USA > Ohio > Champaign County > The history of Champaign and Logan counties : from their first settlement > Part 11
USA > Ohio > Logan County > The history of Champaign and Logan counties : from their first settlement > Part 11
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37
With regard to the preservation of the body, the writer of this, for one, does not believe him when he says that he can not account for it. After it had been in the cellar for three or four days he states that he cut off the limbs, and burnt the head, and two or three days after deposited the body in the bag, and buried it, leav- ing the limbs under the oven in the yard, and they were not buried for seventeen days. Can it be believed that he would have thus left the body lying in and about the house, where persons wero constantly visiting, without using some means to prevent it from smelling? If, as he says, it was preserved by some mysterious agency, he must have been aware that it would be thus preserved, or he would never have kept it so long in the house, where it was constantly liable to lead to his detection. In the course of nature it would have become very offensive in a few days, which he must have known, and without using some means for its preservation, or knowing that it would be preserved, his confession of the one fact proves the falsity of the other. If the truth were known, it would doubtless be found that the body was cut up for the purpose
118
CHAMPAIGN AND
of enabling him to pack it up in a barrel of brine, in order to pre- serve it until the disappearance of the snow would enable him to bury it. Its appearance, even six weeks after death, indicated that salt had been applied to it, and few will be so credulous as to believe his assertions to the contrary, particularly when there is such an apparent motive throughout to conceal the most horrid features of both acts of the tragedy, in an effort to palliate the crime and justify in some measure the murderous deeds which he has confessed.
The lantern which induced his sudden flight, may or may not have been the imagination of his cowardly heart, dreading that the forfeit of his life would be the result of discovery, but be it what it may It was a most providential visitation, and at the very . moment above all others, which sealed the guilt on the murderer.
That the whole of this confession is a one-sided, partial affair, glossed over for effect, I think has already been cleariy proved, but there are yet other portions of it which perhaps demand a notice, before the subject is dismissed. In speaking of the fact of his last wife having left his house and gone to Littlestown, he wholly omits to mention his threats to kill her, as proved on the trial, which was the cause that had driven her from his house, as well as his harsh and abusive treatment of her. The fact of her going is only mentioned, and that in such a manner as to leave the reader to infer that his jealousy was not without grounds-that he had cause not only to suspect her, but was confirmed in his suspicions.
With regard to his protestations of innocence as to the death of his children, he has told so many other palpable falsehoods that this is equally liable to be untrue. The denial of the charge, in such a confession as this, even if it should be credited here, will find few believers beyond the Alleghanies, particularly in the region of country where he was personally known. His language respect- ing the death of his "dear offspring," whose death he witnessed- without a tear, will rather tend to confirm the suspicions of those who witnessed their final moments. Suffice it to say, that their mother, who knew the feelings he entertained for them, suspected. him of poisoning them, which opinion was afterwards, and is now, the universal belief of the whole neighborhood.
That he has not yet deserted all hopes of life is evident from the perusal of his narative, and is also sustained by a conversation held by him a day or two since with the warden of the jail. When»
119
LOGAN COUNTIES.
however, the certainty of death approaches, it will be found that his assumed indifference will fail him, and then, under the guid- ance of his spiritual teacher, the public may expect from him a true and full confession, that will be free from all expressions of malice and attempts at self-justification, and having in view his forgiveness at the bar of God rather than the bar of public opinion, to which this has evidently been solely addressed.
120
CHAMPAIGN AND
ANDREW HELLMAN IN OHIO.
The Logan Gazette, of Der. 23, published at Bellefontaine, Ohio, where Hellman broke jail, and in the immediate neighborhood of the scene of the first murder, contains a sketch of the " Life, Char- acter, and Crimes of Andrew Hellman," covering 17 columns of that paper. The general tenor and facts of the narrative fully cor- roborate all the particulars of the Ohio tragedy as published in the Sun, whilst the opinions urged by "One of the People" against the truth of that part of his confession which relates to his treatment of his first wife, &c., are corroborated. We have extracted such por- tions of the narrative as go to justify the feeling evinced in defence of his first victim, at the request of "One of the People," to show that no sinister motive guided his pen :
In this confession, which was doubtless gotten up to influence the public mind, and perhaps induce from the Governor of Mary- land a commutation of his punishment, Hellman seems to labor to render odious the character of his first victim,-to transform the faithful, devoted and suffering wife, junto a lewd and fiendish ter- magant, whose temper nothing could restrain, and no sacrifice could soften. But, fortunately for her relatives who survive, his malice has betrayed itself, and involved him in several contradictions. That she may have spoken in her own defence, and for the sake of the future character of her offspring. resisted and resented his vile imputations and unmanly abuse, is highly probable-most women would have done the same. And she should be respected for it- for her bravery in defending her character and her children from the infamy he would have heaped upon them, bespeaks a noble mind and a strong and ardent love for those whom she had borne. But that she was the fiend he represents-violent and unyielding in temper, fretful and discontented, loose in her morals, and always ready to harass and vex him, without cause, is totally at variance with her character and conduet while residing in this county .- Here, she was regarded by her neighbors-those who knew her best and saw her often -- as a mild, inoffensive woman, who bore
121
LOGAN COUNTIES.
