Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-01-26
coLE-HARMoN MURDER
Cole on Trial for His Life.
The Last Of the Henry County Murder
Cases.

The case Of the State OF Ohio VS.. Peter
d. Cole was called Monday afternoon.
Cole was indicted for murder In the first
degree for killing John Harmon at Desh-
Ter, the particulars OF which is probably
fresh in the minds of most of our readers,
but the following brief review will not
come amiss:
Peter d. Cole, the accused, was labor
ing man, and for some time prior to the
shooting had been working as drayman
In Deshler, where both he and his victim
sideder. They were in fact near neighbsrs,
their places adjoining each other. John
Harmon, the victim, was the proprietor OF
a livery stable, a well-to-do, sober and in
dustrious citizen. Up TO about two years
before the tragedy the two men had been
quite friendly.
At that time, however, trouble began to
brew between them. Ugly stories reached
the ears of Cole, in which Harmon's name
was coupled with that of Coles wife in a
manner decidedly unpleasant to hear.
Matters continued to grow worse; the
chasm widened, and the friends became
deadly enemies. Harmon seemed, if re-
ports are true, to delight in doing that
which would tsntslize and provoke Cole
and so far did he carry it that, once OF
twice he felt that his lie was in danger.
One evening, now nearly year ago, the
two men happened to be going home at
the same time, aud as they walked along
but few yards intervened between them
When Cole reached his gate he stopped
until Harmon reached his, when he fired
revolver, he claims, into the air. The
result of this was Cole was arrested on a
peace warrant, sworn out by Harmon, and
lodged in Jail. Upon the case coming Ia
trial he was acquitted.
This occurrence but made matters worse
Friends of the two men endeavored to get
them to leave the town, telling each that
unless they did so serious trouble was IL
able to result. To this neither paid any
attention. On the day of the murder
Harmon was away from town until about
6:30 p. m. 1t was probably not more than
an hour later when he was met by Cole at
the store ofW. I. Marvin, and without
saying word, the latter commenced to
fire at Harmon. Harmon was unarmed
and started to run, followed by Cole who
continued firing. Harmon ran into Voght's
store and just as he waa entering Cole fired
the fatal shot.
The murderer made no attempt to es-
cape, but soon after surrendered himself
to the Deputy Sheriff. He was brought
the next day to Napoleon and for five
months he has been in Jail awaiting trial.
Itwas we'll on to Tuesday noon before
jury was empanneled. The following
gentlemen compose the jury:
R. J. Cappic, Manona Shoemaker, S. R.
Hashberger, Geo. Bortz, w. B. Tubbs, D.
L. Smith, Thos. McEnery, Jacob Hiser,
John Sell, Taylor Winner, A. M. Willard,
w. S. French.
The case was ably stated by Prosecutor
Knupp for the prosecution and J. R. Tyler
for the defense, after which the examina-
ton of witnesses on the part of the State
commenced. The first witness examined
was VIM. T. Marvin, the proprietor of the
store where the shooting first began. He
detailed the circumstances of the affair in
an intelligent manner, but nothing new in
the case was brought out. Other witnesses
were examined, all testifying about the
same as Mr.. Marvin. The case will proba-
bly, occupy the rest of this week. The
State is represented by Mr.. Knupp and W.
Stephenson, the defense by Jas. R. Tyler
and A. l.. Lessick.