New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-10
MURDERER OF THE STONES
NOW SAID TO BE ROMULUs CoTELL. OF
TURIN. ~ Y.
MORE LIGHT ON THE OHIO TRAGEpY-ARREsr
AND ADMISSIONS OF THE PRIsoNER-KILLED

NUM- LIGHT ON THE OHIO TRAGEDY-ARRESr
AND ADMISSIONS OF THE PRIsoNER-KILLED
HIS VICTIMS WITH BASEBALL BAT
Inc murderer giving his as John Smith,
wh' was arrested in Tamadge. Ohio. on Wednes-
oaE upon his own confession of having brutally
murdered Alvin n. Stone and his wife and Ira f
Stnison. nephew and beating to unconscousnees
the Misses Emma and Hattie Stone. on the night
OF March e. is Romulus Cotell. according to a
statement which he made to one of the family His
real home is in Turin. n. Y. He had worked
short time for the man whom he murdered. until
three days before he committe the crime and was
then told That his services longer needed
He went t. live with Edward Porter about quar-
ter OF a mile east from the Stone home Smith or
Cotell is about eighteen years Of age He declared
that the frs he knew of the murder was on Sun
day mo ming, March 90 when the officers to
his room and examined his clothes He told the
officers that hc went to he'd al $50 o'clock Sat
urday night and got up about $40 o'clock on Sun
day morning.
Suspicion first directed TO him by the state
ments OF Miss Hattie and Miss Flora a sister
who declared that the voice Of the murderer sound
ed ike that OF Smith, but they could not remem-
Der anything which would make them suspect him
as the murderer Although he entered the house
through window the second floor. finding the
girls asleep. he went downstairs to the bedroom
where the father and mother were sleeping ana
killed them. He next went up to Stson's room
and beat him until he was supposed to be dead.
Emma Stone aroused. and she jumped from
her bed only to be stricken down by the murderous
fend. Hattie and Flora were aroused by the noise
and jumped from their bed when the murderer
struck Hattie down with his weapon and then went
back 10 finish killing Emma. In instant Hattie
was on her feet. and after locking the door went
out OF tie window and down the ladder to arouse
the neghbors. For she went in tn.
| opposite direction from Mr. Porers house al
though it is about the home of Charles
II. Sackett. whittier she went. She had no sooner
| got to the ground than the murderer came back
| and burst open the bedroom door and demanded
| TO know where Hattie had gone. When told tina,
| she had gone out OF the window the criminal raj,
| lower floor He must have returned al once to
Mr.. Porter's home for the latter testified at the
| night. and he saw him when ne came downstairs
| at $50 Sunday morning and he heard no noise dur
could have gone without his hearing him.
| Akron Ohio. April s--John Smith. formerly the
! hired man OF the Stone family. three members of
which were murdered ten days ago at Tallmadge,
was arrested last night and brought to this city.
| He has confessed that he committed the crime.
Detectives Doran and Decee went yesterday az
| ternoon to the Porter place. where Smith en-
| ployed. and made thorough investigation.
| Whether or not they had received Information 10
| guide them in their hunt for evidence they will
not say. but in short time after they reached the
| back he brought big -four sack. containing a
| suit Of mans clothing. This was identified by
| Porter as belonging to Smith. The clothes were
| covered with stains. which upon a partial examna-
| tion appeared TO be blood stains. Detective Doran
| also brought away blood-staned baseball bat
! which he found in the barn.
County Prosecutor Wanamaker said to-day that
| he was convinced the Stone girls could have given
| information long ago which would have resulted
/ In the apprehension OF the murderer. had they
been so disposed. That they did not. says the
| Prosecutor. was because OF desire to save the
| family further embarrassment. Smith is intelligent
| and was popular among his acquaintance his
| failing being an overwhelming fondness for women.
In an examination yesterday. which was conducted
| nv the Coroner. he asked several questions
Concerning his relations with women in general and
| Flora stone in particular. He strenuously denied
| Thai ANYTHING improper had ever taken place be-
| tween the girl and himself. or that she mad given
| him the slightest encouragement
| To a reporters inquiry as TO whether he loved
| EIora or not he replied that he did. He says now
| freely that he killed Mr.. and Mrs. stone and Ira
stillson. but he will no; give the motive nor Will
| he exnlain how II happened that he did not CON-
ni.,o his work or why IL was he used the knife.
Ee s,id 10 the reporter. however, that the weapon
III ahch he administered the death-blow 20 his
w.rtms was the baseball bat found yesterday in
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