The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-16
A TERRIBLE CRIME.


THE OHIO BoRoIA-A BROTHER PoIsoss Hm
BROTHERS. YAMMY-THIRTEEN PERSONS EAT
ARsENIc-rouR HAVE DIED AND THE oTHKRa
CANNOT REcovKR--NuRDKR, ABORTION, FOR
gerry AND THEFr-HARRow ESCAPE FROM
LYNcHIxo-THE PEOPLE AROUSED
From the Toledo Com merciaLl
LIMA, June l3 1875.
On Thursday last OF the most terrible tragedies
that have made conspicuous the criminal annals Of
Northern OHIO for the last few years took place in
Orange township Hancock county, about three miles
from Blunton, and short distance from Ada Hardin
county The entire community in this region both In
Hardin aud Hancock counties, have been wrought M
to pitch OF excitement never before known in their
history This tragedy was the poisoning or thirteen
persons members OF the families OF two brothers and
nephew, by Isaac B. Charles, . resident OF
Ada, and lato City Treasurer OF Ada, q
man who has up short period borne
an excellent reputation, and who has been re-
gardcd consistent member OF the Methodist
Church and an honorable man and valued citizen.
But developments which have been made since the
tragedy oflast Thursday mako him out 10 be heud
incarnate, devil with heart black and whose
deeds are so damuable to make other devils and
their deeds driven snow in hts presence
In order TO observe proper sequence Of events II
VIII be necessary go back several years In the
tive. Isaac Charles ST. one OF the old settlers
Of Allen county and In the course OF lifetime OF fru-
galty hard labor and energy amassed property valued
in the aggregate at $40 000 He had four sons Isaac
b., Elijah, John, and another older than all three, who
died good many years ago., leaving boy. Thomas
Charles, who reared BY his grandparents The
boys, they grew to manhood married, and loavins
the paternal roof and settling-Eljah and John IN
H..
all within short distance OF the home
stcad-in tho same manner had thei
father, acquired each moderate amount Of property.
The old folks consistent members OF the Methodist
Church, and the children likewise became members Of
that religious organization. Isaac far known
to the outer world, upright man until some two
or three years ago He nOrso steady in his habits
OF business his brothers. and possessed OF de-
sire for speculation, which he INDUCED to extent
and to his detrimcnt financially. At the time men.
tioned he became ncxtricaby involved in debt and in
his desperation gave his notes for various amounts,
aggregang it is said 500 and forged his fathers
name Endorsement This became known in the
of time the holder OF for s. 500 and he
It supposed informed tho father of his sons rascal
ity At any rate, tho two had meeting, and stormy
scene ensued and the forged note was replaced With
one bearing genuine signature
Shortly alter about the time that the other forged
night shot fired into the window OF the old mans
house. by some one evidently intent killing him,
and he escaped death by the narrowcst chance. The
occurrence nine days wonder, as the old man
hadn't an enemy Ia the world, II WAS supposed. II
revolver at hardware store ia Ada, saying that hi
was going on journey and would need such an in
strument That night he was absent from home and
the next day he returned the weapon, declaring thai
he had changed his mind.
About this time Isaac again visited his father to tall
the affair Of the note, and they repaired bars
together Shortly after he returned and reported thai
his ather had been killed by horse.
Tho old gentleman found lying In the barn sense
less with ugly wound in the back of his hoad-
He lived few days, but ncvor recovered sufficient
consciousness to tell how he was hurt Strange TO sey
the odslady taken suddenly and violently i'll with
grief 1t was said, and she rapidly declined ana died.
and was buried with her husband. These events ex
cited comments at the time, Isaacs story OF the
death Of his aged parents being accredited BY
his brothers and the community at largo.
terribly fated family Isaac had in his household
young GIRL sixteen or seventeen years old and Of
sudden she was sent away TO Columbus. For what
does not appear; but 1t Is said in order
that an abortion might be performed.
During her absence lsaac's vile and child were
suddenly taken I'LL and after very brief sickness they
down into the grave Join the aged couple who
so shortly before hal departed this life suddenly.
Within six months his wies death Isaac married his
servant girl Still the community was not aroused
In the meantime Isaac had sought aud obtained
the Probate Court Of Allen county the appointment Of
himself the administrator OF his fathers estate and
proceeded 10 settle up his affairs The old gentcmau
had but fow debts and the only paper he has
the Methodists in his ncshborhood had built church.
and which secured by mortgage the property
In the year II became apparent that Isaa(
was administering tho estate 10 his own advantage
None oil the taxes paid and IT was ascert tanned
that he had been pedgnR the assets OF the estate for
his personal debts months ago. petition OF his
brother Isaac was removed from the Office and Mr..
Isaac Thompson, OF Ada appointed administrator. He
found that bis predecessor had not only squandcred
his portion OF tho estate; that the
paid; that all the had disappeared All oil
mo desperate crookcdncss OF Isaxc's affairs then be.
"A M o re n vna
the result.
ON last Wednesday the brothers and nephew, Mr..
Thomas Charles agreed 10 meet at Elijah Charles fol
the purpose of settling all their difficulties to do
iermine Thomas share In the estate Elijah went Il
Ada alter Isaac, on Wednesday, and his way home
stopped mill Tor grist OF flour which he took home
HIS WIFE, in anticipation OF the large company the iol
lowing day. about mixing batch OF bread baked
the morrow, and while SO doing Isaac went in and
out OF the room where she was working frequently.
Suddenly be declared that he had business engage
mcnt which would take him back to Ada and he could
not possibly until the afternoon Of Thursday,
and he wished Elijah and Thomas q go down their
alter him. Accordingly immediately after dinner on
Thursday the started Tor Ada, but had gone only
short distance when Thomas seized
wa psp Ss onoa rh sd 10 few , Sss
suffering from violent attack OF
collie So their pain that they drove The
roadside and thon rolled around almost in the agonics
Of dissolution. While in the midst Of their attack
neighbor driving aloug hot haste and informed
same They returned home and the neighbor
continued on his way after physician 10 Button
Dr. Iorder was summoned, ana quickly repaired TO the
scene OF the agony Thirteen persons various
stages OF illness and so papabc werc the symptoms Of
the malady that the physician immediately announced
that they had all been poisoned.
physician from Ada was then summoned, DR.. -Stur
geon and he Saturday caused portion Of the bread
TO be analysed at the Normal School at Ada which
brought to light arsenic enough to have killed forty
persons Aud an investigation only surely fastened
Suspicion Isaac b. Charles. On Sunday ut MID.
night lac arrested warrant sworn out by
DR. sturgeon, and taken TO Reeds Corners. between
Ada and Bufton, where he IL now under guard await
ing trial
SO as the horrible tragedy became known tro-
mendous excitement arose, both at Blunton and Ada
and the facts OF the death vi the old woman OF
Isaac Charles vile and child and OF his unsecmly
rage light, and the construction was placed
upon them stated Farmers left their work and be-
gan gather into Ada The examination OF Charles
Tor Monday afternoon, before justice or the
peace, Reeds Corners Eijah Charles neighbors
gathered mdss,, and there strong apprchen.
that the wretch would be tried In Judge Iynchs
court, but large body OF men out from Ada to
sucl la,ycssucas deicrfni