Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-06-01
MURDER WILL OUT.
Two More Arrests in Connec-
ton with the Bryan Trag-
edy.
GEO. BIRCHELL HAS CONFESSED
He duplicates Walter PIummer and
Billy Elkins, and Exonerates His
Brother Michael-Their Ar
rests Follow.

mas confessed. his cOnIesslOn eXoueI-
ates his brother, Mike, who was sent
with him, but 1t duplicates two we'll
known Bryan young men-WalteI
Plummer, who was arrested In Toledo
today, and Billy Elkins, who was ar
rested In Chicago yesterday.
Plummer will arrive here In the
hands Of Sheriff Bailey tonight. FL.
kins will arrive tonight, too, unless he
refuses to come without requisition,
All sorts OF rumors are afloat, but con-
fession and arrests mentioned are
facts.
1t will be remembered that Arthur
Brown was murdered on the night OF
May 4, 1892, and that within two days
George and Michael Birchell were ar
rested for the murder and were after
ward convicted and sent to the peni-
tentiary for life. During the trial Miss
Molie Arbuster testified that she saw
four men near the southwest corner
Of the barn holding fifth one who
seemed helpless, his head dropping;
two of the men carried him over to the
water closets on the school grounds and
laid him down. She then saw one OF
the other men approach. The first two
were kneeling beside the prostrated
man; one of them called out "Hold on;
come here, Mart" She then saw the
man near the barn approach and heard
him say: "Kill him some more" The
four men then stood around the man
and she heard more breaking of bot
ties; and through her evidence it was
evident that there were more than two
implicated in the killing of Brown.
January l Prosecuting Attorney
Emery's term expired and John M.
Killits was his successor. He at once
took the matter In hand and has work.
ed since to get George Brchell to make
a confession, so that all the guilty par.
ties might be brought to justice. AT
ter four months of hard labor he has
been able to get a full statement from
George Birchell, which is: On the
night of May 4, 1892, when Brown was
displaying his roll of money, Plum
mer and Elkins had got together and
conceived plan to rob Brown, after
which Pummer went to George Birch
ell and told him that Elkins and him
self had intended to rob Brown of his
roll of money, and asked Birchell to
take part in the robbery, which he
agreed to do; then it was planned that
George Birchell should get Brown to
tue place where he was to be robbed,
and that Elkins and himself would
come there and they would get Brown
drunk and then take his money.
Birchell got two bottles OF beer and he
and Brown started, going past the opera
house, then south to the school yard,
and then back to the rear end of the
yard. After reaching the place it was
discovered that Plummer and Elkins
had not yet appeared, and Birchell and
Brown drank one bottle of the beer;
then Plummer and Elkins came, and
they did some more drinking. It was
then proposed that Plummer should go
and get some more beer. He said he
did not have any money, but would
get the beer just the same. At that
Brown said he was going; and when
they found that they could not keep
him there Plummer seized beer bot
tie and struck him. Brown exclaimed,
"My God, Walt, what do you mean ?"
Just then he struck him another blow
and Brown fell. Readers will remem-
ber from the testimony at the Birchell
trials that after knocking Brown down
with the beer bottles his murderer pro-
ceeded to neighboring wood pile and
obtained two sticks of heavy stove
wood, with which they beat his brains
out, took his money and fled. Birchell
still insists that his brother Michael
had nothing to do with the killing of
Brown. The people are greatly excit-
ed over the matter, as the Birchell
trials have cost the county 30 much
money, and to have two more trials of
the same nature will add more to the
county's expense. BUTT is hoped that
all who may be connected with the
murder of Brown will be justly punish
ed, and if 1t can be shown that Mich
ael Birchell is not guilty of this terrible
crime he should go free.