The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-03-30
HEADS BEATEN TO PIECES.
CRIME OF FEARFUL 4TROCITY COM
MITTED ON IN ONO FARM.

Only One Member of the Family of Alvin
Stone Escaped Injury, and Was Sixteen
Year Old Girl-rhe Bodies When Found
We're Horribly Mutilated-The n Neighbor-
hood for Miles Around is Aroused.
Cleveland, March 29.-At l o'clock
this morning a crime of almost unpar-
alleled atrocity was perpetrated near
Talmadge, a village five miles north OF
Akron. Alvin Stone, aged sixty-nine,
and his wife, aged sixty-two, While
asleep at their home, were murdered
by a fiend who beat their heads to
pieces, after which numerous KNIFE
thrusts We're made into the bodies OF
the dead. Two daughters, Hattie, aged
twenty nine, and Emma, aged twenty
seven, and the family manservant, A.
f, Stillson, were also attacked and all
three fatally injured. They had been
beaten about the head with blunt
instrument which must have been OF
great size and weight.
Alvin Stone was among the most
wealthy and prominent of Summit
county farmers and his wife was OF the
most prominent family in Ohio. The
object of the assault was not robbery,
as numerous articles of value, including
two gold watches of the aged people,
which were on the bedroom dresser,
were not taken. The crime is shrouded
in mystery and the whole country is
agitated The only suspicion as yet
rests on John Smith, who is employed
at blacksmith shop one-eighth of
mile from the Stone homestead. Smith
was discharged by Mr.. Stone two weeks
ago. The former was choresman
about the place. The two men had an
CRY words and Smith departed in great
anger. He is now under police surveil-
lance.
One member of the family alone es-
capped injury-Flora, the youngest
daughter, aged sixteen. She was la
boring under intense nervous excite
ment, but was able, between tears and
hysterical sobs to tell what she knew
of the affair. The old folks, she said,
occupied, a chamber on the lower floor.
Hattie and Flora slept upstairs, Emma
across the hall and the hired man at
the rear end of the hallway on the same
floor.
About / o'clock this morning Flora
heard an agonizing scream from En-
ma. She jumped from bed and opening
the door started to cross the hall Hat
tie followed her. Flora. turning be-
fore she entered Emma's room, the
door of which was open, saw a masked
man strike Hattie over the head with
what looked like a ,crowbar. Hattie
with groan fell senseless to the floor
while Flora fled in terror to her room
and hid under the bed clothing. Hat
tie, who is a woman of remarkable vi2
tality, despite her injuries, arose and
going into Flora's room asked her to
throw something over her head. Flora
was tooo frightened to move.
Hattie left her room and entering
that of her sister Emma noticed the
window was open and that a ladder
reached UP to 1t from the ground. She
wrapped quilt around her and went
down the ladder, running to Charles
Sackett's farm, quarter mile away,
and told her story. Two of the Sack
etts hurried to the Stone house while
a third summoned a physician.
When they arrived the house was
pitch dark The side doors was open
Entering the room occupied by the old
folks they were confronted by the two
horribly muti1ated bodies of the father
and mother. Emma was found uncon-
scious on the floor of her bed room.
She had been struck fearful blow
over the forehead and still lies as one
dead The hired man was found in his
room in the same condition. He had
been struck over the forehead. Flora
was found under the bedclothes speech
less in fright.
In few minutes the whole neighbor-
hood for miles around was aroused
and hundreds assembled about the
house The scene was terribly impras-
sive. The rage of those who for so
many years had lived near and loved
the an1iabIe Stone family knew no
bounds The Akron police department
was notified and Detective Dunn, Mar
shall Mason, Sheriff Griffin and First
Deputy Hart hurried to the scene. They
arrived about 9 o'clock. They found
what appeared to be tracks of a man
leading from the side door and ending
at the road. The rain, which had
steadily poured all night, had, however,
obliterated the tracks along the road
Eloodhounds We're put into service, but
they could do nothing owing to the
rain. The impression seems to be that
Smith is not the right man and COM
nittees are organizing tonight to scour
, the country in every direction.
There is but one fate for the murderer
If he falls into the hands of the citizens
who are looking for him, aided by the
bloodhounds Tonight a clue leads to-
wards Ravenna.
Vale viii be Welcomed.