The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-08-08
ACT OF A FIENE.
The Story of the Murder as Sug-
gested by the Surroundings
Next Morning.

Greentown, stating that q murder had
been committed and that he should at
once come to the place. A News-Dem-
ocrat man had learned OF the murder
from farmer who had come in from
that section and he at once called up
the coroner by phone. 1t was arrang-
ed that they should visit the place to-
gether and they we're soon on the way.
Arriving at Greentown the coroner
sought DR.. Hanson and from him learn
ed the story of the crime. DR.. Hanson
had been called from his slumber at
about 5 o'clock Sunday morning by
Emery A. Wise, who briefly told him
that he had come down stairs a little
before, found his daughter on the
bed with her throat cut and his
wife no where on the premises.
He had FASTENED to the house,
noted the condition OF things and or
dered that the place be at once closed,
and that nothing be disturbed until the
arrival OF the coroner. With admirable
forethought he took possession of the
key himself and locking the house went
to his Office. So, when Coroner Schuf-
fell and the News-Democrat represen-
tative entered the room in which the
murder had been committed it was in
the exact state that it had been left
when the mother took last look at
her dead child and hurried away to
seek death in pleasanter form. The
Wise home is not a pretentious affair.
There is one large room and a small
kitchen down stairs and but one room
with a sloping ceiling up stairs, the
house being but story and half
high. Crouched on the bed, with her
head in an immense pool OF blood, was
the body Of Ruth Swartz, dead at the
hands OF her mother at the age of Is
years 1t was horrible picture. The
girl looked so small-a mere child
that 1t could scarcely be realized that
anyone should harm her.
Her head was drawn down and her
limbs drawn up till they almost met. |
She was lying on her right side, one
though she bad attempted to stay the |
now OF blood from terrible, gaping
wounds in her throat. In her position |
OhCDC NOuhNHs WhlSll WGIC Ou Ju6
side Of the neck and extended a little
way across the 'front.' were presented in
all their ghastliness. II was impos-
sible from a casual view to determine
the extent Of the wounds but it was ap-
parent at glance that they were suf-
fcient to have caused death, in a very
short time, The left hand of the little
victim Of mothers fendish brutality
was also covered with blood, though it
was not In the pool. 1t was slightly
raised, mutely telling OF an attempt to
ward off blow. On a small stand at
the foot of the bed lay razor. Its
keen blade was covered with blood,
leaving no room to doubt that
it was the weapon employed to end
the girls life. Coroner Schuffell
took possession Of the weapon and
began TO look about for other evidence
Another weapon was found and the
secret of the uplifted hand was ex-
posed. Underneath the bed was a
heavy piece of 2 by scantling, about
two feet in length. 1t was an ugly
looking, roughly hewn piece OF tim
Der, dangerous in the hands of the
weakest woman and deadly when used
by stout, determined female OF forty
hard years. The great club was be-
spattered with blood. The woman had
sought the bedside of her
daughter, who then needed her loving
care more than she ever did in her life,
and as she lay sleeping had hacked at
her with a razor. The stroke was not
fatal and the daughter was aroused. AS
she opened her eyes she saw the club |
descending. She probably realized
that the mother whom she loved was
there to carry out the dire threats that
she had been muttering for a week.
Involuntarily raising her hand to ward
off the blow, she caught it on the end
of her thumb. The nail was torn off |
and the member was lacerated by the
force of the blow and the little girl
crouched to avoid another. Then the
razor was again employed and as the
child attempted to evade another
injury the keen edge was drawn across
the left side OF her throat. 1t was the
finishing stroke, the juguler vein was
severed and blood spurted out in
great stream. Again and yet again
was the keen blade used, but the blood |
covered the neck OF a victim and the
murderess could not tell just where to
strike. The last two cuts were mere
haggles.
Coroner Schuffell made furthur ex-
animation and on the little stand, near
where the razor was found was a let
ter. The coroner took possession of
that also, for future reference. There
was nothing else that would throw
light on the crime and it was decided
that the undertaken should be the next
person to visit the place. Later in the
day the undertaken came and took the
body to his morgue, where it was pre-
pared for burial. The coroner return
ed to the residence before completing
his inquest and found the bottle that
was labeled linament but the contents
of which had been used for another
purpose.
The movements OF the murderess,
after leaving the house, are not defini-
tely known, but there is evidence along
the way to the abandoned quarry, where
her body was found. The rain OF the
previous few hours had made the road
way muddy and an attempt to trace her
FL