The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-11-30
Canton township.

Daniel Gibler,
8. 8. Bomberger
F. E. McLain, " "
Robert Van Horn, "
VIM. Holabaugh, Marlboro township
Joseph Putt,
Jacob ], Yutzey Pike township.
John Josephs, Lexington township
The jurors were then sworn, and the witnesses
for the State, numbering sixty, called Mr. Shields
stated the case on the part of the State and Mr..
Pease on the part Of the defense, occupying over
an hour. After the witnesses had been qualified,
Thomas Il. Seaman was called, testifylng as fol.
lows: | live in Masson; last January was a po.
liceman; about half past two on the night of the
10th of last January was in the Mayors Office with
two others, Hose and Getz, policemen; George
Miller had just gone out; Ezra Petzcker came in
called me to go to Richardson's; Hose, Getz Mil
Ter and myself went went into the house by front
entrance, up to "Elie's room," and found Mrs.
Richardson in bed; Mrs, Richardson said, "My
husband tried to cut my throat; l took my revol.
yer, and he grabbed 1t from me, saying, that is
what want he shot me in the side, and l
grabbed 1t back and shot him; is he dead?" she
said her wound was bleeding, and asked me to
staunch 1t; put my finger on the wound it was
bloody; DR., Reed came in and relieved me; went
then into another room alone found three others
there saw bed on my left, with the bed.clothes
thrown down from about two.thirds of the bed;
on the pillow, on the south side of the bed was
spot of blood ...
Questlon.-"Could you identify the bed cloth.
ing?'
Answer-"I think could" Clothes were here
exhibited to witness who said they were the same
he saw that night.
Saw the body of Mr. Richardson on the floor
lying on his back, with his arms and legs extend
ed diagonally with the bed; his hands were
not clenched; he had on a white shirt, drawn
down on his body; there were no powder marks
on his hands, found gunshot wound in his tenn
pie about three.eighths of an inch in diameter;
examined the wound and found that the blood
about 1t was darker than ordinary, and that the
wound was discolored; the blood was running q
very little; did not examine back part of the head
Getz said, "Poor Neds gone" said there must
be an inquest; examined the bed; Miller Getz,
Ezra and put the body on the bed; saw no blood
on Mr. Richardson except on his head, the back
part Of which found was bloody when lifted
him. saw blood on the carpet where his head had
laid; found revolver, with two chambers dis
charged and five loaded, lying about two feet from
his left hand Miller picked it up, think; saw no
razor, bat q razor was handed TO me as having
been picked up on the floor the razor was bloody
and sharp, as found by trying 1t on my finger;
| after we placed Mr.. Richardson on the bed went
into EllieS room, and then back into the room
where Mr.. Richardson lay; | said to the police
men that Mrs Richardson should be in custody,
and gave orders that she should remain in the
room; then left the house.
Further questions ELECTED the following: Found
Mrs, Richardson in Ellie'S room; went in from
the room wherein. Richardson's body was, and
had short conversation with her; she asked me
II Mr.. Richardson was killed, and answered yes.
she said "he tried to cut my throat and succeed.
ed in getting away from him." she did not use
these exact words; she said she reached for the
revolver, and he grabbed 1t and shot her in the
side; she grabbed 1t from him, when he caught
her and tried to cut her throat and she shot him;
she seemed sorry he had not killed her; the bed
in the room in which the murder occurred was
made up of sheet, comfort and pillows; the
blood had penetrated through the sheet on to this
comfort; saw no blood on the mattress; Mr. Rich
ardson's countenance was placid If had seen him
in any ordinary place would have thought him
asleep have known him twelve years; he was
short, muscular and stout, weighing two hundred
or more; saw him short time before the shoot
ing, and he seemed vigorous and healthy; the
wound seemed blaekened did not notice the ap-
pearance of his hair; the carpet was taken up
next day at the Coroner's inquest there was
spot of blood on the paper under the carpet, the
same size as the spot on the carpet was no blood
on the AoOr was fire in the stove. ...
| Cross examined; The curtains were open about
half way; the stove was about seven feet north of
bed with the stove door open; II was coal stove
and the door was as large as my two hands; the
night was cool; Mrs. Richar dson's throat was tied
up; Mr.. Richardson's body was limp; 1t required
good deal of exertion, on my part, to put him on
the bed; could hardly have put him on the bed
myself
Witness then excused, and court adjourned
Wednesday-Third Day.
John T. Abraham, architect, sworn. Testified as
to correctness of plan of Mr.. Richardson's house.
exhibited before the court,
Ezra Pietzcker, clerk in Richardson's grocery,
testified: Age nineteen knew Mr., and Mrs. and
Miss Ella Richardson; went into Richsrdsons en-
ploy last September; the family consisted of Mr.
Richardson, his wife, daughter, son, and Miss
Mary Bowers, the hired girl; was employed by
Richardson till his death; was at his house on the
night Of the 10th Of last January; retired at 9%
Richardson went up to his room with me- the last
time l saw him alive was just as he was entering
the door of his room, when he said good night"
answered back good night was awakened about
halfpast two by pistol shot, but don't know
from what direction 1t came; did not get up but
went to Sleep was again aroused soon after by
Ella, who said, "Pas shot, and Ma got her throat
cut then got up and went into the hall, where
met Mrs. Richardson, partially dressed, also Char
lie and Miss Reichert, the hired girl; Miss Reich
art came to live at Richardson's last October and
was there on the 10th of last January; Mrs. Rich
ardson said, "Oh, Esse, shot the s-n of a b-h
he tried to kill me, and got the upper hand of
him" Mrs. Richardson was taken into Ellie's
room, where Iput towel around her neck; then
left went to my room and put on my boots, and
started for the doctor; called at Dr. Ridenhour's
whose Office is about five squares from Richard
sons, and then went to DR.. Reeds told him to
come down to Richardson's, and then went back
to Richardson's house, next went over TO Coroner
Alterkruses, saw him, and then started for the
police; found them at the Mayors office; they
were Seaman, Miller and Getz told then what had
happened and we all started for Richardson's
house, going in by the west door we went up into
the room where Mrs. Richardson was; she was in
bed; Charlie Ella and the girl were in the same
room; Seaman talked with Mrs Richardson, but
l did not hear what was said; had no conversation
with her; next went into the room where Richard
son was, and saw him lying on his back, north Of
the bed, on the floor; Seaman, Miller and Getz
were also there Richardson was lying at north
east angle from the bed, with his arms and legs
extended one foot under the bed; examined him
after the doctor came, and found hole in his left
temple when we went into the room Seaman
picked up revolver lying abouttwo feet from his
left hand, the muzzle pointed from him, toward
the southeast; Seaman put the revolver in his
pocket, and said, Nov for the razor" we all
hunted for II; saw a pocket handkerchief near