The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-05-23

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Enoch in such a way that she was
struck by his manner and said he talk.
like man half drunk.
The mother and brother were doubt
less murdered with the tell tale ak
the brother as he lay in his bed on the
iron bedstead, the mother as she lay
asleep on a couch in the. sitting room
Coal oil was probably used to hurry the
work of the flames, and it is said there
was a smell of coal oil on Ernest Aus
tins clothes when he appeared at the
home of Mr.. Haine's, but there is no
testimony as to this.
Ernest Austin is about 25 years OF
age, his murdered brother William, 3S
and the mother 63. The family were
noted for their wrangles and quarrels-
the trouble seeming to be mostly with
Ernest, William going away from home
to live, at times, and returning when
Ernest went away.
The family, were all high strung, with
ungovernable tempers and Earnest, from
a boy, was high tempered, ungovern-
able and stubborn. He at once time
left home and went to Mobile, Alabama.
Last year, he enlisted in the 4th Ohio,
but was only out short time. He was
a desperate man, and at one time shot
and killed a horse because it refused to
go into barn, shot calf over which
they had a, quarrel, punctured his
brothers. bicycle becuse he was mad at
him, and shot plow because it did
not work to suit him. )
Sunday morning, as soon as he heard
of the tragedy, Esq. Samuel Ballinger
of Middleburg went to the scene, and
examined the following witnesses:
Dr.. A. M. Zigler, Earnest Austin,
T. Z. Painter, T. w. Haines, John N.
Haines, Mary M. Enoch, John Frank.
lin Enoch, David Enoch, J. K. Judy,
Chas. N. Haines, and J. E. Hern.
From the testimony of these witnesses
we have made up our account of the
tragedy. The testimony of the accused,
Earnest Austin, we give in full below.
AS conflicting with his testimony, we
give the following extracts from the
testimony of T. w. Haines and Charles
Haines, as to Austin's account of the
shooting, when he came to their house
T. W. Haines testified that he was
wakened about 8 O'Clock in the morn.
ing. Some one knocked on the door
and then fell on the veranda floor.
then went to the door and asked who il
was, and my son Charles said it was
Ernest Austin. I asked him what was
the matter and he said I am shot.
asked him who done it and he said ]
don't know. Said some one opened the
door and shot him.
Chas. Haines' testimony: About ;
O'Clock a. m, I was aroused by some
one calling and when got to the door
found it to be Ernest Austin. I said tc
him what is the matter, and he said ]
have been shot, and then opened his
shirt and showed me the wound. And
then l said do you know who did this
and he said don't know. Then I said
how did it happen anyway? He said
some one opened my bedroom door and
shot me.
Q. Did he appear excited when you
first talked to him on the porch? A.
He wanted help to get the blood stopped
but otherwise did not seem to be excited
Ernest Austin being duly sworn testi
fed as follows:
@. Where was you on the night O.
May 20, 1899?
A. At Dave Enoch's.
Q. What time was it when you LEFT
there?
A. About o'clock p. m.
@. Where did you go when you lef
Mr.. Enoch's?
A. Went home and went to bed.
Q. What part of the house did yor
sleep in?
A. Little room next to the we'll.
Q. Were there any other persons ir
the house when you went to bed?
A. Yes.
@. Who?
A. Brother and mother.
Q. What room did your brother
occupy?
A. The room next to mine.
.. Was he in bed when you retiredi
A. Yes sir.
Q. How did you know he was in bed!
A. l seen him there.
Q. What room did your mother oc
cupy?
A. Next room to that, called sitting
room.
Q. Was your mother in bed wher
you %. got Sn nGmss siss
@. Did you see your mother before
you went to bed?
A. Yes sir.
@. What time did you get up after
you went to bed?
A. About o'clock.
@. About what time was it wher
you went to bed?
"A. About half past nine.
Q. Why did you get up at that time,
3o'clock? 3
A. 1 heard a racket and thought ]
would get up and investigate.
Q. What did you discover when you
got up?
A. Discovered the house was on fire
Q. What did you do then?
A. The other fellow done all the
doing. I opened the door and he struck
at me.
Q. What door?
A. The one between my room and
my brothers..
Q. Did you see this other fellow?
A. Yes sir.
Q. Did you know the man?
A. Yes sir.
o. Who was he?
A. Den Dolan.
Q. How close was he to you?
A. Right up to me.
O. Was any light in the fire?
Thpra was q fro in thepa