The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-04-02
ABLOOD. THIRSTY F|END'S act
THE MYSTERIOUS CRIME OF A
MASKED MAN AT AN OHIO
FARM HOUSE.
COMMITTED A HORRIBLE BUTCHERY
Entered the House at a Dead Hour of
Night, Murdered and Mutilated an
Aged Couple and Seriously
Wounded Others.

Akron, o., March 29.-At late hour
last night masked man entered the
farm house of Alvin NJ. Stone, near Tai
mage, few miles from this city, and in
the brief space of half an hour committed
a horrible butchery. When he took his
departure. Stone and his wife, both aged
people, were dead, horribly mutilated, and
Il. A. Stilson, the hired man. and Emma
Stone, the eldest of three daughters,
We're unconscious from blows dealt by
the murderer. The assassin entered the
house by means of a ladder which he
raised to an upstairs window. He first
passed through the room in which Hattie
and Flora Stone were sleeping without
awakening them. Going quickly down
stairs to the room in which Mr.. and Mrs.
Stone were sleeping he attacked them
with blunt weapon of some sort, hitting
both upon the head. They were probably
by the blows, but the tiend, not satisfied
with that, proceeded to mutilate their
bodies with n knife. He cut off one of
Mr.. Stones ears, slashed him across the
face and stabbed him in the back. Then
he laid Mrs. Stones cheek open with a
knife.
After satisfying his fiendish designs
down stairs he proceeded to Stilsons
room upstairs. He heard the intruder,
APPARENTLY, for he was awake when he
was dealt a stunning blow ON the head
Next he attacked Emma Stone, who slept
in room by herself. When he entered
her room she screamed. That awakened
the other two girls, who slept across the
hall. Hattie Stone arose to go to her
sister S assistance, but as she entered the
IIatter'!s, room she was felled to the floor
by blow on the head, but fortunately
was not rendered unconscious. Regain
ing her feet she ran to her room and
locked the door, Throwing a bed quilt
about her, she leaped from the window
and ran through the rain and mud to
the nearest neighbours, quarter of a
mile away.
After he had struck Hattie down. the
murderer returned to Emma's room and
struck her on the head, leaving her un-
conscious. Then he tried the door to the
room in which Hattie had left her
from the window. Finding only Flora
in the room he asked where the other
girl was. When told that she had gone
for help, he hastily left the house and
made his escape.
In the meantime Hattie, with the blood
streaming from her head, managed to
reach the neighbours house, told her story
and then tainted.
After she had been put to bed, the
neighbor, calling for help, went to the
Stone house. There the evidences of
the butchery were discovered. The only
person in the house who was able to
speak was Flora Stone, aged 16, and she
was so badly frightened that she could
tell nothing about the murder except that
the man who committed it wore a mask
over his face.
The crime is a mystery. There is NO
possible motive for the murders, so far
as can be learned. Certainly the MUIR
derer was not bent on robbery, for in a
bureau drawer in Mr.. Stones room were
two gold watches and some money, and
nothing was taken.
The sheriff of Summit county was
called to the scene of the murder early
in the morning and with posse has been
searching all day for clues to the muir
derer. Nothing has been discovered
however. One man has been found who
says he saw a buggy pass his house late
last night going in the direction of the
Stone house.
Ira Stilson. the hired man. and Emma
and Hattie Stone have not yet recovered
consciousness and it is feared that Still
son, at least, will die, while the chances
for the recovery of the two girls are very
small.