The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1900-10-11
The Famous Hedges Trial
is Now In Progress, With Testimony
all In.-AttOrneys .aakIng
Strong Arguments.

common Pleas court with Judge ".
w. II. Wright on the bench. The
first day was taken up in securing
a jury and then the trial began in
earnest.
1t will be remembered by our
readers that on or about the 7th day
of January last James Hedges killed
William Bockard at the home of
William Bussard near Buena Vista
in the western part of this county.
A year prior to that William Bochard
married Bussard girl and they on
ly lived together few months until
the wife left her husband and return
ed TO her fathers home. The hus-'
band went to work at Adelphi, and
tried every way to induce his wife
to return to him. Personally he did
not molest her, but through others
he tried to forget their differences
and reunite, and live together, but
the wife would have nothing to do
with him.
In the mean time there comes to
the Bussard home good looking
young man by the name of James
Hedges. He is supposed to be the
farm hand on the place, but 1t is al
lodged he has hlienated the affections
of William Bochard's wife. and this
is the reason she does not return, to
II l,:o
ears Of William Bochard at Adelphi,
and forces him to no pleasant frame
of mind. He stands the pang OF
jealousy as long as he can, so on that
memorable Sunday afternoon he
drives to a neighbor of the Bussards
and then walks down to the house
with Charles Hedges a cousin of
James. On approaching the house
everything is still, yet he had seen
the folks about. He raped at the
door and then forced 1t open. The
family were down stairs and greeted
HIM with abuse. He asked for his
wife and learned she was up stairs
with Hedges. This enraged him
the more and he grabbed an AK and
started up stairs. Before he had
gotten far up Hedges commenced to
raiu fruit jars on his head, and cut
and bleeding, he retreated, saying he
would get gun and fix him.
He left with Charles Hedges and
went up the valley to Amos Hedges.
Here his wounds were washed, and
linimentapplied They stayed there
perhaps two hours, and got in fair
humor and had some music on
violin. In the mean time Bochard
no doubt was smarting under the
wounds on his head and at last told
Charley Hedges to come on he was
going back down there and get his
wife. The two went down together
and Bochard leading turned in at the
yard and testamony of the Bussard
family has it that he approached to
within thirty five feet of the house
to chip pile, and that he was In a
boistrous mood with his hand in his
hip pocket. James Hedges was
standing in the front door and point
ing a rifle at Bochard said, "Stand
back, don't yon come up here or I'll
shoot" Bochard said, "Hedges you
point that gun at me and I'll kill
you" Just then the gun cracked
and Bochard clutching his hand to
his heart, turned and ran across the
road distance of 40 feet and fell
dead.
This is the story of the killing
from the stand point of the Bus
sards and Hedges.
1t will be remembered the case
was tried in the April term of court
with G. III. Buerhaus for the de-
fense and such spirited contest
was waged on both sides that the
jury after long and bitter trial,
disagreed.
Another strong fight is being
made this time with E. o. Petit.
IC. V. Wright and Z. ID. Ricketts,
for the State, and Tom DoIson OF
Lancaster and A. r. McBrOom for
the defense. About 100 witnesses
have been examined, principle and
character, which has made the case
long and tedious. The defense
claim "self Defense" and the state
holds that Hedges was not in the
peace of the state, and that he was
living with Bochard'S wife, and
conspired to kill him on the least
provocation.
AS we go to press the arguments
are just being made and II verdict
is not likely until tomorrow. We
will venture a guess that a.
Hedges was not in the peace Of the
state at the time of the killing, the
verdict will be manslaughter.
Judge o. w. H. Wright is presid.
ing in the case in his usual master
full manner.
1t Happened IN Drug Store.
One day last winter lady came t.
my drug store and asked for brant