Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-06-13

sion upon him and he slept but little,
getting up early and going TO the woods
to pray. His own story was that dur
ing the night he had heard the voice of
God, which commanded him TO kill his
little son and offer his blood as a sacri-
fee. In the morning he went to the
woods and was again commanded, as
he said, TO make the Offering. He did
not dare to disobey, and went back to
the house where the babe was sleeping
and its mother watching over him. Not
wishing to alarm his wife he waited un-
til she went out, and then took the
child in his arms and carried it to the
potato-patch, having in tho meantime
prepared keen knife. Then he
waited like Abraham, hoping that the
Lord would speak to him again and
command some other offering, but he
received no sign. Then he became
alarmed lest his wife might be watch
ing, and crossing the field went into the
woods, where he laid the child upon
some fallen leaves and again prayed.
During the prayer little dog ran up
to him and shifted about his feet. Sup
posing that, like Abraham's ram, this
dog had been sent by the Lord in place
of the child, he waited to hear voice
commanding him to kill the dog, but
no voice said, Stay thy hand and he
held the struggling infant while he cut
its throat and offered up its blood to
the Lord. Then taking the body in his
arms he bore it to the house, the blood
dripping as he walked, and laid it upon
the bed His wife, rushing from the
house, frantically told the neighbors,
and we arrested him. as have said.
We took him to Georgetown that after
noon, and he was securely lodged in
jail to await trial"
The trial occurred the following April
and the prosecution was vigorous.
George p. Fisher was Attorney-General
and Chancellor Salisbury, then prom
ising young lawyer, defended Kitchens
After the State had closed its case Mr..
Salisbury rose to make defense, but
was so overcome with emotion at the
sadness of the circumstances that he
was unable to continue and broke COM
pletely down. The court and Jury were
also affected, and the latter without
leaving their box returned verdict of
''not guilty" upon the plea of insanity.
Kitchens was taken to the County
Almshouse, where he remained for
some time, but was finally discharged
and returned to his home.
Since then he has lived quietly and
the people seem to have almost forgot
ten the terrible circumstances. His
wife died soon after he was released
from the almshouse and Kitchens did
not remain single very long. He courted
a Miss Lollis, of this place, and she
married him, much to the surprise of
everybody here and much against the
wishes of her family. When he comes
into town he mingles freely with people.
There are few traces of insanity in his
manners, although all his movements
are abrupt and nervous. Kitchens life
is by no means religious now, and his
character is none of the best. No one
has any confidence in him. He lives in
the house where he bore the body of his
son after the tragedy in the woods.
believe he owns the farm upon which
he lives and has always been what is
termed in Sussex "good liver"
Chancellor Salisbury in relating the
circumstances of the trial says that it
was the most affecting case he was ever
engaged in. When he was sent for to
11llChOho uC lOuILu III UAlC
Jail covered with blood, which had
dropped over him while carving the
body of his son to the house after cut
ting his throat. He kept saying that
"no voice stayed my hand" and was
greatly excited. Up to the time of his
going to the protracted meeting he had
been anything but religious man, and
his conversion was thought to be sur
prising at the time. There was great
deal of talk about lynching him at
Georgetown and it was with difficulty
that the mob could be kept from break
ing into the jail and hanging Kitchens
to the nearest tree. The trial excited
great interest throughout the county
and the verdict, although probably a
just one, was not well received. The
interest in the case, however, soon died
out. The terrible crime of the Pocasset
Adventist has revived the old story and
Kitchens has again become the object
of great curiosity. He has not been in
town since he heard the account of the
Freeman tragedy.