The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-02-06

a correspondent, Merrick hung solid and
almost motionless, and only two or three
nervous quivers at comparatively long in
tervals, revealed the fact thas death was not
instantaneous. The rope slipped with the
face to the front, and the head fell to one
side, showing the neck to have broken in
stantly. The face above the rope was badly
discolored. In six minutes the pulse was at
one hundred, and in fifteen seconds there.
after, Merrick had paid the full forfeit, life
! being pronounced extinct. yea
Achey struggled with considerable vio.
lence, his legs being repeatedly drawn up
convulsiyely, and bis body moved about
and writhed in agony. The process of
strangulation was slower with him than
with Merrick, and he probably suffered
more than his guilty companion. In eight
minutes from the time the drop fell, Achey
was pronounced dead. Coroner Wishard
then made formal official examination of
the bodies, and in forty minutes from the
opening of the final scene, the bodies were
cut down..
John Fl Achey was hanged for the.mur
der of George Legget', a wen known gam
bier of this city, whom he shot and killed in
Chaplin & Cores liquor saloon, on South
Illinois-s rect, on the l6thsof last July The
deed was prompted by revenge, as Achey
felt that he had been deeply wronged by
Leggett. On the afternoon of the 10Th of
Cores pool room, with a re yolver partially
concealed up his coat sleeve, and evidently
looking for 3me one. Thas person was
George Leggett, whom he saw in the rear
end of the room. He called out in loud
voice, saying, "George, am now ready for
you, draw your gum" and, as his victim
turned around, Achey fred two shots, one
of which took effect in Leggett's abdomen,
producing fatal wound. Legge ran out
the front door, and Achey tried to fire at
him again, but the revolver would not go
off He was taken to his residence, where
he died in less than half an hour after being
shot. .s. s.-. -......s -.
The crime for which Merrick was
executed was one of the most cold blooded
State.
The victim of the murder was Julia
A. Merrick his wife, She was a woman
about twenty-nine years of age, and the
daughter of a wealthy farmer Of Morgan
County, Indiana. When quite young she
! became estranged from her family, and left
home, going to Marion County, where she
was engaged for several years in teaching
| school. She bore spotless reputation
until, in an evil hour, she formed
the acquaintance of Merrick Soon
after this unfortunate acquaintance
Merriek and Julia Paul began to live to-
gether as man and wife, and maintained
this relationship for some time. Last sum-
mer she entered suit against Merrick for
bastardy, and he compromised the pro-
ceedings by marrying her. He was terribly
enraged at the idea of being prosecuted
and compelled to marry against his will, and
he at once entered upon course of system
attic and cold hearted brutality toward the
woman whom he had ruined He made
frequent threats of killing her, and on the
day before her final disappearance he pur.
| nhQ9ad strvchnlna y fnr fho
purpose of "killing ratsn
On the 14th of last September Merrick
left the livery stable owned by him, early IN
the evening, in buggy. About midnight
| Meriick returned to the stable, and in re-
| sponse to questions as to the whereabouts
of his wife he gavevague and unsatisfactory
/ answers. Nothing was seen or heard of her
until the ED of September. when two men
came to the city and reported that they had
| found the bodies of a woman and baby
lying on bank of Eagle Creek, near the
city. The body of the woman, although
greatly decomposed and disfgured, was
promptly identified as that of Julia Mer.
rick. The body of the child was that
| of a new born infant, and was found be
tween its mothers legs, the two being
partially covered with heavy log.
The corpses were removed to the morgue,
and shortly afterward Merrick was arrested
at his stable. He denied all knowledge OF
| to the whereabouts of his wife. He finally
stated that he had trouble with his wife in
the buggy, and that she got out short dis
| tance from the city and started away on foot
with negro wench. which was the last he
| had seen of ber. He was taken to the NOR
que, and looked at the body, and at first
stoutly maintained that it was not that OF
and confessed that it WAS really his wife's
| body before him,