The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-10-01
Michael McCovern Only
Prisoner Left in jail
is MICHAEL MORAN
Who Shot Thomas Hogan, Mar
shal Of Massillon In 1890
--His Checkered
Career.

Michael McGovern did not 60 out
through the hole in the window 80
generously allowed to be provided for
the escape of so many prisoners from
the county jail, because he had been
placed up stairs, where he could not
concoct schemes or take part In their
concoction. He was high and dry above
the window that has played such an
important part in the escaping Of
prisoners for the past few years.
McGovern has history. Besides be-
iEg a member of the famous crowd
that is said to have committed the Ben
dcr burglary, he has been in other
affairs in Stark county that have given
him an unenviable reputation, though
under different name. His present
Indictment is for the Bender affair and
there is said to be a strong case against
him In that robbery two brothers
were set upon in the night, as related
in this paper last week, in reviewing
the case, and
AFTER TORTURE
a considerable sum of money was Sc
culed. The officers have succeeded in
coavicting but one member OF tile
crowd that committed that outrage,
william Henderson, who was later
found guilty of being a party to the
Hartong murder, near Greentown, and
who is now doing a life sentence in
Columbus. They have been keeping
an eye open for him, and it was
through Prosecuting Day that he was
fIaGlly brought to book.
McGoyern was sent from Mansfield
to the Stark county workhouse some
time since. A Massillon police officer
was visiting the workhouse one day
during McGovern's incarceration, and
recognized him. AS soon as his time
expired he was nabbed and held and
his indictment is the result.
What led to the identification of Nc
Govern by the Massillon police officer
bl ings to mind another case in which
NcGovern was interested.
In 1890 Thomas Hagan was marshal
OF Massillon. He was a
FEARLESS OFFICER
aud had been marshal for some years.
lie was a terror to crooks but was pop
ulur with the people, hence his cleo
tiou whether the remainder Of the
Democratic ticket pulled through Jr
not.
In the discharge of his duties Hagan
was about to arrest a man one night,
and the fellow showed fight. The Off
Ger closed in and the fellow pulled
gun and shot him. The bullet entered
the groin and for time 1t looked as
II there would be murder case to
try. The assailant Of the officer was
captured and was tried in common
pleas court, before Judge Pease. Pend
Ing the trial Hagan recovered from his
wounds and the charge was shooting
with intent to kill. John G. Welty
was prosecuting attorney at the time
and made such a strong case against
the fellow that conviction
SPEEDILY FOLLOWED
aId lie was sentenced to twelve years
in the penitentiary. The fellow had
given his name as Michael Moran and
1t was under that name that he was
convicted and served time.
In 1894 Moran was paroled. What he
did till 1898 nobody hereabouts knows,
but word came to the penitentiary Of
ficials in 1898 that fellow who was
probably wanted in Ohio had committed
depredations in Pennsylvania. Inves-
ticatiol developed that the fellow was
Moran, and he was sent for and taken
back to the penitentiary to serve out
his time. His merit marks were wiped
Off but later restored and his good
t:me given back, which left him but
a short time to serve. He was re-
leased from the penitentiary, and drop
ped out of sight for time, till sus-
peotcd OF completely in the Bender
robbery.
When identified by the Massillon Of.
fcer and watched by Prosecuting Day
till his time expired at the workhouse,
he was sailing under the name of Mi
chael McGovern. 1t Is under this name
that he is indicted, but Michael Nc
Govern, indicted for the Ben
der robbery. and Michael Moran, who
was convicted before Judge Pease, of
Massillon, In Stark county in 1890, are
ono and the same person.