The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-06-05
A PAROLE
IS GRANTED
To A "TruSty" At The Ohio
State SanatOFium
ROmluSCOteII Once Sentenced
To The Chair
For First Degree Murder Is
Free Man
Spent The Last Two Years
Near Mt. Vernon
Without Guard Of Any Kind
At SdnatOfium

l
'trusty' for the past two years at the
Ohio State sanatorium in this city,
was granted parole by the state
board of administration on Tuesday
and on Wednesday was given his free.
| dom.
Superintendent S. A. Douglass of
the Ohio State Sanatorium received
telephone message from Columbus
at 1870 Wednesday morning to the
effect that Cotell had been granted a
parole. The superintendent immedi-
ately notified Cotell. The latter was
at work in the kitchen at the institu-
tion at the time and he was so ex-
cited and overcome by the news that
he dropped his watch on the floor,
breaking the time piece. 1t was sew
eral seconds before he could utter a
word.
Superintendent Douglass took Cote1I
to the 1908 Pennsylvania train Wed
nesday afternoon in his automobile
and saw him safely away on the train.
Cotell will remain in Columbus, but a
short time and will then go to Chi
cago where his brother, who is an
attorney, has secured employment for
him.
In discussing Cotells record to a
Rannar ranraaontativa nr nouorozz
stated Wednesday afternoon that he
came to the State sanatorium two and
half years ago badly broken in
health, but since his stay there had
gained 25 pounds. Cotell was well
liked by all officials and patients about
the institution.
Cotell was sent to the Ohio peni
tentiary from Summit county to serve
a life sentence for being convicted of
murder in the second degree seven
teen years ago. He was found guilty of
killing three members of family by
the name of Stone and was received
at the penitentiary February 8, 1897.
During the past two years Cotell
has been at the State sanatorium. He
lived and worked there without guard
of any kind His brother who long
has teen active in CotelPs behalf has
promised to give the latter a position
in that city after his release.
Cotell was convicted of killing the
Stone family in Tallmadge with
baseball bat and then sIashing the
bodies with a knife. He was in love
with a girl in the family and the
motive for the crime was declared
to be his desire to get rid of the fam.
lily so that she would fall heir to the
farm and he could marry her. The
triple Staying was one of the most
sensational murders in the history of
the state.
LAST winter attorneys and others
in Akron interested in the case
started an investigation, declaring
that new evidence had been found
20 show that Cotell was innocent of
the crime. The promised evid 4n"e
was not forthcoming and the investi-
cation was dropped.
Determined opposition to the parole
of Cotell was voiced by James Doran,
CUyahoga county detective, recently.
Doran, at the time of the crime
Cleveland detective, was present
VIXEN Cotell confessed the crime,
after Doran had developed what he
declares was a complete chain of
evidence pointing to Cotell as The
murderer.
Doran declares that Cotell con-
fessed in the presence Of five persons,
that no third degree methods were re-
sorted to, that he repeated his con-
fession to stenographer and cor
rected it as to details several times