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History of the Case for Which William Henderson Was Indicted. A RECLUSE MURDERED. One of the Foulest Crimes in the His tory of the County. WILL NOW BE LIFTED DOWN And Thoroughly Renovated in Courty Henderson Now In the Penitentiary Serving a Sentence of Eight Years for Another Offense. The indictment of William Henderson by the grand jury on the charge of murdering John Hartong recalls one of the blackest and most fiendish crimes that has ever been recorded in Stark county. Hartong lived at Greentown and lived alone. He was 87 years of age and lived the life of a recluse. He was reported to have money but no one knew certainly. On the morning of December 3, 1897, Otto Meyers in going to his celery farm heard groans coming from Hartong’s house. He went in and found the old man wreathing on the floor, weltering in his own blood and talking in a delirious and incoherent manner. The old man was assisted and when he became rational he related the story of the crime for which Wil liam Henderson will now be compelled to stand trial. As he told it on the night of December 2, while he was lying peacefully in bed three men burst open his door and rushed in upon him. They demanded his money and when he de murred they immediately proceeded to employ drastic measures. Without further parley he was dragged from his bed and thrown violently to the floor. His feet were tied to the foot of the bed by a rope and a second rope put around his neck and then tied tightly to the head of the bed. Then his hands were tied until the cords cut into his old and withered flesh. All this was done quickly and without giving him further chance to tell where his money was a towel was tied over his mouth and one of the brutes kicked him in the back several times. An iron wedge such as is used to split cordwood next came into play and one of the villains struck the old man on the head with the weapon. This brought relief from the then torture for a few minutes in un consciousness. When he came to his senses again the thieves had evidently completed their search for wealth and he heard them conferring as to what should be done with him. They had se cured his watch and his bank book showing he had $1,300 in Central Sav ings bank of Canton and were evidently about to give up the search for money. They examined Hartong and one of them said with an oath he seemed to be dead. They decided to burn the house over him thus cremating their victim and hiding their crime. At this terrible suggestion, Hartong, who had been keeping quiet and feigning uncon sciousness made a sign of life to escape the terrible fate contemplated for him. This brought the fiends before him again. Burning having been suggested they took a lamp and held it to his hip and burned him till from sheer rain he again fainted. While they were pulling his clothes off to apply the lamp they found a leather belt around his waist containing $800. This is what they were after and after burning him and beating him into unconsciousness again they departed leaving him tied and wel tering in his own blood. The money secured from Hartong was in bills among them being one $100 bill. This was brought to Canton and changed at Charles Simmons saloon and was one of the strong clues followed by the officers at the time. Hartong was given every attention that could be bestowed upon him but the blow on the head from the iron wedge proved fatal. Hartong lingered for a week and died. The county commissioners offered $600 reward for the capture and conviction of the murderers and some arrests were made on suspicion but the right parties had not been secured and nothing came of it at that time. Detectives have been doing some work on the case from time to time and Prosecutor Pomerene has never given up investigating the case with a view of bringing the bast ards who committed the deed to justice. As a reward for his constant endeavor the case now bids fair to be thoroughly sifted to the bottom.
Newspaper Details
Canton Stark County Democrat
Canton, Ohio, US
Fri, Sep 29, 1899
Page 7
Full Page
Clipped by
Michael T.
USA 17 Sep 2026
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