Year: 1876




city of Steubenville, Ohio, was G very
small place. Its population was known
for it's quiet and orderly character. and
there was not single liquor saloon in
the place. Crime was very rare, and the
Circuit Judges often had occasion to
congratulate the people upon not having
a single criminal case upon their caIen-
dar.


In consequence there was intense ex-
element when, ct an early hour on the
morning of the 18th of November, in the
aforementioned year, the report reach
ed the place that the corpse of man
had been found in the woods within
hundred yards of the last house of the
town. and close to the Pittsburg turn
pike, with every indication that an afro
cious murder had bs N committed The
sheriff, accompanied by some fifty citi-
zens, Immediately fastened to the spot
indicated to him by the person that had
discovered the remains of the murdered
man. That person was descrepit old
woman, who had gone out to gather
brush-wood. No ono would have sus-
pected her, under any circumstances, of
having had anything to do with the
bloody deed, and, beside, she manifest
ed such unfeigped horror in describing
what she had seen at the dismal spot in
the woods that SIZE was unhesitatingly
allowed to go about her business.


Upon arriving at the scene of the sup
posed murder, the sheriff and his COM
panions saw at glance that terrible
crime had been committed. The dead
man was covered all over with frozen
gore, and seven wounds, apparently in
hicted with sharp knife, were found
upon his body. His head was still COW
cred with nice felt hat His face pre-
sented most ghastly aspect. A terrible
cash extended from tho left temple to
the right jaw. Another cash was in the
forehead. The victim was dressed in
substantial fur coat. He was apparent
ly forty-two years old. When his pock
cts were examined they were found to
be entirely empty. But close to the
body was found an old fashioned wallet.
It was still open, as if its contents had
been taken from it, as if he who had
emptied it had afterward thrown it away.


At distance of about ten yards from
the corpse, near an old log, lay pecu-
iar-shaped fur cap. It could not have
belonged to the murdered man, for, as
we have said before, he had his hat on
his head.


The ground was covered with snow,
and there were . number of light foot
prints visible in it. These were the only
indications of the perpetr ator of the hor-
ribIe crime.


The Coroner was sent for, and until
his arrival the Sheriff and his compan-
ions went 20 the Ohio Tavern, which
was situated at no great distance from
the scene of the murder.


When the Sheriff told the landlord
about the murder, and described to him
the appearance of the corpse, the land
lord exclaimed at once:


s'Great God that poor fellow cannot
be anybody else than Mr.. Sammis, the
Pistsburg cattle dealer. He was here last
night and took supper with another man
from Pittsburg, whose name. 1 believe,
was Belson or Wilson, and who rode on
toward Pittsburg Immediately after they
had left the table. Mr. Sammis sat in
the front room with me and Jack Capon
for an hour yet, when the two went out
together.


Jack Capon WAS dissolute, but very
good-nntured fellow, about thirty years
old, who had decided aversion 60 work
and still stronger prediction for strong
drink.


He could not get any whisky at Steu-
benyile, and hence he often walked for
miles and miles in order to obtain "wee
drop" of whisky. When he was success
full he returned with his hat full OF brick
to SteubenvilIe, where he had frequent
ly been punished by the Squire" for
into1ication, with fines and imprison-
ment. Still. everybody liked him. be-
cause he bad an excellent, most useful
heart, and never forgot favor done
him.


"Whst sort Of hat did Capon wear last
night '.ssksd the sheriff