Wesley Johnson
Perhaps a resume of the bloody crime, that of the murder of Mr. and Mrs. George Williams, the hearing of which so startled out community on the morning of October 26th last, will be of interest to our readers, now that the suspected murderer is on trial for the bloody and inhuman deed.
The murder was probably committed on the Tuesday preceding the 26th of October, and no doubt the deed was done for money. It had been the intention of Mr.. Williams to remove with his family to Napoleon, from the farm which he had leased from an uncle. Having this object in view he had been disposing of considerable of his goods, and had advertised a public sale.
On the Monday previous to the murder Mr. Williams had been to Wauseon disposing of a load of clover seed. This was the last seen of him alive. On the Thursday following a neighbor, Mr. A. Crew, had occasion to go to the home of the Williams, and then for the first was the horrible crime known. An alarm was given and hundreds for many miles around flocked to the scene. The body of the murdered man was found lying in the stable, where he had been struck down by the monster by blows upon the head with a sharp instrument. To make sure of his work the fiend nearly severed the head from the body. The body of Mrs. Williams was found in her bedroom, with several horrible gashes in the head, from which the brains oozed out. A young babe, but a few weeks old, was found in the bed almost famished from cold and hunger. It had sucked its fingers to appease its hunger until the blood oozed from them and had kicked its covering until the nap had worn off. It had lain in bed from the time of the murder until the discovery three days.
Words cannot tell the intensity of feeling that was awakened at the ghastly discovery. Murmurings against the fiend or fiends who had committed the fell deed, were loud and deep, and a search for the authors of the dread crime was immediately instituted.
A bloody ax was found hid in a straw stack near the barn, which was without doubt the instrument the murderer used in his bloody work. But who was the guilty party or parties? Suspicion was not long in fastening itself upon one Wesley Johnson, a farm laborer who had been hired by the uncle of Mr. Williams and by Mr. Williams himself. He was arrested on Friday following the murder, at Wauseon, on his return from a visit in Indiana. He was lodged in jail, indicted by the grand jury for murder in the first degree, and is now on trial for his life. The prosecution has any amount of evidence, most of it circumstantial, which points to Johnson as the guilty party.
The case was assigned for hearing on Tuesday, and long before the hour for Court to open the room was filled with an expectant crowd. On account of belated or absent jurors Judge Moore deemed it advisable to adjourn until 1:30 p. m., as the case could not go on until the venire of thirty-six were present. At 1:45 the Judge took the bench and called the case of the State of Ohio against Wesley Johnson, charged with murder in the first degree. The case is to be heard upon the indictment charging the defendant with the murder of Isabella E. Williams. Upon order of the Judge the Sheriff was ordered to bring the accused into Court. The room by this time was crowded, a few ladies being noticed in the audience. All eyes were upon the door, eager for a glance at the accused. The Sheriff soon made his appearance with his prisoner, who was given a seat near his counsel, Messrs. Knupp and Hubbard, who will labor without ceasing for a verdict in favor of their client. On the other hand the State will be ably represented by Prosecuting Attorney Cahill, assisted by Judge Haag, who will bring to bear all there is in the case for a conviction.
The prisoner presented rather a neat and tidy appearance, and did not seem in the least ill at ease. He still persists in that bold don't care look and way, and shows little if any concern about the awful predicament he is in. He conversed laughingly with reporters and others. Upon the appearance of the prisoner, the Court ordered twelve of the thirty-six to take the jury box, and the task of selecting a jury commenced. Dr. Townsend still being absent, his place was supplied by Mr. Geo. Haase. The venire was exhausted, and eleven remained in the jury box. The defense demanded a special venire, and in order to give the officers time to fill it, Judge Moore adjourned Court until 9 o'clock Wednesday morning.
Judge Moore promptly opened Court at the hour set on adjournment, 9 o'clock. The room was crowded, as upon the previous day. Witnesses began to put in an appearance, among them the mother of the murdered woman, who held in her arms the young babe, which had been so ruthlessly left an orphan by the hand of a murderer.
By ten o'clock the special venire was exhausted and jury box still contained eleven men. The State had exhausted its preemptory challenges and the defense still had five to take advantage of. The defense demanded a second special venire, whereupon Court took a recess until 1:30 p.m., to give officers an opportunity to fill it.
Court was opened promptly at 1:30, and the examination of jurors resumed. It was about 2 o'clock, when the State and the defense signified that they were satisfied with the Jury, and the twelve men were then sworn by Clerk Barnes. Following is the jury: Thomas Hayes, John Huddle, Frank Weirich, Jerom Martin, Wallace Blair, John Theisen, Oliver Higgens, D. W. Frease, W. H. Brownell, A. M. Willard, Frederick Bostleman, Henry Gehrett.
On the part of the State the case was clearly stated to the jury by Prosecuting Attorney Cahill, and Mr. Knupp, for the defense, said but few words, merely denying that the State could make out a case against the defense, closing without intimating the line of defense.
The examination of witnesses was then commenced, Mr. Henry Andrews, of Fulton county, being the first witness called. In our next issue we will give the examination of all witnesses in full.
The court room was completely packed, and hundreds went away unable to effect an entrance. The case is commanding considerable interest, especially so with the country people. It is probably one of the most marked and interesting cases ever in court in this part of the State. The testimony will in all probability be all taken this week, and the case go to the jury on next Monday or Tuesday.