The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-30
crimes WITHOUT Parallel
4 fieud Attempts to Murder Il
Family.
HEADS HACKED TO PIECES
MIR. and Mrs. Alvin stone Murdered in a
Brutal Manner Other Members
OF the Family Are
Fatally Injured

Cleveland, Ohio. March 29.--At !
O'Clock this morning, u crime OF almost
unparalleled atrocity was perpelrated
near Tallmadgc a village tire miles
north of Akron. Alvin Stone. aged Ge.
and his wife. aged 62, while asleep at
their home, We're brutally murdered by
ticnd, who literally beat their heads
to pieces. after which numerous knife
thrusts were made into the bodies of
the dead. Two daughters. Hattie. aged
>, ana Emma, aged y, and the family
man servant. A. +. Stillson, We're also
attacked. All three of these were ia
tally injured and lie at their home
awaiting death. They had been beaten
about the head with blunt instruments
which mus. have been OF great size
and weight
Alvin Stone was among the most
wealthy and prominent of Summit
county farmers and his wife was also
Il member OF one of the wealthiest and
most prominent families In Northeast
eIn Ohio. The object of the murder
Gus assault ON the family was not rob-
berry as numerous articles of value. in
Guiding 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 sus-
picion as yet, rests on one John Smith
who is employed al Edward Parker's
blacksmith shop one-eighth mile from
the stone homestead. Smith was dis
charged by Alvin Stone two weeks ago
The former was Il chores man about
the place. The two men had very an
CRY words and Smith departed in great
anger. He is now under police sur
vcillance.
one member of the family only es-
capped uninjured. Flora. the youngest
daughter, aged sixteen. She Is labor
ing under intense nervous excitement,
hut wlS able between tears and hys-
terical sobs. to tell what she knew of
the affair. The old folks. she said. oc-
cupied II chamber on the lower floor.
Hattie and Flora slept upstairs. En-
ma slept across the hall and the hired
man IL the rear end of the hallway
on the same floor.
AN AGONIZING SCREAM
About | o'clock this morning. Flora
says. she heard an agonizing scream
from Emma. She jumped from bed.
and uoening the door. started to cross
the hall. Hattie followed her. Flora
turning before she entered k.mma's
room. the door Of which was open, saw
Il masked man strike Hattie over the
head with what looked like Il crowbar.
Hattie. with II groan. fell senseess to
the floor. while Flora. in terror. ran
back to her room and hid under the
bed clothes. Hattie. who is n woman
of remarkable vitality, despite her
frightful injuries. arose and going into
Floia's room asked her to throw some
thing over her head. Flora was too
frightened To move Hattie left her
room, and entering that of her sister.
noticed the window was open and that
ladder reached IN to it from the
ground. She wrapped quilt around
her and went down the ladder. running
to Charles Sackett's farm. IL quarter of
mile away. where she told the story
and collapsed.
Two Of the Sacketts hurried to the
stone house. while another summoned
a physician. When they arrived the
house was pitch dark The side door
was open. Entering the room occupied
by the old folks they were confronted
by the two horribly mutilated bodies
of the farmer and his wife. Emma was
found unconscious on the floor Of her
bed room. She had been struck fear
ful blow over the forehead and still
lies as one dead. The hired man was
found in his room in the same condi-
ton. He had also been struck over the
forehead. Flora was found under the
b'' III slttt'IltSS rITlSHt. III Il
few minutes the whole neighborhood
for miles around was aroused and hun
drcds assembled about the stone home
stead.
The Akron police department was
notified and officers hurried to the
scene. They found what appeared to
be tracks of a man leaving the side
door. The rain. which had steadily
poured all night had, however. oblitcr-
ated tn" tracks along the road Blood
hounds We're nut into service. hut they
could do nothing. The impression
seems to be that Smith is not the right
man, and committees are organizing
this evening to scOur the country i'm
every direction. From all the indica-
tions of those who are starting to hunt
down the murderer. it is idle to attempt
forecast of what will happen II he Is
caught. There is hut one fate in store
for him II he falls into the hands Of
the citizens who are looking for him,
aided by the hlooihounds. This even
ing strong clue leads towards Ra-
VIENNA. where a strange horse and
buggy was left by an unknown man.
who acted very suspiciously.