The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-12-23
.SCENEOP THE TRAGEDY.
Continued From Page 1.

IONhA II VI tt'k ttbAtNhD :
Continued From Page l.
The m IN accused Of committing most
horrible murder in the room in which
he stood, glanced about rather interest
eily, and noticing a necktie on the dress.
er asked the sheriff II he might not take
it with him, rs IL was his own. As he
PICKED It up his eyes could not but soc a
picture leaning against an easel, that al
so stood on the dresser. 1t was bright,
happy picture, and the eyes Of the man
resting under a terrible accusation were
rivited upon It. It was the picture Of a
boy--a bouncing, big-eyed, smiling-faced,
rolicking boy. His little lips seemed to
speak, so lfe-like was the picture. The
hair was curled and combed, the face
clean, bright and smiling. Any mothers
heart would bound with Joy at the sight
of that fine, innocent little fellow.
1t was the likeness Of William DePeys
ter at the age of four years.
On an opposite wall was another pic
ture in large frame. A manly face
looked from the canvass. 1t was the face
OF a boy-almost mana frank, open
countenance. No traces of dissipation
were thore--no bad nights and worse
mornings were depleted. Evil associa.
tions had left no mark on that face.
1t was the face of william DePeyster at
the age of seventeen years.
While contemplating these two pictures,
the innocent boyhood and the buddi ng
manhood of the character at issue, the
mirror in the dresser silently reflected
William DePeyser, December %, 1897,
charged with the murder Of the wife Of
his bosom.
The voice Of the sheriff called his mind
from whatever "reminiscences 1t was un
dertaking, and the accused and the jury
walked back to the court house and the
question of life or death was dutifully
taken up.
f. f. WILLIS,
a member of the Canton police force, was
called. He lives at 619 High steet, and
testified in substance: Was on duty
October 10. Know William DePeyster
by sight but did not know Mollie De-
Peyster. We answered call for the wagon
about $3.50 a. m, expecting to find the
body Of man. Samuel Becherer brought
us the Information. We went to the
Germania house and were called up to
the DePeyter place by Walter Portmann.
We went into the side gate and found the
dead body of woman. The body was
near the corner Of the summer kitchen, all
drawn up, the knees drawn to the chin,
body was terribly burned. There was no
clothing on the body but pair of hose,
partially burned, and neckband, the
other clothing being burned off. The
hair seemed to have been entirely burned
off. There was purse in one of the
stockings and a pair of slippers was near.
One slipper lay a short distance from
the body and the other was in the Quig-
ley yard. Steam was raising from the
body. We went to the Germania house,
telephoned to the coroner and went back
to the scene. Officer Romy and the woman
next door talked German. Policeman
william Hasler soon came and we stayed
there until about s o'clock, on guard.
We saw the pieces OF a broken lamp.
Part of the glass was in the house, the
other pieces outside. Coal oil was spilled
about the floor
Witness was here shown pieces Of glass
lamp, being the stand Of lamp. Wit.
ness said it was found in a bucket in the
summer kitchen.
"At about o'clock William DePeyster
came to the house." said the witness,
''I had no conversation with him. Pre-,
vious to that time Maggie Greathouse
came down stairs and out Of the door,
She saw the body as she passed, and went
on to the Patsy Quigley saloon. She
came back in q little while and went into
the house. When saw her next she
was sitting ona table beside William De
Poyster. She was taking to him, but
heard none Of the conversation"
Mr.. Willis was cross-examine1 by Mr.
Shields. He said that Eli Hammond
came through from the Quigley place and
he requested him to remain. Witness
said that there was nothing near the body
but grass. Don't you know there wal
a stone near the body ?" was asked by
Mr.. Shields.
81 didn't see a stone, " said witness.
"Don't you know there was stont
there and that it disclosed evidence o
bloodS" was asked.
"There may have been stone there
but didn't see it. There may hav,
been glass there also but didn't motto,
it."
care you sure this stem of lamp Il
the one you saw at the DePeyster plsceS'
II it isn't this one 1t was one like it,
Witness was asked about the pieces o
glass; their shape and location. He wa
asked how he knew that the'glass wa
freshly broken. The burner of the lam