Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-10-29
Columbus Tragedy
ANOTHER MAN ACCUSED OF
THE CRIME.
Fully Identified by All the Witnesses
Strong Chain of Circumstance
Pointing to One Van Loon as the
Bank Robber and Murderer.


Ottawa, O., Oct. 23.-Ten days ago.
Il. ]. Maple, the cashier who was shot
at Columbus Grove, August Z, got
word from Galena, o., that man who
answers the description of the robber
and murderer, was there. Prosecuting
Attorney J. P. Bailey and J. NJ. Craw-
ford, the hardware man from whom
the revolvers were taken, at once went
to identify the man. Before they came
to the house of VanlOOn they met him
on the road. They stopped and talked
with him. Apparently he recognized
Crawford, and became very nervous.
They drove to the house of his faith er-
in-law, who had given the information,
and there learned that VanlOOn was
absent from home for days at the time
this robbery was committed. He went
away penniless and came home with
81 200. He bought piece of land for
$400; negotiated for span of horses
for S400 more. His father-in-law is
not on good terms with him as he mar
ried under protest.
He has always considered him dan.
gerOus character. He was arrested
yestarday !, t Galena and lodged in Jail
here last night. This afternoon he was
identified 10y Cashier T. J. Maple, who
was shot in the bank, and he says the
man looks just like the robber and
murderer. Mr.. Maple was positive
that James Roberts, the young man
who was arrested at New Washington,
was the perpetrator, but since seeing
Vanloon he decides this is the man.
J. M. Crawford also looked at him
today, and says he will swear for a
week that Vanloon is the man who got
the revolver and box of cartridges in
his store.
Treasurer Lenhart says this man
makes up in appearance what Roberts
lacked, and is confident the right man
is now under arrest.
The grand jury was considering the
case of Roberts, but slowly. The court
today discharged the petit jury until
Monday, to give the grand jury time
fully inquire into the matter. The
feeling here tonight is that no murder
er will hang for this crime. All except
Mr.. Crawford felt positive that Roberts
was Jesse James. Now they are chang
ing their minds.
Vanloon is talkative. He SAYS ht
was brought hear for burgIarizing 8
bank at Columbus Grove, but says ht
don't know where that town is and
never heard of it prior to his arrest
When asked why he became so nerv
Gus when he met Crawford, he remark
ed that he had purchased some cloth
ing and had them charged to his sister
and suspected to be arrested for thai
crime. He can give no satisfactory
account rs to where he got the 81 200
He claims it was his sisters money
He also says that he earned it with Il
cents. A deputy was dispatched to his
home to bring his revolver, and if pos
sible the box containing the cartridges
which contains the cost mark of Craw
ford.
Ottawa, O., Oct. 26.-Frank Val
Loon, who was arrested at Galena anC
brought here for the murder of farme
Vandemark and shooting of cashie
7. J. Maple and robbing the bank o
81 200 at Columbus Grove, is getting
himself into trap. j. NJ. Crawford
the hardware man from whom the re
volver was taken, was in Jail yester
day, and Crawford is positive that thi
is the man who got the revolver in hi
store. At no time did he say that Rob
erts was the man.
Mr.. Ogler of Columbus, a brother
inlaw was here Saturday, and c0nferr
ed with the officials. He says that hi
wife loaned Van Loon $500. This ma,
be o,yet where he got the rest to max
the ST 200, which he had at the hom
of his father-ln-lawsoon after this dee,
was comm tied, is not explained.
When Van Loon was asked whethe
he knew man ofthe name of Robert
he stated he did. That man of tina
name lived on farm near Western
vile. This, together with the positiv
statement of Crawford that Van Lool
got the revolvers, and a positive state
ment by Naples that Roberts did tn
shooting corroborates the theory tha
there was more than one man to do tn
deed. "Van Loon lies," said one @
the parties who visited him in Jail
"He says one thing to one man an,
something else to another"
Inc grand jury VIII further lnves
tigate the case to-day and it would be
surprise If both parties would he in
dicted for murder in the first degree
A man was dispatched to Galena t
bring Van Looms revolver and box @
cartridges. If this corresponds wit
the same taken from Crawf0rd's ston
it will tend to tighten the rope. TIL
grandeur may conclude its session b.
tomorrow night. Ifso startling de
velopments may be brou,g forth.
Columbus, Oct .26-Detectives fron
Ottawa, Putnam county, visited West
erville, near here, yesterday, and q
the home of Van Loon, found the ideL
rical revolver, it is said, which was sol
to the Columbus Grove bank robbel
and with which he is said to have don
his bloody work.
They have no doubt but that Va
Loon is the guilty man.