Hide Article Text (OCR)
RECENT CASE OP SUPPOSED MTJlfbEBAT CLEVES.Body of Peter Teeters YesterdayPeter Teetors, the man who was mentioned inyesterday morning’s Commercial as having been found in a stable near Cleves, this county,last 8unday morning, in an unconscious condition, and with his skull fractured, died yesterday morning, about 7 o’clock, and an inquest was held in the afternoon by Justice WilliamArgo. Peter Teetors, whose real name was ■^Israel Teetors, had been employed at various places in the vicinity of Cleves as a laborer, and when out of work made his home at the houseof Peter Pultz. A daughter of Peter Pultz, named Melinda Pultz, was married In 1868 toElijah Hudnut, but had not lived with him, remaining at her father’s house. It is said that application had been made for a divorce, and that the deceased, Peter Teetors, had been too intimate with Melinda. Last Saturday suit was brought before Justice Argo, at this place, by Melinda’s father against Elijah Hudnut for his wife’s board, and Judgment was rendered against the husband for $160. Teetors,/faas in Cleves on Saturday and had -'iieen drinking a few glasses of beer, but was not believed to have been intoxicated. Sunday afternoon he was found lying in Jaoob Young’s stable with a fractured skufl, and in an unconscious condition. In that table there were several horses and a gray mup; near the mule was a bay horse said to be gejtle, and in the bay horse’s stall Teetors was found. The hoards between the mule and horse were knocked off, and it is said that wliea the owner entered the stable in the morning1 the mule kicked at him with both feet—sometiing he had never been known to do before.Some difference of opinion prevals aetothe cause of the death of deceased, and had net oneof the physicians testified as he did it is jroba-ble that the mule would have been blamtd as the sole cause of his death. Partfes hers say that Elijah Hudnut was iorced intoa marriage with Melinda Pultz, and that Teeters has siuce been too intimate with her. They fius account for Teetors’death. The following 9 the testimony taken yesterday afternoon, bfore Justice Argo, at the residence of Peter Pultt:Mahaly Smith, the mother of tie deceased, testified that he was at her bona betveen 11 and 12 o’clock Saturday night.1 “I had retired, when he came to my house;! asked him to stay all night, and he said no, but that he woild come up here, and would be down early in tbl morning; don’t think he was intoxicafed; ditn’t see him again till after he was hurt, jvhen ’ asked him if he knew his mother, and he saidhe did.Be said he got hurt with a batclet, anl when asked in whose hands, he said in Hidnut’s« j -i;hands; at another time he said Lige; at pother time he spoke of Sergeant Moak, and at an-\ !«! ■ ■ , I *f o Bi.fi?- •;lt;*, . Ur . . .'W'Bother time he said ‘maybe the mule hut me.’ There was no serious grudge betweenElijah Hudnut and Israel; they were on sjeaking terms.”Minerva J. Teetors, sister of the d^eased, testified that she saw him after he isks hurt, and that he said he knew her, and callel her by name. He said he got hurt with a hatehet. I asked him who struck him, and he said jdge. I asked him what Lige, and be did not toy anything, and I said was it Dge Hudnut and he nodded his head. I did rotrhear of any grudgebetween Lige and Israel, but heard Lige Hudnut say that when Melinda sued him for a divorce that she and Israel wouM be married but he didn't think Tsrael would live to do her much good.Hannah Pultz testified that deceased said he was hurt with a hatchet, and that once she heard him say it was Hudnut.Simon Hearn testified that be went to the stable Sunday morning, and found Teetors lying with his face toward the wall. Hearn and others afterward carried him out. Hearn said that Elijah Cooper asked Teetors if he had had any difficulty at Cleves, and Teetors said no.Elijah Cooper testified that Teetors told him he had no difficulty at Cleves. In the position he first saw him a horse could not step on his head. On being asked who hurt him, at one time he said Hudnut, and another time Sergeant Moak, or maybe the gray mule. Teetors1 i? HHR 8 Jl S-'i-a I B f U Vtj I * RVK Jvvg -ft f £ B’ ’-had been drinking some Saturday night, hut was able to take care of himself.John Vangorder testified that he was with deceased Saturday night till 10 o’clock. He was not duly sober, but was able to take care of himself.Henry Pultz swore that he asked deceased how he was hurt, and he said he was hurt with a hatchet, and that Hudnut did it. Another time he said Lige, and at another time Sar-geaDt Moak and the gray mule. I have been acquainted with Teetors four or five years, and never heard him say anything about a grudge between the deceased and Elijah Hudnut. I think he would have told me if there had been any.Dr. John Hughes testified: I think the deceased came to his death from the blow or fracture on his head.Question—Do you think the wound could have been made by the kick from a horse or mule! Answer—I do not. There was a wound in the' IAQ.*■.brain of about two inches, as if it had been made by some sharp instrument. I heard deceased say something about a gray mule, but I did notask him any questions, for I wanted him kept as quiet as possible.Q. Would it be possible for a kick from a horse or mule to force a portion of the skull through the brain, and make the wound you found.A. It would he possible, but in this case there was none of the skull forced into the brain. It all lay on the outside.Dr. William Hughes swore that he found deceased in a semi-comatose state, with a wou half an inch in length on the frontal region. At on§ point the probe went through the skull. He said ‘‘hatchet” three times i my hearing, but no other word in connection.After hearing the testimony, the jury returned the following verdict: “We find that deceased came to his death from a wound upon the head with some sharp instrument fracturing the skull and penetrating the brain, in the hands of some person or persons unknown to the jury.”
Newspaper Details
Cincinnati Commercial
Cincinnati, Ohio, US
Wed, Dec 30, 1874
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
Rosana S.
USA 16 May 2023
Other Publications Near Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati Kentucky Times Star
Cincinnati Christian Age
Cincinnati Israelite
Cincinnati North Journal
Weekly Cincinnati Times
