Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-06-05
TJas. X. Newcomer in the Delaware Herald.l
Where the Responsibility?

Wesley johnson will be hanged at
Napoleon to-day May 29th) for the
murder of Mr.. and Mrs. Williams, a
few months ago, in Henry county. The
termination of the earthly career of
Wesley johnson brings to the mind of
the editor of the Herald a train of re-
Elections: Years ago we knew the John
son family. From the grandmother
down through large family of grand
children to one or two younger than
Wesley, the marked family character
istics were ignorance and filth. Four
teen or fifteen persons, big and little,
young and old lived together in di-
lapidated log house. Order was not
known in that household or its sur
roundings. Dark, gloom and disorder
ruled in that hut. The sunshine of
heaven was shut out; and cleanliness
was stranger in the two rOoms-lower
and upper-habited by this large family.
The apology for small farm presented
no evidence of thrift or industry. Dis
order and recklessness reigned every
where about the premises. Fences
were not kept up. Briers and brambles
were left to hedge every corner; the
door yard was constantly a litter of
filth, where swine roamed at will and
wallowed in the waste at their WELL
Tufts of grass and fragrant roses were as
unknown about that dismal hut as they
are unseen in the variest desert Grand
mother, father, mother, half-grown and
young children were universally clad
in scant raiment that scarcely ever un-
derwent the ebullition of the laundry.
Twenty-four years ago this coming
June, we visited that family in an
official capacity. Statistical informa-
ton was desired. 1t was sought in
vain. The grandmother did not know
in what state she was born. Father and
mother could give no intelligent date
of the birth or age of their children.
Ignorance reigned supreme. Filth and
disorder the ruling traits. Under such
influences was Wesley johnson reared
and educated. The finer sensibilities
of life were blunted and scared, at a
time when they should have been cul-
tured and expanded by home infiu-
ences. To-day the youth of twenty
four years ago-whose form and pitable
condition left an impress upon the
mind of the writer of this article-for-
feits his life for heinous crime. Rear
ed under bad influences, so he lived,
and so he married. The chosen COM
panion for life was of the same order.
A desire for money to meet respon-
sibilities prompted the murder of a
fellow man and wife, whose industry
were gaining for them competency.
Johnson had worked for Williams. He
suspected he had money. On Will
liams' return from market after night
fall, and while at the barn caring for the
team, johnson stealthily came upon
him and with one murderous blow laid
at his feet his victim who had done
him no harm. After perpetrating the
horrid deed at the barn he went to the
house and murdered the young wife
who knew not the fate that befell her
husband. For one night and one day
an innocent young babe, left to starve
at the side of its murdered mother, was
rescued only by neighbors who acciden-
tally discovered that tragedy had been
perpetrated.
All this suffering caused by one
whose early training knew no virtue,
no tender sensibility, no moral restraint.
What lesson! What a thought!
Where lays the moral responsibility?