The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1886-12-09
SERIOUS CHARGE.
The Ford Brothers Arrested for As.
sault With Intent to XIII r. A.
johnson, of Leesburg.


Hillsboro has been trying to overdo
herself the past week. Sensation has
followed sensation, and the pencil.
pusher has been kept busy. But prob
ably the most exciting and disgraceful
episode that has occurred for some time
took place at the Kramer House Tues
day afternoon.
About half past two o'clock on that
day Mr.. r. A. johnson, of Leesburg, O.,
who had come to town as witness
before the Probate Court, was attacked
by Charles Ford (coloredD and his
brother George, and knocked down and
kicked and beaten about the head in q
terrible manner. Johnson's chin was
cut and bloody, and his head was bruis.
ed in two or more places, and altogether
he looked terribly used up when the
Fords ceased their assault and he was
picked up by Marshal Rhoades and
taken to the police station.
On his arrival there he presented an
extremely unpleasant spectacle, from
his blood-smeared face and disarranRed
clothing. He Immediately appeared be.
fore Mayor Harman and made state.
ment of which the following 10 the sub
stance:
II came to town this morning with
Mr.. James h. Williams, as Q witness in
the case OF Nose Rice, charged with sell.
ing liquor to an habitual drunkard.
After dinner went into the Kramer
House pool room and had been playing
pool with Mr.. Ike Slusser and some
gentleman unknown to me George
Long. When I started out Charlie
Ford ran against me and jostled me
roughly on purpose. I inquired. what
that meant, when, without assigning
any reason whatever he Immediately
struck me and knocked me down. After
I fell George Ford came up and held me
down and both of them kicked me
about the head and face. All the time
l begged them to desist. After they
had beaten me to .Aeir satisfaction the
Marshal, who hsd been present all the
time but had refused TO interfere, came
and arrested nae while was lying down.
l believe that they had been hired by
Nose Rice to do me up, because was q
witness against Rice in q case pending
in the Probate Court"
No charge, however, was fled aGainst
johnson, and Marshal Rhoades denies
that he arrived upon the scene until the
was over Mr.. johnson
swore out an affidavit against the Fords,
charging them with assault with intent
to kill, and they were arrested . few
moments later by Officer Newman. After
hearing Johns0n's statement the Mayor
bound each of the Fords over to appear
yesterday afternoon at O'Clock, under
bond Of $500, which was furnished by
Commissioner Sanders.
johnson Il son Of Col. Elias johnson,
q prominent citizen Of Leesburg, and
has been admitted TO the bar. He hes
engaged Messrs. Psvey & Bowles - his
attorneys, and proposes TO sock ample
justice at the hands of the law. The
Fords have employed Sloane - their At
torney.
Justly or uniustly, there is quite be-
lief In the community that the assault
was paid-for piece OF work. Such things
have bean charged against the Fords
before, and their names have previously
appeared on the police records. Even
u such was not the case, II can mot be
doubted bat that the assault Was COW.
ardly and unprovoksd. II such was not
the case, the Fords will have IN oppor.
tunitZ = Prove u before The proper en-
thositiss. ~ 70 70 10 psso Wednesday
oeeeneeo ~ trial y In proUFeO be1oeo