Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-06-24
" A Celebrated Case. y"


two miles northwest of town. He WA
considerable Of an operator. well know
to almost every one i'll this part of tn
county and in tie southern part of Han
rison. Beside Joseph there were thre
other brothers - Henry, Isaac, an
GeOrge-the two former living in JeffeI
son county, the latter with Joseph. Som
FIVE or six years ago the defendant be
came embarrassed. His embarrassment
increased, and in March, 1876, he mad
IN assignment of his property, and IN
short time thereafter disappeared. Hi
wife died some time previous to this
and when he went away his children
were left with a married sister. Fol
lowing his disappearance there wa
great excitement in this vicinity ant
CONSERVATION among creditors. 1t wa
fund there was an indebtness of abou
$4,000, the principal part of which wa
represented by notes, upon which th'
names of the brothers appeared witt
Joseph'S. Suits were brought by holder:
of these notes, and in defense the
brothers set up forgery. One or two trial:
were had, but, making slow progress il
recovering, the creditors set about cap
turing Joseph. One of them Mr.. Robt
D. Thompson-made pilgrimage tc
Canada, where it was supposed Joseph
had gone, but after looking around there
for some time returned without learn
ing anything OF his whereabouts
Several months ago Mr.. Obediah Slem-
mons, of Cadiz, undertook the job OF
hunting him up and returning him to
this county, for which he WAS paid S2,-
900. This he succeed III doing last
spring lie was found in an obscure
place in northern Indiana, a requiSition
obtained, ana the arrest made.
In day or two the defendant was ar
raigned before Justice Pratt, at the court
house. The court room was thronged
with people when the defendant was
brought in-the neighborS and aciuaint-
ances of the wanderer He sat with
head bowed and his face in his hands
while the formalitieS of waiving an eX-
animation were gone through with,
when he accompanied the jailor back to
prison and the crowd dispersed. He
felt greatly FRUSTRATED following his ar
rest, and, although some of his old
neighbors expressed themselves ready to
go upon his bail bond, preferred to re-
main in prison, where he would be free
from the annOyances of persons until
after the trial.
The next scene in the drama was the
indictment by the grand jury of the pre-
sent term of the defendant for forgery.
The trial excited unwonted interest.
the court room being packed throughout
by the large number of witnesses in at
tendance, and by interested and eager
spectators. MesSrS. st. Clair Kelly and
L. Danford appeared for the defendants,
and Prosecutor Mitchell and r. NJ. Eaton
for the State. When the time arrived, the
defendant himself was put upon the
stand. His personal appearance was
greatly improved since the preliminary
examination, and as he gave history of
his wanderings and of his business
with his brothers, lie WIS
listened to by the thrOnged court room
with eager interest. When his attention
was called to some transaction which
was located by the death of his wife, and
speaking of her, he controlled his emo
tions with much effort. Again, when
inquired of by his counsel as to what
he had received from
his brothers during his wanderings, he
answered in a broken voice that they
would write him that he must remain
away, that the children were well, and
that they offered to furnish him means
to go to South America. At this speech,
uttered III Il broken voice, and at the end
wiping his eyes with his hand, a thrill of
sympathy for the unfortunate man went
the court room. There was a
lull in the interrogatories of
counsel, during which Mr.. Joseph H.
Close stepped up to the stand and hand
ed the witness handkerchief. The eX-
animation was resumed, the defendant
with the utmost circumspectiOn
and positivenesS that he was authorized
to sign the names of his brothers to
notes, and that property which he left
here when going away and sums owing
pay all of his Indebtedness.
After the testimony was closed, the
of counsel made, and the
charge of the court delivered, the jury
retired to it's room, and the defendant
was remanded to prison. In few
the jury summoned an officer
in attendance upon it, and the defendant
was again brought into court. Again
the pOpulace crowded into the court
room, and although large part of them
were on their feet, the utmost stiffness
prevailed while the clerk put the usual
Gentlemen of the jury,
have you agreed upon verdict?" 1--WE
have" responded the foreman. "What
say you," said the clerk, sis the prisoner
at the bar guilty, or not guilty.? As the
foreman arose and responded Mot
guilty." there was tumultuous shout
and stamping OF feet and clapping of
hands which attracted attention for Il
square away. The court kindly frowned
upon this innovation upon the decOrum
of the court room, and then for time
settled back in his chair while Mr.. Id
dings received the congratulations of his
old neighbors and of the jury, who step
ped out of their chairs TO shake hands
with and congratulate him.
From beginning to end the trial was
one of the most dramatic and interest
ing that ever took place in this county.
The defendant in his better days had
transacted a great deal of business with
the farmers of this vicinity, and in those
days was esteemed man of integrity
and of a warm and generous nature. 1t
is said one of his former neighbors told
him after he was discharged that he
would furnish him with $500 if he de-
sired to remain here and again go into
business.
Notice TO COnsumptives.
No man, however uncleanly, would
drink muddy, dirty water. A party
which OccuDieS a room for hours. breath