The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1876-03-17
HisrsHanenus.
A VICTIM OF CIRCUMSTANTIAL
EVIDENCE.

- hEADA<4NSHs
In the year 1S41 the now fiourishins
city OF Steubenville, Ohio, was very
small place. Its population was noted
for its quiet and orderly character ant
there was not a single liquor saloon in
the place.
Crime was very rare, and the Circuit
Judges often had occasion to congratu-
late the people upon not having a single
criminal case upon their calendar.
In consequence there was considerable
excitement in SteubenviIle, when, at an
early hour in the morning of the 18th OF
November, in the aforementioned year,
the report reached the place that the
corpse of man had been found in the
woods within hundred yards of the last
house of the town and close to the Pitts
burgh turnpike, with every indication
that an atrocious murder had been COM
mitted. The sheriff accompanied by
some fifty citizens, Immediately hastened
to the spot indicated to him by the per.
son who had discovered the remains of
the murdered man. That person was a
decrepit old woman, who had gone out
to gather brushwood. No one would
have suspected her, under any circum-
stances, of having had anything to do
with the bloody deed, and, besides, she
manifested such unfeigned horror in de-
scribing what she had seen at the dismal
spot in the woods that she was unhesi.
tatingly allowed to go about her bust
ness.
Upon arriving at the scene of the sup
posed murder, the Sheriff and his COM
panions saw that terrible crime had
been committed. The dead man was
covered all over with frozen gore, and
seven wounds, apparently inflicted with
a sharp knife, were found upon the body.
His head was still covered with a nice
felt hat. His face presented a most
CHASTITY aspect. A terrible cash extend
ed from the left temple to the right jaw
Another cash was in the forehead. The
victim was dressed in a substantial fur
coat. He was apparently forty. two years
old. When his pockets were examined
they were found to be entirely empty
But close to the body was found an old
fashioned wallet. 1t was still open, as
if its contents had been taken from it,
and as if he who had emptied it, had
afterward thrown it away. At dis
tance of about ten yards from the corpse
near an old log, lay peculiarly shaped
fur cap, 1t could not have belonged to
the murdered man, for, as we have said
before, he had his hat on his head,
The Coroner was sent for, and until
he arrived the Sheriff and his compan-
ions went to the Ohio Tavern, which was
situated at no great distance from the
scene of the murder.
When the Sheriff told the landlord of
the murder, and described to him the
appearance of the corpse, the landlord
exclaimed at once:
"Great Heavensl that poor fellow can
not be anyone else than Mr.. Sammis, the
Pittsburg cattle dealer. He was here
last night and took supper with another
man from Pittsburg, whose name l be-
lieve was Belson or Wilson, and who
rode on toward Pittsburg Immediately
after he had lett the table. MFR. Sarnnis
sat in the front room with me and Jack
Capon for an hour, when the two went
out together"
Jack Capon was a dissolute but very
good -natured fellow, about thirty years
old, who had decided aversion to
work, and a still more decided predilec-
ton for strong drink.
he could not get any whisky at Steu-
benville, and hence he often walked for
miles and miles to get ''wee drop" of
whisky. When he was successful, he
returned to Steubenville, where he had
frequently been punished by the Squire
for intoxication, with fine and punish
ment. Still every body liked him be-
cause he had an excellent, unselfish
heart, and never forgot favor done
him.
"Wha. sort of hat did Capon wear
last night:' asked the Sheriff.
"Why, no hat, but a fur cap-made of
beaver skin-with two ear covers"
"Was this the capp said the Sheriff,
producing the fur cap which he had
found near the corpse of the murdered
man, and which had thus far been con-
cealed under his cloak
"Yes," exclaimed the landlord, ''that
is Capon's cap and no mistake. Where
did you find itr'
The Sheriff told him, Everybody
seemed horror-struck at the idea that
poor Jack Capon should have committed
SO atrocious a crime. Men were imme-
diately dispatched to hunt up Jack Ca
pom. They did not find him at his won't
ed haunts in Steubenville; but man
who was well acquainted with his habits
said that if he could be found anywhere
it would be at the cabin of old Sim
Brooks.
Brooks lived in the woods on the Pitts
burg side of Steubenville, about one
mile from the spot where the corpse of
Mr.. Sammis had been found. Like Jack
Capon, old Brooks was fond of whisky,
and the two would frequently drink to-
gether until they were utterly oblivious
of the cares and sorrows of this world,
which as they thought had not treated
either of them too well. So to Brooks