The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1896-04-02
WORK OF A FIEND.
Two Killed and Thvss rstaiiy injured
by an uakaown Man.


Ihe Murdered Coupas Wses Msmssrs a
SAe Weolthiest ESmalles n Northssse.
esn Ohio-Robbery Not the Objece--
0uspaolon Rests ON . Noighbor.
CEHv1LAND, O., March S0.--At ono
o'clock Sunday morning the most fiend.
ish deed that has ever claimed entrance
70 the criminal history Of Ohio, was
perpetrated Near Tallmadge, village
Ave miles north Of Akron.
Alvin Stone, aged 90, and his wife,
aged 90, while asleep at their home
were brutally murdered by fend, who
literally beat their heads to pieces,
after which numerous knife thrusts
were made into the bodies of the dead
Two daughters, Hattie, aged 90, Emma,
aged ~, and the family servant, A +.
6tillson, were also attacked. All three
Of these are fatally injured and are un-
conscious and bleeding at the home
awaiting death. They had been beaten
about the head with blunt instrument
which Of itself must have been large
and Of great weight.
Alvin Stone and his wife were men,
bers of the wealthiest and most promi-
nent families in Northeastern Ohio.
The object of the murderous assault
was not robbery as numerous articles
of value, including the two gold watches
of the aged couple, which were on the
bedroom dresser, were not taken. The
crime is shrouded in mystery and the
whole county is agitated. The only
suspicion as yet rests on one John
Smith, who is employed at Woodward
Parker's blacksmith shop, one-eighth Of
q mile from the Stone homestead ON
the Kent road. Smith was discharged
by Alvin Stone two weeks ago. The
former was chores man about the
place. The two men had words and
Smith departed in great anger. He is
now under police surveillance.
One member Of the family alone es-
capped injury, a daughter, aged 16. She
is laboring under intense excitement,
but was able, between tears and hys-
terica1 sobs, to tell what she knew Of
the affair. The old folks, she said, oc-
cupied 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. At about o'clock Sunday
morning, Flora heard an agonizing
scream from Emma. She jumped from
bed, and, opening the door started to
cross the hall Hattie followed her. Flora
turning before she entered Emma's
room, the door of which was open, saw
a masked man strike Hattie over the
head with what looked like q crowbar.
Hattie, with groan, fell senseless to
the floor, while Flora in terror ran
back to her room and hid under the
bed clothes. Hattie, who is woman
Of remarkable vitality, despite her
frightful injury. arose and going into
Flora's room asked her to throw
something over her head. Flora was
too frightened to move. Hattie Left
her room and. entering that of bel
sister, noticed the window wa,
open and that ladder reached up to Il
from the ground. She wrapped quif
around her and went down the ladder
running to Charles Sackett's farm, 6
quarter of mile away, where she tol6
her story and collapsed Two of the
Sacketts hurried to the Stone house
while another summoned physician
When they arrived the house was pitch
dark. The side door was open. Enter
ing the room occupied by the old folks
they were confronted by the two
horribly mutilated bodies Of the
father and mother. Emma was
found unconscious on the hool
of her bed room. She had been STRUCK
a fearful blow over the forehead anC
! still lies as one dead. The hired mar
was found in his room in the same con
| dition. He had also been struck owe,
the forehead. Flora was found unde,
under the bed clothes in speechlest
! fright In a few minutes the whole
| neighborhood for miles around wa.
J aroused and hundreds assembled about
the Stone homestead. The scene wal
terribly impressive. The rage Of thos1
who for so many years had lived will
and loved the amiable, homes
Stone family knew no bounds
The Akron police department
was notified and Detective Dunn
J Marshal Mason, Sheriff Griffin ant
! First Deputy Hart hurried TO tn
scene. They arrived at 9 o'clock. The.
found what appeared to be tracks of I
man leaving the side door, which wa
open, and ending at the road. Th
rain, which had steadily poured al
night, had, however, obliterated tin
tracks along the road Bloodhound
were put into service, but they coul'
do nothing, owing to the rain
The impression seems that Smith i
not the right man and committee
are organizing to scour the country il
every direction. From all the indica
tions of those who are starting to hun
down the murderer 1t IL idle to attemp
forecast of what will happen if he
caught. There is but one fate in stor
for him If he fell into the hands of tn
citizens who are looking for him, aide
by the bloodhounds-
Sunday evening q strong clew look
toward Ravenna, where strang
horse and buggy was left by an III
known man, who acted very suspit
iously.
shanklin Out of the Race
GREENsBUBG, Ind, March 30-Pres
HonS ~ <,f Tho Tn1sono Gilvop Ian u,,1