The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1884-02-28
GOT 'N0THERr
BAD WHISKY, A DIRTY WOMAN
A DEAD MAN +!
Lively Times For the Coroner!
AND

GO Wud1 WdS WdA1Cui eAAO 'oAoo
Johnny Clark, agent at the depot,
asked for Coroner Smith, who lives
across the street from us. He then
read message calling the Coroner to
WelIston to hold inquest upon the
remains of B. F. McCloud who was
killed the night before.
This was at first regarded railroad
accident causing death, but the ap-
pearance of the remains seemed to
create a suspicion that foul play had
been engaged in. Inquiry developed
the fact that McCloud had been at
Berlin with fellow named George
Johson, that they were both under
the influence of liquor, and both left
John Conrad's doggery together,
johnson afterward returning without
McCloud.
johnson was arrested on suspicion,
and shortly after he was put in Jail, a
female of doubtful character, made
the statement in Wellston that she
had been with the two men McCloud
and johnson, that McCloud left her,
Johnson called to him to wait; Nc
Cloud kept on, Johnson followed, she
heard cry, and Johnson came back
to her. with a bloody knife in his
hand, and stated that man had been
killed. There are several circumstan-
ces which coincide fully with the
girls story, seeming to make eonsld-
cradle chain Of circumstancial edl-
! dence against Johnson. Yet, while
johnson has a very bad reputation, it
will take vastly more evidence than
the officers are yet in>nossession in OF 20
convict him of murder. In naan
johnson is the fellow who accidently
shot his wife at Sciotoville, some time
ago. He worked for DIR. Kitchen, on
his farm in Madison township, and
had row there, which showed bad
disposition. But this girl is doubt
less harder case, if possible, than
johnson. 1t looks quite probable
That McCloud was murdered, but
who killed him is a question.
We give the following, being the
main portion Of the testimony.
The post mortem examination Of
Benjamin F. McCloud held by us this
day, by DR.. G. L. Monahan and DIR.
J. B. Spencer. We do find the head
entirely missing, and the body badly
mangled. We further find that his
throat had been cut with some sharp
instrument, and in our opinion said
sharp instrument was knife. Said
cut commenced little below the an
gle Of the jaw, on the right side, en-
tering and severing the stylo hoyloid
muscle, and passing around the neck
above the hyloid bone. We could
trace the smooth cut Of the said sharp
instrument 4 to inches where it
came into the mangled parts so we
could not tell anything farther about
it.
Signed and sworn to this 23rd day
of February, 1884.
G.. L. Monahan, M. d.
J. B. Spencer, M. D.
FL. M. Summers testified that the
word had come that man had been
killed between Berlin and Wellston,
and he and others went down, and
found pieces of clothing, and pieces
Of the body along the track, and fin
ally found the mutilated remains Of
the body, &c.
G. A. Reese recognized the body as
that of Ben. McCloud, by pieces Of
clothing, and by the watch chain,
which belonged to witness, and which
he had loaned to McCloud.
John Conrad being first duly sworn
deposes and says:
I am about 40 years old-live at
Berlin-and keeping a saloon. | was
not personally acquainted with Benja-
min F. McCloud. have seen him
four or five times. I saw him at my
saloon on the afternoon and evening
of the Goth Of Feb, 1884. He was
intoxicated when be came in, as he
staggered. George Johnson was with
him. He, johnson, had been about
my saloon all day. They went out
together as much as three or four
times during the evening. McCloud
told me that he wanted to see party
that was in Berlin. McCloud talked
of going home, and Johnson said that
he would go with him. McCloud
told johnson that if he did he would
give him good bed to sleep in. They
both went out and were gone fifteen
or twenty minutes, and came back to
my saloon. They talked a while, and
McCloud told johnson if he wanted
anything to take it. Johnson took
glass of whisky, and McCloud took a
piece of Bologna sausage, and they
both left together, and that was the
last time I saw McCloud. This was
about half past seven or eight o'clock.
johnson was gone this time don't
think, to exceed half an hour. When
he came back | said to him | thought
you was going home with that fellow.
He said it was too far away to go to
Comet, and he was not going. McCloud
gave me watch, and says, John,