Hide Article Text (OCR)
Trial of James Monroe for the Mur- , dar of Caroline Unbenhour—Verdict of Murder in the Second Degree.Oar readers have not forgotten the fearful murder which was perpetrated near the village of Yellow Springs, in thia county, in the early part of December, 1803. The trial of the murderer, Joshua Monroe, baa jnst been completed. He was found guilty of murder in tie second degree; bat before ire recite rot of the particulars of the trial, it will be well to refer briefly to tfcu circumstances of the trsge-lt;*r-On Tuesday, December 8th, 1863, tho people of Yellow Springs and vicinity, were shocked with a report that a worn a o had that day been murdered in cold blood,and that her body was at that time lying in thccemeury a short distance from the Tillage. A number of persona hastened to the apot indicated, and found the report to be true. The form of the woman^ Caroline Co ben hour. was utterly lifeless, and I a few pnee* away lay the murderer himself, ( bleeding pmfuscly from self-inflicted wound*. He had killed the woman with a botcher-knife,1 and had then attempted to end his own life 1 with the name weapon.. On the day of the murder, Joshua Monroe had been assisting one of hit neighbors in slaughtering a lot of hogs- In the evening he was returning home, when he saw two women —the deceased and some other- walking together on a certain road. One of theae women loft the road and went off in another direction, leaving Caroline Unhcnhour walking alone. Monroe approached the latter and joined with her in conversation. The two entered the cemetery together.The unfortunate woman had before borne Monroe a child, although the two had never been married, both having been believer! in the baneful itm of free lova. But she had determined to discontinue the illicit and unholy intercourse of such associations, and bad accepted % proposition of marriage from a young gentleman of the vicinity.This, according to the testimony, excited the ungovernable angerof Monroe, who inquired of her if she really meant to marry the young roan. She answered him in the affirmative. He asked if anything could be interposed to prevent a consummation of the engagement. She replied, uMhin$'Jmt drafV’ whereupon, be fell upon her, like an outcast fiend, and with the knife which bet had that day mod in butchering, he inflicted wound after wound in her abdomen and in the region of the heart, until life was extinct. He*then cut Uia own throat, and threw the knife away, expecting to die near tho scene of his great crime. Bleeding, but not dying he attempted to recover the knife, in order to complete the work of self-destruction. Failing to reach this, be pulled the insufficient wound open with his fingers, anj fell upon his face, in which position lie was found by those who came to the cemetery.Sneh, in brief arc the eircnmslanees of the murder. Monroe was immediately arrested, and brought to the jail in this ctty, where be has remained for the Inst year. On Thursday of last week the trial commenced in this city, on an indictment for murder in tho ffrst degree. The state wan represented by E. n. Monger, Prosecuting Attorney. The prisoner appeared in person, Messrs. Howard and Carey acting a* his counsel.The following persons were elected jurors to try the case: Henry C. llegler, Jnme* Hopping, William Bullock. Hebron Ballard, William B. Hardy, John Smith, Jacob P. Peterson, Jacob Sutton, David Gins*, Joseph Templar, David W. James. Andrew H. Dean, Several witnesses were examined on either side, able arguments were made by the respective counsel, the judge delivered an impressive charge to the jury, and after lb© lapse of a couple of hours, the following verdict was rendered: We the jary do find the defendant aof guilty in manner and form as charged in said Indictment against him; but do find the defendant guilty of murder in the second degree.During the triol the prisoner .manifested signs of insanity. Whether they were real or feigned is a question which no one seemed able to decide, bat in the circumstances the Judge thought it best not to deliver the sentence of the law in I lie case. Accordingly, for the present, Monroe remains in jail. When he receives his sentence it will be imprison- j e xnent for life In the penitentiary, which seems mihl enough when we consider the circumstances of the enormous crime committed.(C
Newspaper Details
The Xenia Sentinel
Xenia, Ohio, US
Fri, Nov 11, 1864
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Greene C.
OH, USA 14 Apr 2023
Other Publications Near Xenia, Ohio
Xenia Evening Gazette
Daily Gazette
Morning Republican
Evening Gazette
Xenia Daily Gazette and Torchlight
