The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-12-09
Black Friday Which Wit
messed Triple Execu.
ton In Canton.
COLD BLO0DED CRIMES were
ExPIATED In old stark JAIL
"Reminiscences Of Deaths Of Gus
tave Orr, George Mann and
John Sam mott, Twenty
Two Years Ago.
LITTLE over 90 years ago, or

"A June 25, 1880 was perpetrateG
the greatest legal tragedy in the an
nails of Starl; county. On that black
Friday, three souls were launched into
eternity from gallows which stood
in the old jail. The victims of the
laws vengeance were mere boys, but
their guilt was beyond question and in
spite Of the efforts Of number OF
sentimental persons to get commu-
tation of sentence, the majesty of the
law was vindicated.
Tine youth of today know the story
only as 1t has been told by their eld
ers, and even with the middle-ageI
residents If Carton the details of the
crimes and the execution of the mis-
creants are to some extent forgotten.
The thousands OF newcomers to the
city, during the last score Of years
know little Of the triple hanging and
the events will bear repeating
The day of the execution Canton was
throngcd with thousands OF strangers
from distant points, the railroads run.
ming excursions in to the city to ac-
commodate those who had morbid
curiosity to be near the point of exc
cution, even though it was known that
admission to the jail would not be
granted except upon tickets issued by
the sheriff.
" CARNIVAL OF CRIME.
Thh year 1879, when the crimes were
confffftted that lead to the execution,
wos 9ioted for the epidemic of crimes
that swept over the county. Attorney
h. s. Shields was at that time prose-
cutirg attorney and he was busy at
both the September and January terms
trying criminals. He made a record
that has never been approached in the
convicting of those accused of crime
Frederick Harris was sent to the
ncnitentiary for six years for man.
slaughter, having kicked young man
by the name of John Boom. of Canton.
so severely that he died some days af-
ter. Harris was drunk at the time.
Hiram Bahney. of MassilloD, was
sent to the penitentiary for life for
criminal assault.
Wilson .Hugus, of Alliance. was ac-
cused of poisoning his father and es-
capped the penalty of his crime by be-
iAg sent 10 the .Newberg asylum 1t
having been proven that he was in
sane
John SamJnet, youth between II.
and Is years of age. was sent up from
Massillon on the charge of burglary
and sentenced to the penitentiary for
five years, but prior to his trial he
had committed murder in order to
shield himself from the penalty of his
1rst crime.
THAT FATEFUL FRIDAY.
Sammet was one of the three boys
hanged upon that fateful Friday. IN
addition to these criminals who were
sent 10 the peniteDtiary there were
more than the usual number of les-
ser crimes committed. which kept the
criminal courts busy and cost the coun
ty many thousands of dollars in the
way o. court eAI enses.
The three who were executed were
Gustav Adolrh Orr, George e. Mann
and John Sammet,
The history of the crimes briefly
told show Youthful depravity that
surpasses the widest tales of fiction
As has been stated, John Sammet was
guilty of burglary He had entered
the saloon OF Christopher Volzer, on
the Massillon road. and robbed It of
some articles Of value. With him was
Chrisfoper Spnhler.
When II was found that Sammet
was to be tried for the crime. he
tried to induce Spuhler not TO testify
against hiia. After repeated attempts
to secure promise from Spubler, SAM
met rescrted to threats and told his
boy friend that II he did not agree to
keep silent he would kill him.
TIE FIRST MURDER.
Sammet finally purchased a revolver
srd taking Spuhler to an obscure spot
in the city of Massillon, where both
the boys lived, he placed the gun at
his breast and tried to extort prom
ise. Failing to get 1t, he fired and
Epnhler dropped. The shot and cries
attracted a number OF people, but he
died before he could tell who his as
sassin was
A numter of people knew OF tho
threats that had been made and sus.