The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-04-30
MR.. VfER'S ROMANCE.
AN odlo PIONEERS SAD HISTORY.
Searching the World for the Man Whom
he Was Uniustly Accused Of Mur-
dering -Righted After
Many Years.
akron tos Cor. N, Y. sua.l

a most remarkable experience that clouded
many years of his life.
Early in 1926 Viers and his wife received
to their cabin in Northfield Township an
Englishman named Rupert Charlesworth.
He was a jolly fellow, with plenty OF
money, and he became very popular in the
neighborhood. Suddenly he dropped out
of sight. He was known to have gone to
Viers' cabin the night of July %, but the
Cons able who went there early the next
morning to arrest him for passing counter
felt money could not find him.
One day, good while after, hunter
found human skeleton under log in the |
woods near Viers' farm. The discovery |
helped to jog the memory of man who |
had heard a rife repo t at Viers' cabin the
night OF Charlesworth's disappearance.
Ano her suddenly remembered t at he had
seen blood on the bars in Viers' lane, near
the woods. Viers was questioned. At one
time he said that the Englishmau had
jumped from window and ran
away; at another time he said he
knew nothing about the mans de-
parture, as he was asleep at
the time. The Constable who had gone
early in the morning to Vie s. cabin to ar
rest Charlesworth, remembered that at
that unusual hour Mrs. V,ers was mopping
the floor. For five years the gossips talked,
but nothing was done. Finally, January
8, 1881, Viers was arrested on charge of
numbering Rupert Charlesworth. The
hearing was before George Y. Wallace,
Justice of the Peace, and for seventeen
days the rude courtroom was crowded
with Witnesses and listeners from miles
around.
Circumstances were as plentiful as
blackberries pointing to Viers as the MUIR
derer of his boarder. Statements that
had not been heard before were adduced in
testimony. A hired girl who was working
Az Viers' cabin when Charlesworth disap-
peared said that bedblaaket used by the
Englishman was missing the morning ho
left, and that it was afterward found con.
ceaed under haystack, with large spots
on it resembling clotted blood. A dozen
neighbors testified to Charlesworth's re-
puted wealth, and others told Of the sudden
evidences of prosperity that had been seen
| about Viers' premises in the shape Of a
new house and in the purchase of some
| blooded stock. Viers and his pioneer wife
grew sick at the prospect. But an unex.
pected deliverance came in the last two
days. Two men from Northwest Ohio took
the stand, and gave positive evidence
that they had seen Charlesworth
subsequent to his disappearance from
Nortnheld. This turned the scale in
Visrs' favor, and he was discharged.
Tnree.fourths OF the community still be-
lieved, however, that Viers was muir
derer. So great was the excitement fol-
lowing his discharge that lynch law was
proposed, bug the ma erial to carry out
such scheme couldn't be found among
the church.going NorthtlellerS. Viers
de ermned to live down the story on the
ground from which it had sprung. But he
resolved to find the man whose blood had
been laid at his door if he had to devote
his life to the search. In the next few
years Mrs. Viers wrote hundreds OF let
ters to public officers and Others in all
parts OF the country. Viers finally started
out ON his apparently hopeless quest. Fol-
lowing the clew given him by the two wit
nesses, who had saved him at the trial, he
traced his man from town to town in the
West, and finally learned that Charles
worth had returned to England. To Eng.
land went the resolute searcher, only tc
find that C.larlesworth had re-embarked
for the United s ates, with New Orleans
as his destination. Back came Viers and
went straight to New Or cans, but Charles
worth was not there. Viers followed up
the river, visiting every town up to Cincin'
natl.
Tnus the search was kept up by letter
and travel for nine years, till in lS44
Vers entered tavern in New York, and
asked if any there had knowledge of one
Rupert Charlesworth, an Ehglishman
A man, bearded and rough, drew him
aside as he left tue place, and revealed
himself as the long-sought-;or man. His
story was quickly told. Having passed q
counterfeit bill on a citizen, and fearing
arrest, he bad secretly left the house o
his friend and gone West under an assumed
name.
He agreed to 60 to Ohio and show himself
to his oil cronies on condition that his
present place of residence should be KEEP
secret. So, fourteen years after the al
legged tragedy, Rupert Charlesworth ant
his reputed murderer visited Northfield
Be ton, Akron and other points in Sum
init County. The Englishman converset
with large number Of persons, and wa;
recognized by them. In few days he re
turned to Michigan.
No sooner had he gone, however, thar
the s. ory went around that the man wa
not Rupurt Charlesworth, but a cousin, re
sembling him closely, whom Viers ha,
hired 10 serve his end. The story was in
dustriously circulated by Viers' enemies
and was believed by many. Viers wa
almost sick OF life. He found that his vir
/ dication was not yet accepted, SO, tw
, years later, in 1912, he went TO Michiga
again and brought Charlesworth back wit
, him to Ohio. He put up handbills i
Northfleld, Boston and adjoining township
stating that certain day Rupert Charles
+, worth would exhibit himself at one OF th
churches, and oil persons who had know
! him were invited 10 be present The NEE
, ing attracted great crowl. Charles
!. worth took the platform, from whic
/ through the. day he responded tointerrng,
torres. The examination was chiefly col
| ducted by one of the shrewdest attorney
, at the bar of Akron. Not only did Charlie