The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-12-06
LEApEN Pills.
Murda Of DR., Not by Dr. Knapp al Benton Ridge
Hancock, County OHIO The Murderer IN jail,

Mufdef W DT NOu w NJ hHuPP us Re''sV' Htub'
Hancock, County, OHIO The Murderer IN Jal,
arm [PfOm the FindlAy Courierl
Last Thursday afternoon the citizens OF Benton
Ridge, a little village about eight miles west of
Finday, were startled and frightened by fearful
tragedy In their streets. Between two and three
O'Clock IN the afternoon DR.. H X, Mott was fred at
on the stfeetnear, his residence by Dr.. Frank H.
Knapp, With shot gun. The entire charge en-
tered his stomach Just below the breast bone, pro-
ducing instant death.
DR.. Mott has lived in this county about eight
years having FIRST located at Houcktown and
about six Years ago movedto Benton Ridge where
he has resided and practiced medicine ever since
He was a great talker, and II he became offended
at any one the party was sure to hear OF II. This
disposition lead him into many disputes, and OF
ten made him enemies. He was very jealous IN
professional matters aud was averse TO having
any other physician practice In the town with
him. He had never lived on terms OF friendship
with any physician who lived In Benton after his
arrival there.
Thus It was when Dr.. Knapp moved there In
June last and soon gained fair practice, Mott
became very Jealous Of him, and 1t was not long
before the two doctors became engaged IN bitter
quarrel Of words and threats were passed back
and forth quite lively In this tonguey war Ms'
Mott also took an active part and helped TO Keep
| It up. While nearly every one knew that the
doctors were not good friends, yet no one ever
thought that It would result in the terrible tTas
edy that followed
DR.. Knapp has made statement to the reporter
of the Courier He says his friends had told lhim
that DR.. Mott bad frequently threatened To Kill
him-that Mott had habit Of carrying pistols In
his pockets He said to the reporter;
About six weeks ago when / was at Mr.. Newton
Cherry's Mrs. Mott hollered across the street TO
me aud said, lyon low liTd son Of a -, I'll kill
YOU" replied that I guessed not, when she
called out the doctor, and he came into the yard
with revolver In his hand, and while they were
having lively conversation across the street.
John Morris, a son Of Mrs Mott, came along, and
Mrs. Nottgave him revolver too, and then the
war of words waxed warm, and threats from the
Motifs were loud that they would kill me. did
not make any demonstrations towords them, ana
finally Morris came along the street in front OF
where was standing, aud as he came opposite
again called me vile name told him he had
got to stop that orTd make him stop Hestopped'
This fuss auleted down. and that was the only
time ever had any words with any of the family
llOugl lney GOulllubV W luhhO NAANAA 'NA'N''.
killing me- This so annoyed and worried me tDat
had about made up my mind to leave the place.
but my friends were 10th to have me leave, al
though they considered 1t dangerous for me 10
stay, and they urged me TO arm myself ana DC
prepared TO make a deieuse II he attacked me-
But never carried revolver or any olher Wea-
pon. About one o'clock Thursday afternoon
was at Mr Saunders, watching them butcher
when Mr., SCoby came TO me to go and see MS
sick wife. did not have my prescription case
with me and started to get it, and as was cresS-
ing the street by Motifs he came out and fired AZ
me with d revolver. This caused me to step up
very fast but before could get oGt OF his way ne
snapped his revolver at me second time must
confess that this made me a little nervous, but !
went on to my Office, and getting my prescription
case sat down minute to think what i would
do, knowing that would be obliged to pass NOUS
on my way TO see my patient, | then went INTO
Sanders shop and picked up shot gun that was
standing there. Saunders called TO me to be care
ful it was loaded / thought that If | went along
with gun Mott would be afraid to molest me.
was so nervous that on the way ! accidentally
discharged one barrel in the air. was just pass
ing Motifs house and was congratuating myself
on safely getting past without trouble, when look
ing across the street saw Dr. Mott coming toward
me on the opposite side Of the street. AS soon as
he saw me he started diagonally across the street
toward me, at the same time reaching towards his
vest pockets. l called to him. stop you shot
at me to-day now | want this thing stopped"
He did not stop, but continued to walk rapidly
toward nc, saying, cd d-n you, I'm going to
shoot you" When he got within ten or twelve
feet of me became frightened, and as | got the
gun over my arm, l turned partly around and
pulled the trigger, and Mott staggered and fell
shot without really knowing 1t, bat under the
conviction that If did not act instantly he would
shoot me, AS soon as l fired, / turned right
around and walked to my Office; and as passed
Motifs house his wife came out and said, III kill |
you, you dirty sonof a -" Ireplied, "If you |
had what you deserve you would have dose
too., did not point the gun at her or stop min
ute, but hurried back to the Office and sat down. |
did not know that Mott was dead for some little |
time after did not try to escape or to take poi
son, as reported. About three quarters of ian |
hour after the shooting Charley Whitelock came |
to the Office and said he guessed he would have to
arrest me- told him AL right" and asked him |
to come into the Office and send for certain men to
60 along with me to the 'Squire's. He did so, and
then went before Justice John Bergman, where |
l waived an examination and he ordered me to |
jail, and / was brought here.
Doctor Knapp was born In Trumbull county, |
Ohio in December 1890 He has practiced In |
Ohio and Illinois, and has Travelled great deal |
delivering medical lectures. He never was in |
partnership with DR.. YOder, of Button. He was |
married, but while he was In the army his wife |
deserted him. He has one daughter, who is mar.
ried to L. II. Graham, and lives at Neosha, Kan |
sas His father and one sister are living in Irum-
bull county Ohio. and he has one brother living |
in Iowa.
DR. Knapp is man little above the medium |
heighth, will weigh about $50 pounds is well |
built and well preserved He isvery gentemanly |
appearing and an easy talker.
L LA