The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-03-03
MRS. ELLEN A. ATHEY
On Trial Fer the Murder of Mary E. seuen.

On Trial Fer the Murder Of MARY K. Sehen
full jury was obtained in the case ofthe State
Of Ohio VS. Ellen A. Athey at New Philadelphia
Thursday morning, after calling on a third ven.
ire.
John Krause was the first witness called, and
testified that on the 18th day Of June, as he was
passing over Sugar creek bridge, he saw some
thing in the water that looked like coverlet.
He drew It to the shore but did not open It, After
going to the coal mines and notifying the men he
returned ard found 1t was body ReWed up In
sack
William Deiser testified he was present when
the body was found; helped to draw the 90 OK out
OF the water and found the body Of female IN It,
very much cut about the neck, head and hips;
there being gasf es four inches long and TWO
inches deep, and the jaw was broken. He then
identified the clothing.
A. j. Resher stated he saw the body about half
an hour after It was taken from the water, exam.
ined It closely, saw one cut on left shoulder into
the bone; the joint was cut three quarters OF an
inch deep; another cut on the eftarm to the bon (;
and another four inches long, aud to the bone
aud Que on the left hand, three inches long.
George W. Bowers, Of TuscarawRs county, testi.
fed In substance the same as those preceding
him.
Sarah Reisler testified she is a sister of Mary
Senef. She then proceeded to identify the cloth.
ing found on the body as those of her sister Mary
having made most of them with her own hands
Here the witness Wept bitterly and about the
whole audience burst out in tears. Some of the
jurors even were noticed wiping tears from their
eyes.She said she received letter purporting TO
come from her sister on the 17th Of June last but
she knew the handwriting wasn't that OF her
sister Mary. The letter was dated June 4th, 1880,
mailed at Canal Fulton,
Court then adjourned.
Court convened at the usual hour Friday morn.
ing. The appearance of the accused indicates
that the trial is wearing heavily upon her. Her
whole attention was directed constantly to her
child, and she seldom looked at any of the wit
ne6ses while they are testifying. Her husband,
father, mother and brother are always near her
at the counsel table.
Mrs Fox testified she is an aunt Of both Mrs.
Athey aud Mary SeneR the deCeased Last Nav
Mrs. Athey came to her house and asked Mary
Senet TO come to her house the next week and
help her clean house, and Mary agreed to do so;
sne never saw her again.
Mary Klar testified that Mrs. Athey and Mary
SeneR were at the house OF David Critics. where
she worked, on the evening Of the 28th OF May,
and stayed until 10 o'clock, and she never saw
Mary Seneff again after she left that night. She
inquired Of Mrs. Athey the next morning az to
Wu0IG mhIl OGuGu WAS Auu ble IGDlleO BlG mao
gone TO Dover to hunt work.
Edward Helmreich being called to the stand
said: Went with Constable L0ckner on the morn.
ing OF the 18th Of June last as a deputy to help
arrest Alexander Critics, Henry Athey and Mrs.
Athey. After making the arrests discovered an
ash heap above the house, it looked as though 1t
had been dug up recently, dug In the ashes; the
odOr was very bad; the pile was about five feet
long and two feet wide got shovel and raised
the dirt found some cabbage stalks, pieces ofcal.
iCO Walnuts bricks, and rubber garter; the cali.
co was soiled with blood.
William Campbell Went to the Critics farm on
the morning OF the arrest a number Of other per-
sons were with me; we found coat and some
clothing that were wet and muddy In the house
the night Of June 10th was wet and muddy we
found wagon in the barn yard; 1t was wet and
muddy; some coal ashes were in the wagon had
that smell like coal oil; also an axe, and there
was blood on the head Of the axe; found q com
fort up stairs In the house, that was wet and had
a cut in 1t; also found part Of q parasol and shoe
buttons In the stove; found bed rail with cut
In 1t which corresponded with the cut In the com.
fort and tick; we found some letters and pass
book In trunk; the paper and the handwriting
correspond with the paper and hand writing of
the letter received by Mrs ReHler.
The testimony OF other witnesses was subBtan.
TALLY the same as given above.
New Philadelphia March l.-Mrs, Athey was
put upon the witness star this morning and tes.
tiAed: am tWenty-slx years Of age; have lived
In this county all my life; Mary Senef came home
on the nght Of the 2Sth Of May last we undressed
to go to bed, when partly undressed we sat down
and talked some; she asked me II 1 was afraid to
stay alone at night said was not; she sSked
me If walked easy; said l did, for heard her
well enough some time ago when she raped at
the door and window aud asked for Henry to
come out asked her what she wanted; she said
1t was none Of my business; she called me liar;
said fshe said that again she might leave right
now; she grabbed q chair and wanted to strike
me; took hold Of the chair; we tusseled on the
floor for time; saw the az; took hold Of 1t
with one hand, with the other was holding her
away; she took the az from me and struck me on
the arm; took the ak from her; was so excited
mad and crazy that struck her; can't tell how
many times; when found that Mary was dead
started to tell my mother, but was afraid she
would kill me, so came back; thou ght II told
my husband, he would leave me, so concluded
TO conceal It; dug the hole in the ash pile a. d
buried her myself wrote the note TO Mr.. RegleI;
hrsL told my brother Frank about the mulder;
took Marys body out of the ash pile myself and
sewed her into the coverlel; Id not say q word
to Mrs, Dllldine about the murder,