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

said very little about the record Of crime
which the tria. Developed. and tor the
closing scenes of which Henry county
was unfortunately selected.
WILLIAM W. TREADwELL,
the murdered man, was a resident of Hud-
son, Mich, where he had been engaged in
the business of banking. In order to
give public confidence To the institution,
his father, a man Of wealth and character,
gave his son the use of his name. The
young man soon acquired the reputation
OF a safe, honest and upright business
man, and the community in which he re-
sided selected his bank as their depository.
The man of wealth, the small Business
man, the poor war widow with her scanty
means which she wished TO guard care
fully, selected Tresdwell to take care OF
their treasure. With the confidence which
be had established among his fellow bank.
ers, he was enabled to draw upon them
in the aggregate, for very large sum-
After having accomplished this, he closed
his bank and ran away with the funds
swindling the community, hankrupting
his father, and making paupers of the
widow and orphan. A heartless and nm.
feeling wretch, he richly deserved the dogs
death that he died, and for him the only
regret is that Cowell WAS not his author
lied executioner.
JOHN CowELL,
the murderer, was young man of about
twenty two years OF age, of medium size
light build, and of rather bovish appear
ance. He was born and raised in Erie
county, in this State. where his father
now resides. His education was very lin
tied, and he seemed to have a very indeti
mite idea OF either moral or religious OBJ
legations. He had been arrested tor horse
Stealing in Michigan, had been tried arC
found guilty, and was in the Jail at Adrian
awaiting sentence, where Treadwell was
also confined awaiting his sentence fol
swindling. On the lst of July, 1864, the
two together escaped from the Jail anC
travelled together into this county, where
on the 4th of the same month, Cowell tt
possess himself of about nine hundred
dollars which Treadwell had with him
took his life, relieved society of a deep
dyed and hesrtless villain and committed
the crime which cost his own life. Tht
evidence was all circumstantial, and il
our opinion, hardly justified the verdic
of guilty; but that divinity which shapes
our ends directed the minds of the jury
Alright. He was one of the strangest char
acters we ever met. In the relation W,
sustained to him as one of his counsel, W,
were compelled to have frequent inter
views with him, and never left him with
out being strengthened in our conviction
Of his innocence.
THE ARRANGEMENTS.
The place selected for the execution wa
Just outside OF the Jail, where Sherif
Barnes had an inclosure erected twenty
two by thirty-two feet and sixteen fee
high, the Jail forming one side of the in
closure. The gallows was IN the south
west corner of the inclosure, and was il
every respect perfect in construction.
THE EXECUTION.
About ten O'Clock on the morning of tn
execution we visited the prisoner. He ap
peared perfectly easy, and expressed sat
| isfaction at seeing US, talked of the execu
ton and inquired of our health with tn
coolness OF everyday life. While in tn
Jail, the Sheriff brought in the clothes il
which he was to be executed, and told hin
it was about time to dress. He arose fron
his chair and walked into another cell, re
marking to the Sheriff that he was con
siderably agitated, and said that il tn,
crowd in the main room of the Jail was re
moved he thought that he could dress him
self. The crowd then retired, and he pro
ceeded to dress himself. He was then lef
alone with his father and the Rev. Fathe
Carroll, his spiritual adviser. At twent
minutes past twelve he was taken to th
scaffold by the Sheriff, accompanied b.
his spiritual adviser. The warrant TO
his execution was read to him, and tn
Sheriff then inquired whether he had any
thing to say before he proceeded to exc
cute the sentence of the Court. He re
piled, "No, sir; am guilty." The Sheri
then asked if he wished to be understood
that he was guilty of the crime of whic
he stood condemned. He replid, aye
sir; my punishment is just" He the
knelt in prayer with his spiritual adviser
after which the Sheriff proceeded to plac
the cap over his head ana to adjust th
rope around his neck. During all thes
proceedings he was the most collecte
among those present, and it was only afte
the Sheriff and the Rev. Father Caro-
bid him farewell that he showed the leas
emotion. At sixteen minutes before on
O'Clock the trap was sprung, and job
Cowell was launched into eternity.
eleven minutes after the trap fell he wa
pronounced dead by the physicians in Al
tendances, and at one o'clock he was Gu
down, placed in coffin and delivered I
his friends.
Sheriff Barnes, in the discharge of b
painful duty, acquitted himself mos
creditably. Every arrangement was pc
feet, and we do not think could have bee
improved in any respect.