the death
of his aged parents being accredited
as true by his brothers and the com.
munity at large.
But a more startling episode was
yet in store for this terribly fated
family. Isaac had in his household a
young girl some l6 or II years old,
and of. a sudden she was sent away
to Columbus. For what reason 1t
does not appear, but it is now said in
order that an abortion might be per-
formed. During her absence, Isaac's
wife and child were suddenly taken
i'll, and, after a very brief sickness,
they
WENT DOWN TO THE GRAVE.
Within six months Of his wife's death
Isaac married his servant girl. Still
the community was not aroused.
In the meantime Isaac had sought
and obtained from tho Probate Court
of Allen county the appointment of
himself as administrators of his faith
er's estate, and proceeded to settle up
his affairs. The old gentleman had
but few personal debts and the on
ly paper he had standing out was q
note given for money with which the
Methodists in his neighborhoOd had
built church, and which was secur-
ed by mortgage ON the property.
In the course of a year it became APP
parent that Isaac was administering
| the estate to his own ADVANTAGE.
None of the taxes were paid, and it
was ascertained that he had been
pledging the assets of the estate for
his personal debts. Six months ago,
on petition of his brother, Isaac was
removed from the Office, and Mr..
Isaac Thompson, of Ada, appointed
administrator. He found that his
predecessor had not only squandered
his own portion of the estate, that
the taxes were unpaid, but that all
the assets had disappeared. All the
desperate crookedness of Isaac's
affairs then became known to his rel
atives, resulting ina
EXCEEDINGLY BITTER QUARREL.
On last Wednesday the brothers
and the nephew, Mr.. Thomas Charles,
agreed to meet at Elijah Charles, for
the purpose Of settling all their diff
culties, and to determine Thomas'
share in the estate. Elijah went to
Ada after Isaac, On Wednesday, and
on his way home stopped at q mill
for o grist of -four, which he took
home. His wife, in anticipation of
the large company on the following
day, set about mixing up q batch Of
bread to be baked on the morrow, and
while SO doing Isaac went in and
out of the room where she was
working, frequently. Suddenly he
declared that he had q business en-
gagement which would take him back
to Ada, and he cound not possibly re-
turn until the afternoon Of Thurs.
day; and he wished Elijah and Thom-
as to 60 down there after him. Ac.
cordingly Immediately after dinner
on Thursday the two started for Ada,
but had gone only short distance
when Thomas
WAS SEIZED WITH VIOLENT VOMITING,
and in q very few minutes afterwards