Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-01-05
BIZ HIS OWN HAND.
DIR. John r. Maxwell, the Child Murderer,
Hangs Himself In the Jail.

aQOtEcr, huu sho ms Sh"P'~ -
the Maxwell tragedy, occurred yesterday
morning, when DR.. John F. Maxwell, the
child murderer, was found dead in the hall
on the third floor of the Jail, where he has
been in confinement since the tragedy oc-
CURED on the 26th day of last November
When James Smith, the jailor, took Max
wells breakfast 70 him yesterday morning,
shortly before o'clock, he made the start
ling discovery that the murderer had hung
himself. He Immediately reported the mat
ter 10 Sheriff Foley. who communicated at
once with Coroner Coleman, DR.. Reynolds,
the Jail physician, aud DR.. Hall. When they
arrived they proceeded to the place where
Maxwell was suspended, and cut him down.
An examination was made, and life was
pronounced extinct The dead body
which had by this time become somewhat
rigid, was carried down stairs and turned
over to D. R. Foreman, the township under
taker, who conveyed it to the vault in Fern
cliff Cemetery.
All night long Maxwell was heard pacing
M and down the halls. Some Of the pris-
oners say they heard him after daylight, and
this agrees with the statements OF the physi-
clans, who say that he had been suspended
probably two hours
The modus operandi was very simple but
also very ef.ctual. Maxwell took a towel
and tied one end to the upper bar Of the
barred partition which separates the halls
from the corridors at the north end OF the
jail. He then stepped up on the stationary
wash-bowl and fastening the other end Of
the towel around his neck, swung of.
The height Of the bars did not give him
sufficient room to strsightep out his legs, and
when found his knees were bent. At any
time during the awful suspense, which must
have attended the deed, Maxwell could have
relieved himself by simply putting his feet to
the floor. His neck was not broken, and he
simply strangled himself to death.
A soon as possible kilograms were
sent to Maxwell's father, at
Cardingtou, Morrow County, and
another to his wife, who is at her parents
home near Lytle, Warren county, Ohio. No
word whatever had, up to noon to-day, been
received from his father, but his father-in-law,
Mr.. E. Sweeney, arrived here this morning.
II cannot be definitely settled as to whether
or not there will be post-mortem until after
mis- relatives are heard from; but if some word
is not received shortly the remains will be
turned over to the township for final dispo-
sition.
Mr.. Sweeney was seen by a reporter. He
SAWS that Maxwell's wife is getting along very
nicely, and keeps herself busily engaged in
order to keep her mind of the tragedy. The
little girl has entirely recovered and is at
tending the village school.
At the time of the murder, Prose-
cutipg Attorney Weaver requested
DIR. Hall to see Maxwell every
day, talk to him, and examine him,
with the view of giving his testimony as an
expert in the trial of the case. This DR.. Hall
has done, and in answer to question by the
renor,er he said: "In all that have seen of
him. his actions, his conversation and his
nbysical condition, there has been nothing
to indicate that he is insane. l
believe that all this non-talkative
business has been put on. Or.
Hall saw Maxwell Saturday afternoon
about three o'clock and bad quite long con-
yersstiou with him. He was marching up
and down the hall and, instead of going to
him. DR.. Hall called to Maxwell 10 come to
him. In answer to questions in regard 10 MS
health. Maxwell said that it was good. In
talking he used medical terms to express
himself. Finally the doctor asked, ""ell'
h.w do you feel, generally" well, doctor,
replied Maxwell, 81 have at last given up
irving to keep still and not talk" He then
started away, and when DR.. Hall approached
him and again tried to draw him into con-
yersation, Maxwell burst out crying and
said: al can't talk any more" This was
the last time the doctor saw him until after
his death.
II will be remembered that Maxwell
wrote four letters in regard to the
tragedy, which were turned over to
the Prosecuting Attorney. These were never
published for obvious reasons, but they are
herewith given in full. The first one is to
his father and reads as follows:
SPRINGFIELD, OHIO,
Nov. 81, 1884.
Mr.. M. L. Maxwell, Cardington, Morrow County,
Ohio. Ny Dear Troubled Father:
Yours of the goth was received to-day,
and though scarcely expected the money
and was sorry wrote for it, yet rather ex-
pected you instead OF the letter.
Ny finances are now almost my only trou-
bic. have so miserably mismanaged my
affairs that am utterly discouraged and
broken. and don't think it will be of any
profit for me live to any longer.
And, in order that my children may know
no suffering | take them with me. The Bat
tin affair knew you would not miss seeing
and it bore so uumistakably the impress of
the cloven foot that | thought it unnecessary
to write concerning SO vile and plain a con-
spirscy, and 1t struck me just when my
finances were in such condition that
had not a single friend, who
would risk going on my bond:
consequently used the note that W. q. Lott
and / made last June and on which we failed
to raise money; the same offered to secure
you when Minnie can. to see US. | filled
that up for Gen. J. Warren Keifer as a col
lateral for him to go on my bond. And now
| cannot possibly raise the $50 they demand
before surrendering the note and Lott will
make trouble when he learns that have per-
verted the use of the note; and have al
ready had more than l can bear. The Gen
eral and his partner, Mr.. White, are my
attorneys.
Ny case was argued two weeks ago to-mor-