The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1883-07-21
BLACK FRIDAY.
Review Of Capital Punish
ment i'm Stark County.
Particulars of the Bachtel Mur-
der in 1888.
The Memorable Triple Execution
of June, 1880.
The Murders of John watmough and
Christopher spuhler,
Which the Three Boys, Mann, Ohr and
Sammett,
ExPiated With Their Lives on the GalIows
Tho Recent Hunter Tragedy at
Paul's Station.
The Murders of John Watmough and
Christopher Spuhler,
Which the Three Boys, Mann, Ohr ant
Sammett,

OnCll Gne year 1851 OuJ one case or
capital punishment is on record in the
history of Stark cOunty,-that of Chris
tian Bachtel, executed in public at Can
ton, on Friday, November 22d, 1888, for
the murder Of his wife. This was the
first murder In Stark county.
THE BACHTEL MURDER.
1t will be fifty years next November
since Christian Bachtel expirat I'd on the
gallOws, In Canton, the crime OF murder.
The unfortunate man resided In the
southern part of Canton township, near
North Industry. He had q wife and
three children, was day laborer, ad-
dicted to habits of dissipation, and fire.
quently came home intoxicated. His
wife was an Industrious, and economical
woman, and could i'll bear his ruinous
conduct. He came home one night in
i'll humOr, found that no supper had
been prepared for him, his wife lying on
the bed, with the babe, apparently asleep.
After few angry words, with an axe
helVe he struck her on the head, frac-
turing her skull. She gave an audible
moan. Thinking that she was not dead,
he struck her again and she died with
out struggle. He fed and was arrested
a day or two after the murder. He was
tried, found guilty and sentenced by
Judge Lane to be hanged.
The gallOws was erected near the
corner of North and Rex streets in this
city. George NJ. Webb was the Sheriff.
There was prayer and sermon from
the gallOws, both in English and Ger
man, after which the doomed man made
o few remarks to the crowd. warning
them Of the evil influence Of lntOxicat-
ing drink and expressing an entire
willingness to die. After bidding an
affectiOnate farewell to his attendants
who then left the platform, Sheriff
Webb piniOned his hands behind him,
tied his ankles together, adjusted the
rope about his neck and drew the cap
over his face. While Bachtel was stand
Ing on the platform audibly praying, the
Sheriff announced, at regular Intervals,
the number Of minutes he had to live,
at twenty, repeating every
five minutes until the last five, when It
was each minute. At the expiration of
the last, he announced In a loud and dis
tinct voice, christian Bachtel, your
time Is up, and may God almighty have
mercy on your sOul;" then, standing at
the head Of the stairway, he pulled the
rulcrum that supported one side of the
platform, and 1t fell with a crash that
sent a shiVer through the crowd.
THE TRIPLE EXECUTION.
The triple execution Of the three boy
Y,
In Canton, Friday, June 25th, 1880, was
one Of the most important criminal ep-
Ochs in the history Of the state. Sheriff
Henry Altekruse performed the work in
the unhinching manner the public has
3 right to expect from dutiful official.
MURDER OF JOHN WATMoUGH.
Mann and 0hr murdered an old man
named John WatmOugh at Webb's sugar
camp, near Alliance. The trio were
1eadheading their way eastward on
freight trains. WatmOugh had some
and supplied the food,
while Mann and Ohr assisted the
Did man on and off the cars.
Ohr's story was to the effect that Mann
and he concluded WatmOugh had large
sum Of money sewn in his clothes and
determined to stun and rob him the
first opportunity that presented itself.
On the evening of the 28th of June,
1879, the trio were seen at Louisville,
Stark county, Ohio, and afterwards near
the railroad water tank at Alliance;
also at small grocery store, where the
old gentleman bought some crackers
and cheese for lunch. They then went
to what is known as Webb's sugar
camp, near the city, and made prepara-
tiOns to take sleep. Later in the morn
ing according to Ohr's story Mann said
stun him and take his money and
things" Thereupon Mann produced an
iron car coupling pin, that he had been
carrying and struck at the unconscious
old man, who was sleeping quietly Rf-
ter his long journey, and, probably,
sweetly Of his wife and home
so far away. To again use 0hr's version,
Mann weakened; he did not have the
sand, and took the pin and as the old
man raised up finished the Job"
The story of the trial, conviction and
execution is yet fresh In the minds of
everyone.
MURDER OF YOUNG SPUHLRR.
The murder of Christopher Spuhler
by John Sammett, at MassillOn, furnish
cd the third subject for the hangman
at the triple execution. Sam
NETT and Spuhler were chums.
Some time In August, 1879, Sam
NETT, accompanied by young Spuh-
Ter and two others, drove to Canton, and
trance into the saloon Of Christian Vol
ger, at the beer garden on the MassillOn
road, short distance west of Canton,
and other articles. He was arrested,
had hearing before the Mayor of Can
ton, and was bound over to the Common
Pleas Court. The grand Jury at the Oc-
tOber term found an indictment against
Sammett. Spuhler having been advised
that his association with evil compan-
ions was running his character, was res
Olute in telling the whole truth about
the burglary. On the evening of Nov.
25th, 1879, his trial having been set for
tha naYt daU Qammatt moda ono mora