The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-12-15

the only living heirs of William Aus
tin, deceased, to l67 acres, of fine farm
land, well stocked ard well improved.
That Ernest Austin enlisted in the
Third Ohio, in Cuban war, and while |
he was gone his brother William lived |
at the home with his mother. Prior to |
Ernests enlistment, William had not
lived at home for several months, be- |
cause the sons could not get along to-
gether. For years when one was at
home, the other would stay away, be-
cause of bad feeling between them. AT
ter Ernest's return from the army, they
both lived at home, and raised crops on
different parts of farm. Prior to this
in 1S96-they had violent quarrel.
Both resided with the mother up to
May q, 1899, at the home on the
Hainestown pike-the house being on
the south side of the pike, and few
rods back from the road. The old part
of the house has two rooms down stairs
and two up. Entering small hall from
front of the house, parlor was to the
right, and sitting room to left. VIM.
Austin's room, where he slept, adjoined
his mothers sleeping room, to the
north. Ernest Austin's sleeping room
to east of William s, with door between.
Floor of Williams room formerly
porch) IL or Is inches lower than floor
of Ernest's room. VIM. Austin's room
on side of house next drive way, and
his bed in northwest corner of his
room; Mrs. Austin's bed in southwest
corner of her room.
On goth of May, Mrs. Austin and
William went to Lewisburg, returning
about dark. Ernest left home about
500 o'clock that evening, and went to
David Enoch's and made call. Left
there about 900 o'clock in the evening
and was not seen again till next morn
ing about 800 o'clock.
Back, or north of the Austin farm,
lived Denny Dolan, an unmarried man,
with his sister and niece. Dennis Do
Ian, sister Dora and little niece left
home about 500 o'clock and went to
North Lewisburg, and did not return
until 1900 o'clock that night.
The house of Wesley Haines lies
southeast of the Austin farm, about a
quarter of mile, the house being
1900 feet from the pike. Mr.. Haines,
his wife, son Charles, his mother-in-
law and nurse lived at the Haines
home. Charles Haines slept up stairs,
and was wakened about 300 o'clock
Sunday morning, May q, 1899, by Cry
of man in distress in the. lane, "Oh,
God, have mercy on me-" Heard him
come on veranda and knock at door.
| Went down and out and saw Ernest
Austin leaning against post of veranda,
and Ernest called to come to him, said
he was shot, and showed the wound.
While sitting there he pointed towards
his home, saying, 'Look up there!"
Haines saw the west part of the house
on fire and the roof had fallen in. He
did not know; but man had come to
his door and struck at him and shot
him. He didn't know who shot him.
Austin had on only check shirt and
army pants-no shoes or socks. His
hair was badly singed. He was taken
in and wound dressed, and Dr. Ziegler,
of Lewisburg, was sent for.
DIR. z. came between 6 and and
dressed Austin's wound. He asked
Austin who shot him; he said he did
not know; that about o'clock he heard
a commotion in the house, and went to
his bed room door and saw man who
threw something at him, and shot him.
Didn't know who it was. He wrote a
note to Charley Enoch in the morning
asking him to look after and feed his
stock, giving him details as to stock
and feed. When prisoners shirt was
removed, at Mr.. Haines' house, bullet
hole was found in right breast, and the
shirt was badly burned about spot
where bullet entered. Bullet came out
the back % in. higher than where it
/
pantaloons gray human hairs were
found.
DR.. Ziegler, after attending to wound
of Ernest Austin, at Haines' went up to
Austin's home. Several neighbors, ].
N. Haines, J. K. Judy and Thomas L.
Painter had arrived, and went to the
house, and found it completely destroy
ed and in ruins. They went with DR..
Ziegler to the ruins and found the
smoking trunks and stumps of arms
and legs, of Mrs. Austin and William
lying among the smouldering embers,
in the corners where they slept. The
DR.. removed the remains of each from
the fire, identifying them as male and
female, showing that they were mur-
dered in the beds where they slept.
When skull of William was touched it
broke apart. The Doctor came back tC
Ernest when he was lying in bed and
told him of finding the burning remains
AS he turned to go home, Ernest said
he had 'better send an undertaken tC
bury those two old folks" Afterwards
the Doctor asked Ernest if floor of his
room and Williams were on a level
and how such wound as his could be
made by man standing on floor II OF
Is inches higher than floor of his room.
Said he stopped to put on his pants, but
later said he had slept with them on.
An inquest was held by Esq. Ballin-
ger in afternoon, and prisoner gave