the tyranny of her husband with great patience-who resisted not, but for the sake of peace, endured, without a murm ir, hardships and abuse. As a housewife she was held a model. Her house way always clean and tidy, and every thing about her was well taken care of. It is not true, therefore, that she was the vixen Hellm in would make her appear ; and after inquiry of those who knew her personally, as well as by reputation, we have no hesitation in pro- nouncing so much of this confession as contains imputationsag inst her, malicious, willful, and deliberate falsehoods.
He reached Bellefontaine with his family, in the spring of 1836, and took a room in the tavern af Mr. Haines, (now occupied by Mr. M. Smith,) north of town, where they dwelt until the ensuing fall. And here we cannot omit to state, as he has spared no efforts to traduce the character of his first wife, and torn her mingle I, mould- oring remains from the silent grave, only to dwell upon the faults and errors which she possessed in common with the human race, that his treatment to her while they resided at the tavern of Mr. Haines, was cruel in the extreme. So violent was he, that without any apparent cause, he would throw chairs or any thing he could lay his hands on at her ; and the family of his landlord were several times compelled to rescue her from cruelty. We have this from un- doubted authority- persons who were cognizant of the facts. And yet, with all the effrontery of a fiend, he hesitates not in his confes- sion to lie to his Maker, and charge the cause of all their differences upon his wife. Instead of the terrible being he portrays, she pre- sented the appearance of a heart-broken, miserable woman, and so she was considered by all her neighbors and acquaintances."
Speaking of his attempt to poison his wife, the narrative says :-
After this circumstance there was a manifest change in his con- duct for the worse. He became morose and sullen, and appeared to his family the incarnation of all that was vile and wicked. Yet, with his bosom lacerated with the deepest feelings of malice against his unoffen ling offspring and his unfortunate wife, and the strongest desire of revenge urging him on, Hellman, in the eyes of the world, was a moral, upright, inoffensive, quiet citizen. No man, perhaps, in the same sphere of life, possessed a higher char- acter for morality and honesty. He was punctual to his engage- ments, and scrupulously honest in his dealings. How little did the world know of that man. With what consummate duplicity
10
122
CHAMPAIGN AND
did he conceal from society the devilish passions which were raging in his bosom. Did we not know, by appalling experience, the fearful transformation which jealousy can effect in the human heart, the conduct of this man would present an inexplicable en- igma.
His children were all three attacked with the scarlet fever as he confessed, but speaking of this fact the narrative says :-
The sudden death of his children made little or no impression upon Hellman - none at least that was visible. Soon the suspi- cion got abroad that the poison prepared for the wife had been ad- ministered to her children ; and his subsequent conduct, as well as the testimony of those who saw the sick children, among them the attending physician, only increased and strengthened those suspicions. His poor wife and her relatives owa to have enter- mined no doubt upon the subject, from the fact that in a letter to their friends in Virginia, communicating the demise of Louisa and John, they unreservedly stated that they believed they died by the hands of their inhuman father. That opinion still prevails here, and the bare word of the monster, though spoken from the scaffold, cannot remove it. Unfortunately, the bodies were not submitted to examination, for the purpose of ascertaining the truth. As if by a miraculous dispensation of an all-wise Provi- dence, Henry, the hated, disowned child, the one most ill-treated, recovered from his dangerous illness, and was left to his mother.
