The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1912-02-21
Came To Light Through
Recent Grand Jury.
MGAsLAUGHTER IS CHARGED
Against Prominent PhySi'
clan, In Procuring the
Death of Girl.
TWO MEN CHARGED IN AFFAIR

Details of a horrible affair have
come to light the past few days as
the result of two indictments re-
turned by the grand jury of the
Ohio Circuit Court, which closed its
midwinter session here last Friday
The affair happened several months
ago, but officials and outraged cit
liens have been working on the
matter in the meantime and finally
got it in shape to present to the
grand jury.
On Wednesday afternoon the
? grand jury returned an in
dictment against DR.. Charles
DeWeese, a prominent and well
connected young physician of
Horse Branch, this county,
charging him with manslaughter by
procuring the death of Florence
Morris, young girl about 16 years
old. Martin Willoughby, of Cen
trail City, was also indicted with
DIR. DeWeese on the charge of as
sisting in procuring the death of
the girl.
Judge Birkhead fixed the bail of
both DeWeese and Willoughby at
- $1,000 each, and bench warrants
were issued yesterday for the ar
rest of the men.
It is stated on good authority
that Willoughby has left Central
City for parts unknown, he having
heard that the grand jury was in
vestigating the cause of the death
of Miss Morris.
A most horrible crime has been
committed, if the facts as related
before the grand jury are true.
Florence Morris formerly resided at
Horse Branch. Her parents are
dead and some months ago she
went to Central City to make her
home with the family of Martin
Willoughby. A few months ago she
was brought back to Horse Branch
by Willoughby and taken to the
home of Mrs. Bunk Smith, who lives
out in the country from the town.
The girl had been there about three
weeks, when Dan Wilson, a we'll
to-do farmer, had occasion to go
over to the Smith place to see a
tenant named Davis. During the
conversation, Davis told Wilson
r about the Morris girl being there
and of her condition. While the
two men were talking, only few
feet from the back door of the
house, some one came to the door
and informed Davis that the girl
was dying. Wilson and Davis then
went into the house and in a-few
moments the girl was dead
1t was stated before the grand
Jury thnt Wilson found DR.. De-
Weese in the room where the girl
died, and that he said in the pres
ence of Wilson, Davis and others
in the room, that Miss Morris had
died from some natural cause, pos
sibly pneumonia.
1t was then suggested by some
\ one in the room that Miss Morris
be buried at once. To this there
was strong objection on the part of
Wilson, who Immediately informed
the grandfather of the dead girl.
This was the first time the grand
father or Wilson had known that
the Morris girl was in that neigh
borhood. The grandfather got
some neighbors and went to the
Smith home, and after making an
examination of the girl, sent for
DIR. A. b. Riley, of Hartford, coro-
ner, who held an inquest. The jury
returned a verdict to the effect that
the girl died from the effects of an
deportation which caused an abor-
ton.
1t is said that DR.. DeWeese, in
making out the death certificate of
the young GIRL stated that she died
from perforation OF the bowels.
Mrs, Smith was witness before
the grand jury, but apparently knew
very little about the affair. Since
the grand jury adjourned it is said
that Mrs. Smith will make a much
better witness for the Common
wealth when the case against DR..