The Grange advance., 1876-02-02
A Young Girl Outraged aud After
wards Bsat4n TO Death.

A Young Girl Oneraged aud After
wards Beat4n 10 Death.
n
A terrible double crime is recorded by
the papers Of Youngstown, Ohio. The
victim was Lizzie Grandmother, daughter
OF widow who resided at Powerstown,
small place in close neighborhood to
Youngstown. Tie murdered girl has
been living Mt home with her mother for
some time past, but previously she was in
the employ of Mrs. h. Heasley, who re-
sides on the Poland road, about three
quarters of a mile from where the body
was found. Lizzie started from home 70
90 to Mrs. Hcaslcy's after her clothes,
since which time no one but her murderer
is known to have spoken to her. An
hour or two afterward man named
Richard Stevens entered thicket to get
q stick, and discovered the body of the
girl at point about fifty yards from the
road. Her veil, which she wore when
she left home, was fastened and twisted
about her neck and imbedded in the flesh,
indicating that it was by this she had
died. Her little black winter hat was
lying close to her head, her face was
somewhat discolored, foam was oozing
from her mouth and nostrils. and every
thing indicated that she had died hor-
rible death. The waterproof cloak she
wore was torn at the pocket, evidently
ripped while her murderer was pulling
her over the fence. The way she had
been dragged was indicated by evidences
OF struggle. and on the fence was spot
of blood.
The leaves were torn up, the twigs we're
bent, bushes broken, etc. Once over the
fence the girl was evidently overcome. as
the trail is left where she was dragged
through the thicket to the spot where the
body was found. The only person known
to have seen her alive from the time she
left home, besides her murderer, is Mr..
Cover, who met her about two hundred
and fifty yards from the place she was
found, on the highway. MIR. Cover also
= noticed Suspicious character walking
just ahead Of her in the same direction.
He did not look up when he met him, and
he passed him by as tramp. Mr.. Stevens
also remembered meeting man on the
road of the same description as that
given by Mr.. Cover. An immediate
SS0ANA 00S A6uC 4OA tuC pei
son, and late in the day man
giving the name of Charles Sterling, was
arrested q few miles away and taken to
Youngstown, where he was identified by
both the gentlemen who had seen him in
the neighborhood of the murder. Ster.
ling was placed in Jail to await further
developments. An examination was
made OF his clothing and several blood
stains were found upon his shirt.
A coroner's jury was empanneled and
considerable testimony taken on Satur-
day. The physician testified that death
was caused by strangulation. but the
body had been horribly outraged. Evi-
dence was given as to the presence of the
man Sterling upon the road, Mr.. Cover
stating that after he met him he also saw
the murdered girl, who was passing along
the road few hundred yards behind the
tramp. DR.. Buechner testified to having
examined Sterlirg's clothing after the
latter Lad been locked up, and that he
found blood stains upon it, which in his
opinion was human blood. 0 ct.
mony offered was descriptive of the find
ing Of the body and its appearance. The
inquest has not yet been concluded.
Sterling denies the charge sternuously.
He says he was born in Dover township,
Ashtabula county, and last lived at New
Castle. He was a carpenter by trade.
He did not deny being upon the road
where the witnesses testified to seeing
him, but deEied all knowledge cf the
mu, der. He did not remember having
seen any girl behind him on the road,
md said that when arrested he had not
idea that it was for murder.
In reply to question as to where he
went after leaving the road where the
murder was committed, he said: "When
Eleft Poland went west to within a
mile of Boardman, and then I went -th,
then west again. and then took the
Boardman road south until I got through
Boardman, took my time; didn't, hurry
nor take the woods. The reason;1 took
this zigzag course I was meditating1 the
best course to pursue for work, because I
thought it no use, but concluded to 60
20 Ashtabula county, my native county.
where heard there was work in winter
cutting wood"
Elizabeth Grombaucher, the victim Of
he murder, was about fifteen years cd;
aer sixteenth birthday being not until
1ext April. She was short, heavy. set,
With finely cut features. Her hair curled
beautifully, and altogether she was very
good looking. She has an older sister
living at Warren, and two brothers older
han she. The other children are all
younger, and as the mother is in very poor
lealth it is feared that this calamity will
sill her also.
Protecting Forests.