The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-07-24
STARR COUNTY DEMOCRAT, TUESDAY, JULY "a 1900

murdered. Boyd had already seen
enough to convince him that the two
black horses were old friends, and IL he
had any doubts as to the genuineness
of the letter they were quickly dispelled
when the surveyor slipped banknote
of large proportions into his hand. AS
the surveyor was about to mount he
shook Boyds hand warmly and gave
him a sealed envelope, first exactins
from him promise that he would not
read 1t for forty-eight hours. This done
the surveyor mounted one black horse
and leading the other, rode rapidly
away.
Two hours passed following his de-
parture without the appearance of the
two gamblers. Boyd then went to the
door of their room and knocked loud
ly. There was no response and the
knock was repeated. Boyd then burst
open the door. The two gamblers were
lying In a natural position on the bed,
apparently asleep. Everything was In
order about the room. The proprietor
placed his hand on one of the men and
shook him. The gamblers flesh was
chilled and his body unyielding. In
vestigation proved that both men were
cold and rigid in death. There were no
wounds or marks of violence on either,
nor was there any evidence of strug-
gle. All was in an uproar about the
inn, and In a short time the room was
filled with the morbidly curious. The
bodies Of the gamblers were removed
some distance from the tavern and
buried without ceremony. Over $1,000
of their savings was found lying on
the table in the room and 1t was taken.
Boyd's curiosity was burning to open
the letter, but his word was as good as
his bond. At the end of the forty
eight hours he broke the seal with
trembling fingers. The writing was in
a feminine hand. Its contents set
forth that the young surveyor was the
sweetheart of Wentworth, disguised in
male attire. She stated that her mis-
sion had been to avenge the murder of
her lover, and recover, IL possible. the
amount Of which he had been robbed.
She said she had done both, but not
before she had established beyond a
doubt the guilt of the murderer. In
conclusion, she gave as an excuse that
she had simply taken into her own
hands to do without delay what the
law would have done less hastily. Boyd
did not make the contents of this letter
known until the death of the gamblers
had been forgotten in later thrilling
incidents Of pioneer days when he knew
Wentworth's fair avenger was safe
from pursuit and prosecution.
From that time until it was closed to
the public eye, in the 'SOs, Boyds old
hostelry was known as the Black Horse
tavern. What became Of Wentworth's
body has always remained a mystery,
but 1t is supposed to have been weight
ed down with stones and dropped into
the Tuscarawas river. How the two
gamblers We're killed was also unac-
counted for. A door leading from the
girls room to theirs was found to be
on the morning they were
discovered dead, and in one of the pan
els small hole had been bored, through
which they could be watched, and their
listened to. 1t was the
general belief that the girl had gone
into their room while they slept and
had administered to both by inhala-
ton some powerful poisonous drug in
fatal quantities.
The triple killing marked the begin
ming Of the decline Of the famous old
hostelry. Thereafter travellers held II
In fearsome awe, and its patronage
went elsewhere. Boyd be-
came dispirited and not long after the
tragedy sold his inn and moved to AL
len county, where he would be away
from the uncanny memories of the Black
Horse tavern.