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

Observation-Disclosures
JOHN sAMMErT, INDICTED FOR MURDER IN THE
FIRST DrGREE.
John Sammet. was born in Massillon, Stark
county, Ohio, hnd has many relatives residing
there, all respectable Gitiz ms. His motser and
father were OF German extraction, though his
mother was raised III M~assillon and until her
death was always highly esteemed in society
Shortly after his mothers death, that occurred
when John was but a young boy, his father re-
moved to Columbus, Ohio, and soon married
again.
John remained with his father and brother at
Columbus, until about three years ago, when he
returned to Massillon and assisted some of his
uncles for a short time, after which he boarded
with his grandmother, corder Of Chestnut aud
East streets, doing the chores about the house.
Early in life young sammett imbibed a taste for
adventure, impelled, no doubt, by reading low
and exciting literature aud without the restrain
ing influences Of a loving mother.
He was soon known to the officers OF Massillon,
as a boy that would stand considerable watching.
Though detected In several petty theits, his rela.
tives would see that the fles were paid or some
settlement made so that John would secure his
discharge from custody. At this time he was not
considered a young man that would imbrue his
hands in the blood nf any human being, espec-
tally one Of his associates.
But one step in the downward path Of crime
leads to another, and more serious one, just as
certain as the sun sets in the west. Sammett be.
came acquainted with a young man named
Christopher Spnhler about two years ago, and
who was at that time clerklng in the grocery store
Of SChworm & Spuhler, at Massillon, one Of the
members OF the hrIa beinf q brother, and finding
him a young and unsophisticated youth between
fifteen and sixteen years OF age, he influenced
him so far as to cause him to become his compan.
ion and associate.
Some time In August, 1879, SAmmett, accompan'
led by young sphuhler and two others, drove to
Canton, and on their return home he forced an
entrance into the saloon of Christian Volzer, at
the beer garden on the Massillon road, a short
distance west Of Canton, and appropriated several
boxes Of cigars and other articles. Me was short.
ly afterwards arrested and had a hearing before
the Mayor of Canton ami was bound over to the
Common Pleas Court. Bail being furnished, he
was released from custody and returned to Mas.
sillon,
The grand jury {. the october term, found an
indictment against Shmmet, and from that time
Until his trial, at the same term, he, 1t appears,
used his utmost endeaVors. both by threats aud
persuasion, to have the main witnesses against
him agree to perjure themselves In his favor.
Spuhler was the most prominent witness for the
State, and upon him the accused used every in
Auence in his power, even openly and boldly
threatening to take his life If he did not agree to
his demands,
spuhler having been advised that his assOcis.
ton with evil companions was running his char
, aCter, was resolute In his determination TO tell
the whole truth about the burglary, aud thereup.
on cut the acquaintance of bad companions. On
the evening OF the 25lh of November, 1879, his
trial having been set for the next day, Sammett
made one more attempt to induce Spuhler to tes-
tify falsely, The testimony showed that he had
! purchased revolver alb ut two weeks before, and
had stated that If spuhler did not agree to do as
he wanted him he wOnld put him out Of the way,
On that fatal evening he met Spuhler at his work
and coaxed Chris. to go with him.. After walking
about Massillon for a short time, they went to.
gether to the stable, on Chistnut street, at the west
end Of the accused's grandmOtheI's lot, and Cir
r cumstances go 10 show that there he again en-
s deavored to make his victim agree TO swear to o
falsehood. 1t was in a quiet neighborhood, and
d there being no person about, finding that neither
t pleadings or threats were Of any avail, sammet
placed the muzzle Of his revolver to the uniortu
Il nate spuhler's right breast and fred, Leaving
his victim he went through the stable to the rea
end OF the lot, walked up the yard cOolly enter
ed the house and placed his revolver on the tol
y of the cupboar, where it was afterwards fount
with but one chamber empty,
The cries ofthe murdered boy and the she
we're distinctly heard by the neighbors in Tn
vicinity and manyof them quickly ssemble 9
the SPOT, (Mr. Leonard Smith was the first on tn
ground and saw the poor boy fall Ia the street
Deceased died almost instantly, unable to utter
word. The county coroner was summoned, bI
before he arrived the officers had arrested fob
sammett for the terrible murder and confne
him In the city prison.
After a careful examination Of witnesses Il
coroner returned a verdict substantially as 70
lows. THAT the deceased, Christopher spuhle
came to his death from the effects Of a wour
caused by a bullet, shot from a pistolin the han
of John sammett." AT the preliminary hearii
before the Mayor Of Massillon, still stronger ci
cumstantial evidence was produced and t
prisoner was remanded to jail, without bail. Dr
ing his incarceration, Sammett's trial for burgla
aud larceny came off, during the October ter
and Notwithstanding the absence Of the murd'
ed witness, spuhler, other evidence was 0roug
out sufficiently strong to prove his guilt and
Jury returned a verdict in accordance with t
evidence; thereupon Judge Meyer sentenced h
to the penitentiAry for five years.
At the January term, 1880, Of the court, Sa
NETT was brought back from the penitentiary a
the grand jury on the 10Th of January, compos
Of the following citizens William Danhemil
foreman, Nicholas Dfaime, Andrew Hammer
Thomas Crowl, Alex NJ, Wise, John Coy, Frank
speigel, George F. Meier, Noah Seaman, Jose
Frost, Calvin Reed, william Coffee, Abraht
Miller and Isaac Kanags, found a true bill agai
him for murder In the first degree,
On February 18th the case was called, and al
exhsusting a panel Of thirty,slx names, a
petit Jury was reached on March I'd, and the II
commenced. The following gentlemen compoI
the jury: Henry Buckius, foreman, Peter Car
oliver Hawkins, Samuel Nase, Alonzo HI
James MofN, Frank Bair, Henry Snyder, Pc
human, James slutz, ]. Il. Conkle and Leo s
Henry L. Harter, Prosecuting Attorney was a
assisted by VIM. r, Day, Esqr., OF the firm
Lynch, Day & Lynch, and Geo, E. Baldwin
7. G. Meyer, Esqrs., OF Canton, and James A
Norman, Esqr., Of Alliance, put forth every eft
for the defense. A large number OF witnei
were examined, The majority Of whom were
the State. Eloquent pleas were made by Prose
tor Harter and Mr., Day for the State ana Mes