The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1883-07-21


falsely. The testimony showed that he
had purchased revolver about two
weeks before, had showed it, and had IL
stated that If Spuhler did not agree to do
as he wanted him, he would put him out
OF the way. On that fatal night he met
Spuhler at his work and cOaxed Chris to
go with him. After walking about Mas
sllion short time they went together
TO the stable, on Chestnut street, at the
west end Of the accused grandmOther's
lot, and circumstances go to show he
there again tried to make his victim
agree to swear to falsehOOd. 1t was In
qui5S neighbOrhOOd, and there being
no person about, finding that neither
pleadings or threats were of any avail,
Sammett placed the muzzle of his re-
VolVer to the unfortunate Spuhler's
right breast and fred. Leaving his vic
tim, he went through the stable to the
rear end Of the lot, walked up the yard,
eOOlly entered the house and placed his
revolver on the top Of a cupboard, where
IT was afterwards found With but one
chamber empty. Sammett was dulV
convicted of murder in the first degree
and met his death with a stole fOrti-
tude, worthy of better cause.
THR HUNTER MURDER.
The last murder In Stark county was
committed on Sunday, March 4th, at
Paul's Station, FIVE miles north of Mas
sillon. We annex partial account of
the tragedy, which appeared in the
DEMOCRAT OF March 9TH:
The dead man, Frank Hunter, was
found lying in large water tank stand
Ing on supports, the top of the tank be-
Ing twenty-five feet from the ground.
The unanimous opinion of the quarry
men and their families, who were con-
gregated about the place was that the
man had been murdered at house near
0y, occupied by the accused parties, and
the body carried to the top and thrown
In the tank. The coat of the dead man
was fonnd lying on piece Of roof be-
tween the tank and the sand house. His
hat was on the Ice In the tank, and
blood and brains in profusion were dis
covered on the side Of the sand house,
on the roof Of the sand house, on the roof
between that and the tank, inside the
TANK, on the Ice, and later a piece of
brain was found on the ground at the
foot or the tank.
The officers arrested Mrs. Hunter, wife
OF the dead man, Samuel Crooks, Mrs.
hunters father and his wife Mrs. Hunt
ers mother and George Brunner, a young
man about twenty-five years of age, who
had been until recently employed as en-
glneer at the quarry. 1t is public talk
at the quarry that Drummer has been
criminally intimate with Mrs. Hunter
and her daughter, and the dead man who
worked at night, that when he went
nome on Sunday morning he found
Brunner in bed with his step-daughter.
1t ls asserted that the girl is In an inter
esting condition, and 1t is a fact that Mr..
and Mrs. Hunter threatened to have
Drummer arrested for bastaI day, but offer
ed TO withhold the complaint If he would
pay them $50.
Last Wednesday night Hunter and
Brunner had a row. The latter had
Hunter arrested for assault, and the |
hearing was to have taken place on
Monday. Since the. fight Mrs. Hunter |
has been living with Crooks. Her father |
in-laW has taken away all the eatables |
and part OF the furniture, and Drummer |
has been living in that household,
The body was allowed to remain in |
the tank until the Coroner arrived and |
the water was then drawn off. 1t was |
found that death had been caused by |
the discharge of heavy load of shot in |
the mans head, and the WeapOn. n
bOred-Out rifle, which belonged to Brun- |
ner, was found beside him in the bot |
tom of the tank. The gun was unmis- |
taka6ly held close to Hunters head, as /
powder marks were discovered in the |
wound, and so effective was the work |
lone that the entire top of the head was
blown of and all the brains cleaned
put of the skull. A careful inspection of |
the surroundings established beyond a
1oubt that the deed was committed at
The top of the tank.