Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-04-19
MURDER AND ARSON.
Morris Arrested Charged with Murder
and Arson. Further Details of the Horri-
hle Affair,

The TurcIiIiIht. of this mOrning has the
following additional facts regarding the
terrible affair that occurred near Nenia
Saturday morning:
The interest in the terrible tragedy Of
Saturday morning looses nothing, but gains
as the hours pass slowly by. Saturday the
scene of the murder such it und"uhted-
ly was-was visited by many people, each
having his or her theory regarding the
affair, but yesterday was the day for the
sightseers. On foot. on horseback, in bug
gies. carriages, wagons, ceaseleSS stream
of humanity poured down the pike /" the
grounds. Dust and heat hal no teTTOrS for
them. but urged on by their curiosity they
toiled through ii all.
Mrs. Douthett's head was toward the
door leading into the front bedroom. Mr..
Douthett was lying with his head toward
the door leading into the parlOr.
The coored man, Charley Morris, who
lived on the place. was arrested early Sat
urlay morning and the charge of murder
and arson placed against him on the slate.
The evidence against him is, a yet, cir
rumStantial, and such as his own indl>cre
ton has led him into. When the people
had gathered at the fire, and before the bod
les were recovered from the flames, gen
tleman said: "Who knows anything
about this ," Some one replied,
Charlie" The gentleman wanted t,
know who Charlie was, and he was pointed
out. When asked what he knew about it.
he said he was up stairs asleep, and hearc
Mrs. Douthett calling him, and he Suppos
| ing breakfast was ready, got up and camt
down stairs. When he got 10 the foot ot
the stairs he found the door fastened witt
a button. Il started TO go back when
heard a cracking; looked up and founc
the house was on fire; jumped out of the
window and went to Calls; woke Cal up
and came back"
Then what did you dO?" was asked.
Il didn't do anything.
why didn't YOU look for the folks"
Il thought they were out and it was nj
use"
To some one else he said he jumped on
the window into tree and then on t.
the ground. The tree, in fact wOulC
not hold a good-sized cat, and shows nj
marks of abrasion or rough treatment Tn,
fire was above him, and the stair door faS
tened only with a button. Why did he g
back through the fire, instead of kickin!
the button off, and save Mr. and Mrs
Douthett? When arrested, S14.I5 wert
found upon him. 1t is known that on Fri
day afternoon Mr.. Douth, tt had a S. bill
changed in trade receiving four silver dol
lars and three quarters. -Four silver dol
lars and seven quarters were found oI
Morris. Yesterday the officers begaI
no money be found it will be embarrasSin!
TO Charlie to explain the foregoing act
Charlie accounts for S9l of money in hanC
and expended since his return from Ken
tucky. three or four weeks ago. He say
he had worked for Mr. Douthett before, bu
last winter had gone to Kentucky. Mr
Duuthett had written him to come home
sent him $40 to come on. When he reached
Xenia he had SIC. Mr.. Douthett had paiC
him on settlement $40 or $50. call it SIS
and then You have the S9l. But he has
spent SlSS. Where, then, did he get the
money found on his person?
He now denies that he owns any stock oI
the DOuthett place, but does not deny hav-
ing said that he did. The two great thing,
against him 50 far are his actions and words
that night. and the money.
That there was a crime committed can
hardly he denied. No valuableS have been
found, such as knives, forks, or other ware,
either silver or plated. The inference is
that the robbery was the incentive in this
gastly work. and that the work was com
plete we all know.
Many rumors are ahoat, none of them
traceable to a reliable source, one of them
being that money found on Charlie was
identified by the Second National bank as
having been paid by them to Mr. Douthett.
The bank people say that ii is not 50: they
have had no dealings with Mr.. D0uthett.
Another report is that it was part of money
paid Mr. Douthett by the express company.
This the company deny, saying Mr.. Dor
THEFT shipped hogs with them, but never
received any money by express. Every
man is innocent until he is proven guilty.
and this should be- the sentiment with Char
lie Morris"