The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-04-26
STERLING sTRANGLED.
He Asserts His Innocence to the
Last.

Last.
The EXECUTION of Charles M. Ster-
ling, conyicted of the MURDER of Liz.
|xie Grombacher, a thirtecn-year old
girl, on the 2lst of January 1876, took
place in the Jail yard at youngstown
on Saturday last. The circumstances
connected with the murder are prob
ably fresh In the minds of the reader,
and are briefly these. About s o'clock
on the 2lst of january, 1875, the mur-
dered girl started from home to go to
Poland OH foot to collect wages due
her for work, she already earning her
own living, and assisting her aged
mother in providing for her family,
which was large. That was the last
seen of her while alive by her mother.
Some ten minutes before she left home
q tramp was seen going along the road
in the direction she was travelling.
The dead body of the girl was soon
after discovered by huckster named
Stevens, sho wing signs of her having
come to her death by violence, froth
Issuing from the mouth and nostrils'
indicating terrible death struggle.
The alarm was Immediately given and
suspicion fastened upon the tramp,
who was pursued and captured at
Broadman at noon on the same day.
He was twice tried for the crime, the
first timo in Garfield, when the jury
failed to agree. The second trial oc-
Cured in November when he was
found guilty. and on the 18th of De-
cember last he was sentenced byJudge
Conant 10 be executed on the 2Sth OF
March last. He protested his inno-
cence from the first. The testimony
against him was entirely circumstan-
tiaI and in consequence he has receiv-
ed much sympathy from portion of
the community. Ills attorney, w. S.
Anderson was unremitting in his ef-
forts on his behalf, and conducted his
defense with much earnestness and
ability. Just before the time fixed for
the execution by the original sentence
a woman named Sterling, from Cana
da, claiming to be the mother of the
prisoner made intercessiOns with Gov
ernor Young and succeeded in obtain
ing from him respite of his sentence
till Saturday last, but upon her visit
ing HIM in prison, he denied the re-
lationship and claimed that the name
of Sterling, under which he was tried
and convicted was an assumed one,
but he utterly refused to divulge his
true name.
He was young man probably 26
years of age, weighing abont 135
pounds, of light complexion and of a
boyish look and voice.
About 200 spectators were witness
es of the execution. The arrangements
were completed at half-past eleven
O'Clock, and precisely at noon, Ster-
ling was led to the scaffold by Sheriff
Drake and his Deputy, lie ascended
the steps deliberately and with firm
step, looking the crowd squarely in
the face, with scarcely sign of nery-
business. When asked if he had any
thing to say, he only answered, Il am
innocent After prayer by Rev. Mr..
he was led forward to the
trap and his hands and arms pinioned.
The cap was then adjusted and II 40
the trap was sprung and Charles M.
was launched into eternity.
The moose slipped under his chin and
failed to break his neck. After few
moments of silence, he began to clap
his hands, kick his feet and moan
most pitifully. These motions and
srOaus were kept up for at least two
minutes. The sight was a horrid one,
in the extreme. AT one
o'clock the ply ysicians IN attendance
pronounced life to be extinct, and at
half past one the body was cut down.