The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-03-20
HETNOUS CRIME.
DaStardly Treatment to Which
Robbers Subjected the
Aged RecluSe.

OF the happenings on the night of
December 2, 1897, in the lodgings of
John Hartong, the court and the jury
has to do. The guilt or the innocence
of the accused, William Henderson, is
the business of the courts. But that
murder most foul was committed and
that 1t should not go unpunished If the
right parties are apprehended, is a mat
ter in which the public has more than
a passing concern. If q crime of this
sort can be committed only to serve as
an advertisement to the world at large
that justice is blind and officials made
quate to the situation or handicapped
to the extent of being ineffective, the
people of Stark county will have an in
terest in knowing it, that they may be-
gin anew the civilization of q section of
country that has been touted every
where for the strength and character
of its people and the excellence of the
citizenship that prevails.
That the robbery and murder was
perpetrated by four persons, seems to
be generally accepted. Hartong had
retired to his little home and all was
peaceful in the little village. Next
morning Otto Myers was going along
the road leading past the house, when
he heard groans. He notified Frank
Byerly, who lived near and Byerly and
Byron Walters investigated. They en-
tered the little house and found Har-
tong lying partly on the bed and partly
on the floor. He was bound and gagged
and had rolled into the position they
found him, in an effort to loosen his
bonds. There was terrible bruise on
his head and there were burns and
bruises about his body. He was in a
state of semi consciousness, but it was
apparent that he had received such
treatment as would ordinarily result
in the death of man of his age. A
younger man, they thought, might sur
vive, but they feared at once that he
was not long for this world. He linger-
ed until December g. when he passsd
away.
BY piecemeal he related the story to
those who called. He was awakened by
the bursting in of the rear door and
found, standing over him, four men.
One of them, with an oath, struck him
over the head with an iron wedge. The
blow daZed him, but he was not rem
dered unconscious. The intruders de-
manded his money. He gave them no
satisfactory reply They began to
rummage about the place and found
considerable money, but they had been
led to believe that he had several thou
sand dollars in the place, as he was
known to carry considerable money.
In order to eXtort from him the secret
of the hiding place of his wealth they
beat him and offered him other in
dignities, but he did not give them the
information they desired. One of the
men then siezed a candle. and pulling
aside the scanty garments the old man
wore, the fellow placed the candle to
the writhing victims hip. A severe
burn was the result. Information as to
the hiding place of more money was not
secured by this operation so far as
Hartong was concerned, but one of the
robbers noticed a belt about the waist
of the aged recluse. The belt was torn
from Hartong's body and in it was
found 800 bill. 1t was faitful find.
Whether it was William Henderson who
applied the candle and found the bill,
is at issue, but it was that bill that led
to his arrest, as it is claimed that he
had the bill later and had demanded
it as his share. because he had found
it. What there is in that story will
develop on the trial. The robbers left
their victim after they had secured the
bill and all other valuables they could
find. In an oats barrel, that stood in
the back room, it is claimed they got
about $500. The total amount secured
is said to have been in the neighbor-
hood of $3.50 or $780, However that may
be, it is not grand larceny but murder
of which William Henderson is accused
The amount is not now pertinent.