Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1895-04-18
HART. The MURDERER
PAYS THE PENALTY OF HIS CRIME ON
THE GALLONS!
HUNG AT THE PENITENTI-
AIRY ON THE 18th.

COLUMBUS. April 12.-Charles bart. the
murderer of the Good childr n at North
Woods, was brought 10 the scaffold from the
death cell at 1905 was dropped at 1910. and
in l3 Ia minutes was pronounced dead.
He was cool, and only said rs he glanced
at the crowd below: Good bye" to one of
guards. He watched the work of binding
his body with cords without evincing more
than an ordinary interest, and as the cap wss
placed over his head, and he was given a
chance to say his last, he, remarked: ~ am
not guilty of this charge. but hope the Lord
will be with me-"
Chaplain Winget stoed at his side on the
scaffold, and established a precedent by
uttering somaVhat lengthy prayer from
that eminence. He was frequently interrupt
ed by Hart, who muttei ed almost inaudibly,
80, Lord, help me, repeating this prayer
every few seconds. Then he looked down
for the last time as the black cap was placed
over his head, and said, "Good bye 10 you
all;" 30, Eord, be with me-"
1t was a remarkably complete execution
from a mechanical standpoint, as Hart
hardly made motion after the drop.
Hart was baptized in the Methodist faith
by tine chaplain He manifested certain
degree of interest in this Significant demon
stration of belief in everlasting life, and
the chaplain announced his conviction that
the lad realized his condition and would
meet death bravely with hope. At this sad
service of prayer and song the chaplain sang
''Shall We Gather at the River?" There's
a Land that Is Fairer than Day" and Nearer
10y GOD to Thee" The boy listened with
out any exhibition of emotion, but the con-
viction that he was doomed seemed to be at
last forced through his darkened mind. AT
S:45 he was taken from the annex and placed
in the death cell and a watch placed over
| him.
None of his friends came t. see him die.
His father visited the prison several weeks,
ago hut since that time his family has taken
little apparent interest him. They live near
Poe, Ind, where they were driven by the
indignant citizens of Pau!dng county
Hart requested the warden to ship his boday
to his late home for burial
Charles Hart's crime was one of the most
revolving in the history of the stYte. No
vember A. 1894, Ashley and Elsie, the and
7-year old children of Samuel Good, farm
or who lived near what is known as Nortt
Woods, in Paulding county, were playjnc
together in the neighboripg forest. ASHLEY
had piece of scantling with which he was
playing hunter, and he and Elsie were
searching for hicory nuts. Hart stated il
his confession that the children came dowr
the road between and 8 O'Clock ann ASHLEY
asked him to go nutting with them. Har
accompani them into the wood and wher
they were in secluded spot assaulted tn,
little girl. Ashley ran away crying and Har
pursued until he caught him not far away
and seizing the bowgun dealt the child
blow on the side of the head. He then re
turned and struck the little girl. When b,
realized what he had done he was undecided
for moment until he gathered his thoughts
and then it occurred to him that he nigh
hide the traces of his terrible crime by burn
ing the bodies. He touched a lighted mattel
to their clothes and then he went to his hom
near that of the Goods. When he returne,
he carried huge butchers knife, and wit
this he horribly mutilated the bodies. The
he went back to the house, washed the knit
: 10 a watering trough, put the. weapon ava
: in the house, washed his hands, AID the
went to the home of Clarence Brindl
brother in-law, who was subsequently arrest
ed es an accomplice. but discharged.
Hart's confession was made to Detective
Klein and Hart, of Cleveland, whowere plac
ed in the Jail as fellow prisoners. In th
: first confession he implicated David Merit
a colored man, whom he'accused of assistin
to plan the assault ON the little girl. The
he cut the children's throats with razcl
and Merit compelled him togo back an
cut the bodies up. In a subsequent confess
: ion he appropriatedlall the credit to himsel
3 In this confession, made to Chaplain Wingt
' of the pen'tentiary, he duplicates othel
: whose names the chaplain refused to di
i close.
COLUMBUS, o., April 15. The morning
the execution of Charley Hart, the Pauldin
county murderer, it was announced that
. had made confession. At that time Prise
Chaplain Winget, to whom the confessie
was made, refused to make il public. I'll
eOhctanaa nf tho oon faco,or fh;e,