Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-02-21

Wesley Johnson would receive his SEN
tence at 9 o'clock on Saturday morning
last, long before that hour the court room
was thronged and hundreds were unable
to get in.
Judge Moore promptly opened Court
and the prisoner was brought in by Sher-
iff Aller and Deputy Barnes. Johnson
looked slightly pale, as though he might
be little nervous, but his indifferent and
unconcerned appearance and way still
clung to him and probably will until the
halter is placed around his neck.
Johnson's attorneys moved for a new
trial, which motion was promptly over
ruled by the Judge, who remarked that
he had no reason to change his mind upon
any of his rulings in the case. The Judge
was visably affected, which is little more
than can be said for the wretched prisoner.
The accused was commanded to stand up.
When asked if he had anything to say
why sentence should not be pronounced,
he replied, "Well, no; don't know as 1
have anything in particular to say" in a
bold clear tone of voice, which could be
heard over the room.
The Court then pronounced the death
sentence on johnson, speaking as fol-
lows:
Wasley johnson, the Grand Jury of this
county at the October term, 1888, of the
Court of Common Pleas, found an indict-
ment against you tor murder in the first
degree. To this charge you entered plea
of not guilty and were placed upon trial.
Unable yourself to procure counsel, the
State in its humanity required counsel to
be appointed by the court. Gentlemen
of acknowledged legal ability and of your
own selection were appointed, who with
consideration and care conducted your
defense. Everything that human agency
could do was done for you. A jury care
fully selected, and almost of your own
choice were your triers. You had in my
judgment fair trial. The jury found
you guilty as charged in the indictment.
With that finding am satisfied. It &C.
cords with the evidence and the law.
A young husband and wife, happy in
their humble home, and proud no doubt
of their first-born babe, had spent the
evening OF that fatal day in the society Of
each other. AT early bedtime the wife
prepared for retirement, and the husband
before doing so went to his barn to look
after the safety of his team. Little die
George Williams dream the fate thai
awaited him, or that he beheld for the
last time loved wife and babe. Little
did that wife contemplate other than ,
safe return in few brief minutes, of thu
husband of her choice. 1t was an oppor
tune moment for you. With fiendisf
cruelty one blow of the murderous ak,
terminated the existence of George Will
Jams. Not satisfied with that, the hous'
was sought and there feeble, helpless
woman appealed to you for mercy. Th
cruel heart of the savage would have
yielded to the piteous wall of that infant
babe and spared the mother for its sake
No mercy was in your heart, but the ak
wet and warm with the blood of tn g hus
band welded by your arm went crashing
through the brain of Isabella E. Williams
and your purpose was accomplished.
The annals Of crime scarcely furnish
deed so brutal and cruel. Judicial inves
LEGATIONS furnish but few precedents of
crime so enormous.
I have no desire to harrow up your feel
ings upon an occasion like this, but tt
make such statement as may impress yo,
that there is but little hope for you to ex
pect executive clemency, or that mercy II
this world, of which you have shown 81
little.
The law has fixed the measure of you
punishment, and I can only pronounce it
sentence, which is that you be taken iron
hence to the Jail of the county, and ther
safely kept. That on Thursday, the 29tl
day OF May, A. D. 1884, at the place pre-
pared for your execution, and between
the hours of 10 o'clock in the forenoon, ant
o'clock in the afternoon of that day, tina
you be hung by the neck until you ar
dead.
While Judge Moore was delivering hi
remarks and sentence Johnson looked hin
square in the face, paying marked atten
ton to what was said, but in an unaffecte'
way, remaining as a statue. Some sa..
there was a tear or two in his eyes at th
conclusion, but when the accused took hi
seat he was as cool and deliberate as ever
and conversed freely and smilingly wit
reporters and others.
The sentence pronounced upon Johns0
is the first death sentence pronounced b
Judge Moore, and should johnson hang
of which there is no doubt, he will be tn
second criminal executed in the histor
of Henry county, the first instance bein
that of Cowell, who was hung som
twenty years ago, for the murder of
companion while they together wer
tramping through Henry county.
Judge Moore's conduct during the tris
has been that of consistent Judge, an
he won the respect OF all parties in his @
forts to give the accused fair and in
partial trial.
Believing history of the first hangin
in the county to be of interest to our read
ers, at this time especially, we reproduc
the following from the issue ofthe NORTH
WEST of Aug. 18th, 1866. Hon. J. N
Haag was at that time editor of the pape
who it scenes defended the accused:
"John Cowell, convicted Of the murde
of William w. Treadwell, was executed 9
this place on Friday last the 1lth inst.