The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1917-12-28
TO STAND TRIAL FOR
SHOOTING TO KILL

Samuel Anderson, who onfessed to
having shot at John Beech with in
tent to kill on Sunday, Dec. 16, on a
public highway mile west and nearly
mile south of Sharon Center, was
given hearing before Justice of
Peace w. P. Ainsworth, at the court
house Wednesday morning.
Only four witnesses were called,
namely: Henry Harrison, c. M. john
son, John Beech and Miss Esther Hale.
Harrison testified that Anderson
came to his home in the morning and
excitedly declared that he was going
to settle with Beech before night, and
that he was going to shoot Beech.
johnson, justice Of the peace for
Sharon township, testified that Ander-
son came to his home Sunday morning
about 9 or 10 o'clock and sought advice
concerning an alleged attempt to take
his (Anderson's) horse on an execu-
tion, by the constable. He attributed
his troubles to Beech, according to
johnson, and declared that he had per-
formed great deal of work for Beech
for which he had never been remun-
Grated. johnson stated that Ander-
son made no threat against Beech at
that time.
The next time johnson saw Ander-
son was about l o'clock in the after
noon, when the latter came to his
home with the statement that he had
shot Beech and had come to surrender.
Asked if he had killed Beech, Ander-
son said he didn't know, but supposed
that he had; but that if he had not
done so, he had failed in his duty.
Johnson told him that he had no
authority to arrest him. but that the
best thing to- do was to call the sher-
iff.
Anderson acquiesced and rer aimed
at the Johnson home until the arrival
of Sheriff Gehman.
On the witness stand Beech recited
the substantial facts of what took
place, which coincided with the account
published in the Sentinel last week.
That Anderson met him on the road
and telling him of his purpose to kill
him, shot his revolver at him six
times, none of the shots taking effect,
although two passed through Beech's
coat at the shoulder.
The fourth witness called, Miss Hale
merely attested typewriter con-
fession made to- Prosecuting Attorney
Underwood the day of the shooting,
by Anderson. The latter refused to
sign the confession, however, until he
had counseled with his attorney,
Frank Woods, who advised against
signing it., The question of the ad-
Essnissahilit1saf the unsigned confession
at the hearing WI day & " ass Silss
cussed before the court BY attorneys
for both sides, all finally agreeing up.
on it's admission. 4s 4
The court rernanded Anderson to-
the grand jury under bond of 81 900.
As the jury will meet in less than
two weeks it is probable that no effort
will be made to secure the bond, An
derson remaining in Jail.
Frank Woods is assisted by Arthur
VanEpp in the defense of Anderson
and Attorneys J. W. Seymour is assist
ing Prosecutor Underwood for the
state.
Anderson's youthful face beamed
during the progress of the hearing, he
apparently taking a childish delight in
the procedure. y
Following the hearing Beech regaled
few of the listeners with a descrip-
tion of how he lodged the shots. He
admitted that he expected to stop
one or more Of the bullets, but that he
ducked every time Anderson winked
just preceding an explosion, and in this
| way he escaped death, he believes.