Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-02-07
WESLEY JOHNSON,
THE sUsfECfED MURDERER OF
THE WILLIAMS FAMILY,
On Trial for His Life!
A JURY SECURED.
THE CASE NO i BEING HEARD.

ing OF october 18th last, Will be OF IN
terest to our readers, now that the sus-
pected murderer is OH trial for the
bloody and inhuman deed. ---
The murder was probably committed
on the Tuesday preceding the 26th of
October, and no doubt the deed was
done for money. 1t had been the in
tention of Mr.. Williams to remove with
his family to Napoleon, from the farm
which he had leased from an uncle.
Having this object in view he had been
disposing of considerable of his goods,
and had advertised public sale.
On the Monday previous to the mur-
der Mr.. Williams had been to Wauseon
disposing of a load of clover seed. This
was the last seen of him alive. On the
Thursday following neighbor, Mr.. A.
Crew, had occasion to go to the home of
the Williams, and then for the first
was the horrible crime known. An
alarm was given and hundreds for many
miles around focked to the scene. The
body of the murdered man was found
lying in the stable, where he had been
struck down by the monster by blows
upon the head with sharp instrument.
To make sure of his work the fiend
nearly severed the head from the body.
The body of Mrs. Williams was found
in her bed room, with several horrible
gashes in the head, from which the
brains oozed out. A young babe, but a
few weeks old, was found in the bed
almost famished from cold and hunger.
1t had sucked its fingers to appease its
hunger until the blood oozed from them
and had kicked its covering until the
nap had worn off. 1t had lain in bed
from etime of the murder until the
discovery-three days.
Words cannot tell the intensity of
feeling that was awakened at the gastly
discovery. Murmurings against the
fiend or fiends who had committed the
fell deed, were loud and deep, and a
search for the authors of the dread
crime was immediately instituted.
A bloody ak was found hid in straw
stack near the barn, which was without
doubt the instrument the murderer
used in his bloody work. But who was
the guilty party or parties. Suspicion
was not long in fastening itself upon
one Wesley johnson, farm 1aborer
who had been hired by AN uncle of Mr..
Williams and by Mr.. Williams himself.
He was arrested OH Friday following
the murder, at Wauseon, on his return
from a visit in Indiana. He was lodged
in Jail, indicted by the grand jury for
murder in the first degree, and is now
on trial for his life. The prosecution
has any amount of evidence, most of it
circumstantial, which points to john
son as the guilty party.
The case was assigned for hearing on
Tuesday, and long before the hour for
Court to open the room was filed with
an expectant crowd. On account of be-
lated or absent jurors Judge Moore
deemed it advisable to adjourn until
1:S0 p. m., as the case could not
go on until the venire of thirty-six
were present. At l:45 the Judge took
the bench and called the case of the
State of Ohio against Wesley johnson,
charged with murder in the first de-
gree. The case is to be heard upon the
Indictment charging the defendant
with the murder of Isabella E. Will
liams. Upon order of the Judge the
Sheriff was ordered to bring the ac-
cused into Court. The room by this
time was crowded, a few ladies being
noticed in the audience. All eyes were
upon the door, eager for glance at the
accused. The Sheriff soon made his ap.
pearance with his prisoner, who was
given seat near his counsel, Messrs
Knupp and Hubbard, who will labor
without ceasing for verdict in favor ol
their client. On the other hand the
State will be ably represented by Pros.
ecuting Attorney Cahill, assisted by
Judge Haag, who will bring to bear al
there is in the case for conviction.
The prisoner presented rather q nea
and tidy appearance, and did not seen
in the least ill at ease. He still persists
in that bold don't care look and way
and shows little if any concern abou
the awful predicament he is in. HI
conversed laughingly with reporter
and others.
Upon the appearance of the prisoner
the Court ordered twelve of the thirty
six to take the jury box, and the task o
selecting :, jury commenced. DIR
Townsend still being absent, his place
was supplied by Mr.. Geo. Haase. Th'
venire was exhausted, and eleven re
mained in the jury box. The defens'
demanded a special venire, and in orde
to give the officers time to fill it, judge
Moore adjourned Court until 8 9o'clocl
Wednesday morning.
Judge Moore promptly opened Cour
at the hour set on adjournment,
o'clock. The room was crowded, as up
on the previous day. Witnesses begai
to put in an appearance, among then