The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-06-24

FIRST DEGREE.
George E, Mann was born IN Hudson, Column
bia county, New York. His father was also born
in the a m town; his grandfather was a native Of
Oxiordshire, England. When quite young George
Mann's mother died and shortly afterwards his
fathor married again. From that time on 1t ap'
pears that George and his brothers had a hard
time Of 1t. His father, a few years ago, disposed
of what little property he held and removed to
the vicinity Of L9aVenworth, Kansas. George
becoming Disconnected some time in May 1879
he then as he says, being in his sixteenth year,
resolved to tramp it back to New York to see his
grandmother and a brother who is a barber In
New York city. Upon arriving at Decatur, Ills,
he met and became acquainted with an old gen.
tleman Of the name Of John Wattmsugh, who
was also travelling towards his old home In Phila-
delphia, Pa. The old man had some little money
and the two made on arrangement to travel to.
gether eastward. A short distance east Of Fort
Wayne, Ind, George Mann noticed a young man
who a terwards proved to be Gustave A. Ohr, aud
as he and old man Wattmaugh had been induig'
ing in whisky TO ONE extent, and had two bottles
on hand, George coaxed Ohr to join them. (The
above is Maun's voluntary admission to the
world) The three travelled together until he wa'
arrested q few miles east Of Alliance, Stark coun'
ty, Ohio, on the 27.n Of June, 1879, on the dread
full charge of being an accomplish in the deliber
ate and cold. blooded murder of the old man John
Wattmaugh, their travelling companion.
After a preliminary hearing at Alliance, George
Mann was bound over to the Common Pleas Cour
on a charge Of murder. The grand jury found al
indictment against him and on the first day o
December, 1879, his trial commenced. After thu
number Of challenges had been exhausted, thu
following named citizens of the county formed
the Jury: Hiram HOstette, foreman, John Sommers
Obediah williams n, Benjamin Fulton, Samue
Becherer, Louis Pence, George Hershey, CyTu
Collars, David Smith, Joseph Frey, Elias Reem
snyder and Henry Weary.
Messrs. R. g., Shields, Prosecuting Attorney, as
sisted by Lynch & Day, for the State, and Messrs
George E, Baldwin OF Canton, and Judson Levi
of Alliance, appeared through instructions Of tn
Court, for the defense. The able attorneys for tn
defenEe deserve great credit for their energeti
exertions OPP behalf Of their client. But, alas Wit
all their efforts, after the Hon. Judge Meyers hal
delivered his charge to the jury before being sen
to their room on the evening Of December 9Th
but thirty-fye minutes interviewed when tn
dread verdict was brought in:
1--WE fad the accused guilty Of murder in tn
first degree"
Reporters Of the press were debarred from tax
ing notes for publication during Mann's trial.
George claims that he is not yetseVenteen year
Of age, though we can find no authentic authorit
as TO whether he is correct in his statement or no
He is rather an effeminate young man, apparent
and appears to feel his situation terribly, HI
physical condition is weak, and what with a d.
termination to attend to his religious duties, an
the many visits Of strangers to his cell, b
mental faculties have no doubt been .somewhi
affected.
Mann, since his imprisonment, has created
great deal of sympathy, especially among II
ladies, and he has undoubtedly been led to b.
lieve that his sentence will be commuted. u
treats visitors generally courteous ana gentl
manly, but on some occasions he refuses TO g
any person, except those connected with u
church he adheres to, and friends with whom /
been intimate since his incarceration.
Mann has had published an original poem an
has sold hundreds Of copies. The following
his composition:
My name is George Manu.
This name / shall never deny
Which leaves my aged father
In sorrow for to cry.
It's little did he ever think,
While in my youthful bloom,
} He brought me to Kansas
To meet my fatal doom
, 1t was Gustave Ohr and that old man.
, While laying in a messy bed,
When Ohr quickly jumped upon him
And struck him in the head.
He struck him with a coupling-pin,
Which killed him dead at heart,
, Which caused his dear and loving wife
From her husband to depart.
1t is the only one,
For he has,murdered him.
\ John Whatmaugh is the last one
That he shall ever murder.
He murdered him with a coupling-pin,
Then he quickly turned around,
And tore the clothing from him
= And dragged him to the ground,
He said, "Now | have murdered him,
il Now let us fly away,
For If they find it out
n 1t will be an unlucky day for me-
A Then to. Beloit we quickly fed,
n Thinking to escape;
But the hand of God was against US
a Indeed we were to late.
l. The day Of my execution,
a 1t will be heart rcnding to see
10 My father, come from Kansas,
N To take a last farewell of me.
10 He flew into my arms,
70 And most bitterly did he cry,
ID Saying, "My dear, beloved son,
j. This day you are doomed to die
nj Now my life is ended,
from this world must part.
IT For Of my bad misfortune
n. am sorry to my heart,
is Let each young wild and vicious you'll
IT, warning take by me;
u nnlnL L.. .aAan nauAnAn