The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-08-26
MONROE ROBERTSON HANGED.
The Career Of a Noted Desperate Ending on the
SCaffOld,

The Career Of o Noted Desperate Ending on the
SCafTOld
At Greenville, Ohio, last Friday, Monroe Rober.
son was hanged in the presence of the necessary
attendants reporters and few speca tors, for the
wilful murder OF Wiley Coulter, his wife's broth.
er, on Oct, %. 1879 He was game to the last and
perfectly selfpossessed. He slept soundly the
night before and awakened late in the morning
with no appearance Of excitement. On the gal
lows he was expected to make q confession, but
he only made brief, rambling talk, closing by
shouting "good.by" to the Sheriff and attendants
The trap was sprung few minutes after II m ,
and his neck was broke by the fall. There was
not twitch or movement of the limbs after the
drop, and he was pronounced dead in twenty
minutes. His young son visited him in his cell
few hours before he was hanged Robertson spoke
harshly to him, but wept the first time since his
confinement Before the hanging he was served
with stiff glass of whisky, but he needed no
stimulant, as he was the coolest and most self pos
sessed man In the crowd
Roberson's history is an appalling catalogue Of
crime. Born and reared in his humble Tennessee
home, In the companionship of an inebriate faith.
Sl uhu wi luulhClGLt NOulu uhIuly nave
cen otherwise, He has been confirmed drunk.
ard and at the time of the murder for which he
was hanged he was drunk, At the age of II he
left home and never returned. He went TO Cedar
county, No. and lived there about ten years. Du.
ring this interval he was married to Miss Coul'
ter whose relatives still live there. He FIRST be-
came acquainted with young Wiley Coulter, his
wife's brother, in Cedar county, and employed
him as farm laborer, about this time he got into
difficulty with a neighbor and shot him dead
An indictment, which still exists in the records Of
was fled against him and efforts made to capture
bim, but he along with Coulter and his Nmily
escaped in the night and found secluded retreat
in Douglas county, Kansas, where he lived as a
farmer and common laborer for some years He
was often drunk and almost always in trouble
In one Of his many quarrels he was dangerously
wounded by a blow from an axe, and In return
fired at his antagonist with his ready rev oliver
and killed him almost instantly The authorities
tried TO arrest him, but were fOed In like man.
mer to that by which he eluded the Missouri Off
GERS Pursuit was relinquished after time, and
Robertson secretly returned to his family and
| moved to this State, first sendiug the hounds of
the law an invitation to "go to hell" as he was
"going to Ohio" During the border troubles be.
tween Kansas and Missouri Robertson sided with
the prOslavery men, and when the war broke out
he Joined band Of guerrillas,
Itisyet remembered by citizens OF DaTke county
that when Robertson first stepped upon our soil he
was beastly intoxicated, and developed his quar-
rels0ne traits at once. He hired house near Rip.
| town and got work In sawmill, He was always
brutal and mprOvdent in his treatment Of his
family. Young Coulter, only % years old, ran
| away from him on account OF harsh treatment
| This he had done several times before for the
| same reason which greatly incensed Robers>n.
Returning again, he was the sole support Of Rob.
70 mi q O anN 10 tv nf
Robertson became so unbearable to his wife that,
at the nstigltion of Coulter Robertson was ar
rested and sent to jail. After his release he fire..
quenty uttered threats ahainst the life Of Coul.
ter and his (ROberon's) wife. Other difficulties
arose between Robertson and his brother.in law,
and his hate for the latter became the most in.
tense.
On Oct %, 1879, both had been drinking, and
Robertson bad evidently nerved himself for the
deed which he had determiHed to commit. Op-
portunity was soon afforded in a trivial dispute
between them at or near ROheTsCn's residence
and IN the sight OF his children. He drew his re.
vOlver and fired four shots at Coulter In rapid sue
cession. Coulter also drew his weapon and fred
once but with no success ROherson's first sec.
ond and fourth shots entered COslters body, pen.
etratiDg the alb i0men and lodging in the stomach.
The third missed altogether. Robertson fred over
the shoulder Of a bystander, who had attempted
to interfere and the last time held the barrel OF
his revolver between the thumb and forehnger OF
his left hand. The two men we're about twenty
feet apart at the time, and Coulter was endeavor.
ing to make his escape. Coulter staggered to an
adjoining house, where he died some hours later
Immediately after the shooting Robertson got his
rife, and, reoading his revolver, fastened to q
neighbOring grove, where he hoped to elude pur
suit but the village constable and two deputies
effected his capture; not, however, without des
perste struggle, in which the criminal twice fred
at the officers
A short time ago his wife visited him, but he
turned deaf ear to her entreaies that he should
prepare to die. Two weeks ago he made des
perate attempt at suicide, but was discovered by
the guard in time to save his neck for the rope
The instrument was a small broken knife blade
given him by a condemned cattle thief and with
this he succeeded in severing large blood vessels
in his neck and arm,