The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-10-20
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The Case of Woolweaver for Commuta.
tatiOn OF Sentence.

The Case OF WOOlweNver for C0mmutn-
tatiOn OF Sentence.
About two years ago a man by
the name of Woolweaver, in an in
toxicated condition, deliberately
walked up on the depot platform
at Macarthur Junction and shot and
killed Frank Lehman, who was
working near by. Prior to the kill
ing, the only provocation Wool
weaver had was that, Mr.. Lehman
had endeavored to pacify Wool
weaver and the agent at the depot,
who had gotten into an alteration.
The murder was malicious and
deliberate one. The community
was shocked to it's Foundation, and
the excitement spread to Logan, as
Mr.. Lehman had formerly lived
here, Mob law was talked of and
even railroad men called meetings,
and would have had u regular old
fashioned lynching bee had it not
been for the persuasion of the cool
er heads.
Mr.. Lehman was prominent
member of the knights of Pythias;
charter member of the Macarthur
lodge, and the lodges all through
the valley called meeting and sent
their tender sympathies and offers
of assistance to the grief stricken
widow and her four little, helpless
children. Also did they bury deep
in their hearts the memories of the
awful crime and the red-handed
criminal.
The poor victim was brought to
Logan and buried by the Knights;
several hundred were in line t his
funeral. After the services meet
ing was called at the Logan lodge
room and speeches were made in
eulogy to the deceased and in strong
denunciation of the cowardly MUIR
der.
Time went on; the grand jury
met and through a conniving Of
some kind the indictment was
made "murder in the second de-
gree" Trial was had, and the jury
was in only few minutes and re-
turned verdict of guilty, and the
court imposed the sentence of "life-
time imprisonment" Everybody
said, "the villainous murderer got
off very light" and true he did.
Hemp rope was too good for him.
The knights of Phythias were very
indignant all through the Valley
at the Indictment, and even Demo-
cratic papers greatly criticized
Prosecuting Attorney Darby for the
presentation of the case as second
degree murder instead of first.
The murderer was taken to the
Ohio Penitentiary to serve out his
miserable life, and at this date has
served about two years.
The poor widow and little chill
dren of the big hearted Frank Leh-
man were left poor, indeed. His
day labor had been his living. Kind
friends rushed to her. assistance,
but their assistance could not last
long. The noble Knights of Pyth-
las did their duty in purchasing her
little home in Logan, where she
now lives with her children. All
these were timely assistance at
first, but now, after these years
have passed and fresher misfor-
tunes have claimed our sympathies,
we find this poor widow working
day and night, almost, washing and
sewing for others, that her little
brood of bright faced children
might not go hungry. All this mis-
ery,all this care was brought on by
the foul hand of the blood thirsty
criminal,whose life is not worth the
one-hundredth part of the precious
one he took away.
There has been a move on foot
for some time to commute the sem
tence of Woolweaver, and many
petitions have gone into the Board
of Pardons from the Knights of
Phythias demonstrating against
such move. But on last Satur-
day, through the personal effort OF
Gen. Grosvenor, of Athens, who is
the attorney for the Woolweaver's,
the Board of Pardons recommend
ed Communication of sentence from
a life imprisonment to term OF
three years, two of which has al.
ready been served. The many
friends of Frank Lehman in Logan
are very indignant over such a
weakening of the Board and are
now preparing petitions to the
Governor that such recommends
ton shall not be considered favora.