Year: 1872

CINCINNATI, July II, 1872.


About week ago BRIEF but terrible story of q
most hendsh outrage, perpetrated in Mercer
county, In this State was sent as press despatch to
all the prominent newspapers in the country. 1t
was the story Of crime that, for pure diab0lism,
has few equals on the pages Of similar events The
affair is Of SO shocking nature in many Of It's
features and has been followed by such thrilling
sequel that the readers OF the HERALD will doubt
less desire to know further OF the horror.
The chief participator in the affair, the one
whose life was brought to q close in a
manner which makes one shudder, was Miss Mary
Belle Secor. She was girl Of but thirteen years
Of age. and studious attendant at the humble
Sabbath school OF the county. The child has re-
sided with Mr.. Seidery, in Liberty township about
ten or twelve miles distant from Celina, in Mercer
county. On Sunday morning, the 23d of June, she
visited the Sunday school, about two miles east OF
the house in which she resided. At the conclusion
OF the service she started for her home swinging her
little hat in her hand, and humming one Of the
sacred songs she had just assisted in rendering.
She had travelled the distance often before and
this occasion she was accompanied for three
fourths Of the way by her aunt. The child's grand
father lived about mile east Of her house and
about mile and half from the school house.





cent creature to pursue the remainder
Of her journey unattended. Leaving the
house, she had accomplished perhaps half
the remaining distance then entered lonely
road that led through hollow in the woods, that
was fringed by heavy bushes and underground
The child had reached the base OF this hollow and
was about to ascend the opposite elevation when


THREE MEN LEAPED FROM THE BUSHES


like tigers and blocked her pathway. One Of them,
the eldest and most Misunderstanding, seized hold
Of her at once and endeavored to force her of the
pathway and into the dense forest She screamed
once In mortal terror and the next instant
the broad hand Of the miscreant casped her tender
jaws with force that almost crushed them. Then
she struggled with the force Of child to release
herself; but terribly did she realize her danger
that her strength seemed increased ten fold and
the dark-browed wretch who struggled with her
was compelled to call on his frightened and cow.
ardly companions to assist him. They complied
and the strength of the three proved too much for
the EFFORTS Of the child to combat, desperately as
she struggled. The leader Of the trio then casped
the girls hands together and placed them in his
mouth closing his teeth firmly upon them. Then
he m0tioned 10 one Of his trembling accomplices to
guard the roadside and while the other casped the
girl around the body, 80 that she was absolutely
rendered powerless, the wretch





The same hOrrld act was re-enacted by each In
turn, and by the first villain second time when
the girl became insensible and they withdrew from
her In consultation. The finale Of their brief delb-
Grafton was reached, and the eldest Of the party
produced a short and very. thick billet Of wood,
with which he struck the girl crushing blow upon
the head. The terrible pain Of the blow seemed to
partly restore her to consciousness, and she raised
her manged hands lin which the villains teeth
had been deeply imbedded) in mute suppication
calm sleep OF death.


THE MOST BLOODY DEED


Late that afternoon the three murdercrs were
watering horses near the scene of their crime,
when the prime mover In the diabolical deed who
seems to have been q man without the faintest
out the mangled, distorted body Of the dead girl,
and to make assurance dOuby surer that she was
dead, cut the head clean from its trunk and gashed
the body and face to prevent all future possibility


THE BODY HALF EATEN BY HOGS.


The crime was not known until about nine A. M.
OF the following day, when q searching party in
quest OF the girl came upon the ground where her
DSraes most sa"sng seecac was s a
upon which this party OF searchers were the first TO
gaze In addition to the frightfu mutilatiOn the
several hogs had come upon 1t and fed their vora.
cious appetltes upon the delicate flesh OF
the tearing oat its contents and pe
senting q sight repulslve to the last degree.
They had also feasted on the head but the throat
had not been touched, and there, as plain as the
light Of day. could the clean-cutting course OF the
murderous knife be traced.


CRIES OF HORROR AND VENGEANCE.
The most intense excitement prevailed in the
vicinity of the scene OF the tragedy after had been
brought to light. Five hundred dollars reward
for the Identification and capture of the mur
derers, but no money incentive was needed
to make the e, hone, honest IT, country people 90 al IN
man felt that the public safety demanded the speedy
arrest, trial and punishment of these most helnous
In that "neck Of woods" were IN anything but an
enviabe situation The slightest i0ta of testimony
w the cme would have susd to have
that person to jail. Consequently the men whose
regulations In the neighborhood were not above
their dying with their boots OF, and many OF them
proved the most active In searching for the perpe-
traitors Of the crime.


THE BARBAROUs CRIMINALS ARRESTED
On the Friday following the murder the sherin OF
Mercer county, actng on good Information, pro.
Mcleod, Canadian tin peddler, and Andrew KIM
mel the proved an dlfbi and was released, on sus
we're S sasg county ns %
Ceina, along with Absalom and Jacob klmmeI
brothers of Andrew who had been arrested IN
dragged along wearily to the excited countrymen,
until Saturday, the 9th instant, when


ABsALOM KIMMEL CONFESSED
to having taken part In the crime, In company WIN
his brother Jacob and Mcleod, the latter OF whom
was the leading spirit. Prior to this confession, 30
much squabbing had been INDUCED In by the law.
yers In the case that the angry people were alarmed
lest their prey should escape them ,and wnen the
news OF the confession had obtained currency, ~
was coupled with rumors Of o hanging matlnee 10
take place near Celina on Monday afternoon.


THE RINGLEADERs HANGED BY A MOB.


Messengers were sent to all adjoining towns ana
villages and to Indiana to spread the news o. tne
coming event, and on the eventful Monday Ceiina
was hooded by an irruptlon Of neighboring farmers
and villagers. In wagons and on horseosck s.y .ney
came, and the attractions Of the best advertised
circus and menagerie In America would not nave
called together sucn gathering. An appeal was
made by the Sheriff OF the county 10 the Governor