Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-03-05
WICKED DEFIANCE!
Superintendent and Teach
ers AllegedtO Have Be-
come Criminally
Related
By an Inquisitive Janitur
Who is Threatened by the Ac-
cused's Friends, and After
Leaving his House TAX
ing Refuge with a
Neighbor, is
Found,
Stabbed and Mang|ed--D Dead
THE SUP'T AND TEACHERS EXON.
GRATED In THE EYES OF THE
BOARD OF EDUCATION
FROM THE CHARG-
ES, BUT,
Stabbed and Mang|ed--D Dead
We're or We're They Not Accessory TO
the Dastardly Murder of Moll?

Defiance was torn asunder, upheaved and |
shattered by a chain of highly sensational |
events closely connected in time and circum- |
stances.
/ A little over a week ago. Mr.. Bethge, a
highly respected citizen, asserted that he had
seen Prof. Butler, sup't. of the schools, and
two of Defance's highly respected teachers in
the Prof's office several times, and that they
had been guilty of gross misconduct kissing
and hugging; and that, on enc occasion, he
had been an eye witness to criminal init
between the Prof. and one of the teachers; ;the
offence was committed in the Supt's. Office
above which is trap door, where he and two
others were secreted and able to command
a view of the apartment beneath.
The charges were formally laid before the
board of education. Tho board, at request
of the accused, suspended them pending an
Investigation, This came off Monday even
ing week. The accused introduced evil
dence to prove an alibi, and although no
witnesses were sworn, they were exonorated
by the board. The board also discharged
the janitors Moll and Max, who testified the
same as Betke, they having necessarily
been taken in confidence III order to gain en-
trance to the place oflookout above the Office;
they therefore assisted in the esdropping.
Both are supplied with house rent and fuel
by the board. To add to their discontinue,
the keys were taken from them with the in
junction to vacate the premises as soon as
possible. The community took sides and ex-
citement ran rife.
Tuesday night Moll was informed that a
movement was on foct by the irate friends
of the teachers to lynch him. He was per-
suaded by terrified family to spend the
night with friend residing near the Wa
bash R. R.
An hour after his departure,
TWENTY MASKED MEN
knocked at the ldoll residence and dem and
ed the janitor. On being apprised that he was
not at home, they departed in the darkness.
Moll remained at the house of Henry Oes-
tricher until O'Clock a. N. when he became
uneasy and departed for homs. This was
the last time he was authentically known to
be seen alive.
The next morning at about o'clock,
tramp, named Parker. while walking along
the track near the coal chute, discovered an
object moving very slowly along the ground
in front of him. Lighting match he dis
tinguished man who with face covered with
blood and dust, gasped a few times and died.
Parker fastened to the nearest house and
alarmed the inmates. The coroner was noti-
fed and the remains given in charge of the
undertaken.
An investigation of the dead mans body
proved that he had been foully dealt with.
There was cash in the throat deep enough
, to sever the trachea; two deep stabs were in
the left side; the head was crushed and both
; legs below the knees ground to a pulp. Evi-
IDENTIFY the
EAST BOUND TRAIN HAD PASSED OVER HIM.
In his hands, which were tightly clasped, was
manure and straw. A knife was found 20
; feet away which his son declares was not his
} fathers. These two facts give cogency to
the murder theory, especially the former, for
the road is ballasted with rock and not par
ticle of straw or manure is in sight. 1t is
maintained by many that before Mol was
crushed by the cars. he had
ENGAGED IN DESPERATE BATTLE
for his life some distance from the track
with revengeful persons unknown, but be-
lieved to be the friends of the So called SLAM
dered teachers. Then again it is believed
that Moll becoming respondent over the
events of the preceding week, which included
the deprivation of his means of getting a
living, committed suicide. This is hardly
' tenable to those who knew Moll. He was
t naturally of bouyant disposition, and when
leaving the house expressed a firm deter
. mination of going home at once. His home
: was but twenty minutes walk distant. He
/. started at 2o'clock and at o'clock was
found not 20 yards distant, having Just re-
ceived the fatal blow given by the fastly
= moving engine. Where tods janitor MolL
during the four hours Intervening these t,oo
periods
This is the question that cannot be ans
wered.
Is it not PLAUSIBLE to advance the theory
. that gang of masked men. the same gang
/ who called at his house earlier in the evening,
had the solitary man in soms seclud ed