Here, the cause of truth compels us again to refer to the published confession of Hellman, and to what he says upon this point. And though he declares "solemnly, as with a voice from the grave, where he is doomed soon to lie," that the " imputation is un- true," we feel authorized to assert, that his declarations in refer- ence to his children are not founded in truth. He places their sickness and death in 1841, when in fact they died in 1839; and he states that Dr. Brown, the attending physician, was "with them until just before they breathed their last," thereby intimating that their illness was so severe that the Doctor did not leave them un- til all hope of saving them was gone. Here is a studied misrepre- sentation, to say the least. When Dr. Brown was called in, he found that the children were severely attacked with scarlet fever ; he attended them for several days; they were sick about a week, as Hellman says, but they had survived the worst attack of the
123
LOGAN COUNTIES.
disease, and were so far convalescent that Dr. Brown discontinued his regular visits. On the last time but one that he visited the house for the purpose of administering to the patients, Mrs. Hell- man followed him out of the dwelling, and anxiously inquired if there was any hope of their recovery, He assured her that she weed have no fears on the subject, for he entertained no doubt that they were beyond all danger, and would soon be restored to .
health.
Dr. Brown was, therefore, greatly surprised when, a day or two after, he was sent for in great haste, and heard the children were dying ; and it is his impression that one of them expired before, or shortly after, he reached Hellman's house. He was the more surprised at the result, from the fact that the disease under which they suffered is not usually, if at all, attended with such sudden changes; and acknowledges that without suspecting the father of anything improper, he was led to doubt his own judgment in such cases. It is proper here to remark, also, that Hellman adminis- fered the medicine to his children, his wife not seeming to have a knack for it, and thus he had every opportunity to administer the fatal drug. However feelingly he may speak of his "dear child. gen," not even the solemnity of a confession, filled as this is with Emnumerable falsehoods, can now clear him of this charge.
124
CHAMPAIGN AND
EXECUTION OF ANDREW HELLMAN.
This event, which has been looked to for weeks past, as the con -. summation of the penalty due to the commission of one of the most atrocious murders that ever blurred the character of human -- ity, transpired in accordance with the law, at exactly 22 minutes before 12 o'clock, meridian, this day, and was witnessed by not less than fifty thousand people, one-fourth of whom were females ... . The excitement from an early hour in the morning until the exe -- cution took place, continued to grow more and more intense, and was only relieved at length by the awful scene which was required to be enacted, for the satisfaction of the fearfully violated laws. By 10} o'clock, the various streets leading towards the jail, begame to present a very uniform appearance of the tendency of passer- gers that way, and even before that hour hundreds of persons oc- cupied various positions, or stood grouped in conversation withim the immense circle commanding a view of the jail. The gallows was erected in the north-west angle of the yard, the upper beane being not less than fourteen feet above the level of the top of the. wall. It could be distinctly seen from many points in the central part of the city, and the whole execution was witnessed from sev- eral windows of the Court-house. As the hour approached, the ways to the prison became thronged with parties who had quitted) their avocations and were hastening to the scene ; and the number of strange faces, indicative of visitors from the surrounding country ... drawn hither by curiosity, resistless from the startling character of the malefactor's crimes, was immensely great. The city poured out its thousands, and the merchant, the clerk, the lawyer and di- vine, the industrious mechanic with the soil of labor upon his hands, the pale-faced and sedentary student, the young, and the old, the matron, the maid, and the wanton, hoyden boys and girls, the moralist, and the jester, the serious and profane, swelled wpa the motley multitude to an oceanic flood. "Such is human nar ture," wo moralized and paused, for we ourselves had wended our way to the spot, but found a ready excuse in an imperative duty:
125
LOGAN COUNTIES.
"requiring us to present the details of the day's doings to the eyes of the multitudinous mass spread out before our gaze. But are there no promptings of a Dionysian curiosity within ourselves? we asked. We could not analyze the feelings with sufficient care to - obtain a satisfactory response. Human nature, however cultiva- ted, is human nature still.
"The view from the top of the jail was of the most interesting ikind, presenting a dioramie picture of the most diversified charac- ter it is possible to conceive. Immediately below, the gaunt ob- Bect which lifted its skeleton form into the cold air, stood peering over the wall upon the vast concourse beyond, itself the center for a myriad eyes. Around and about it, conversing in subdued tones were those who had obtained by privilege or solicitation, admis- "sion within the walls, and the busy forms of those immediately en- gaged and interested in the approaching catastrophe occasionally wpassing to and fro. Beyond, the great interjacent plain, which had To the morning been a white field of snow, was now thronged with -an almost compact mass of people, occupying both the hither and rthither side of the Falls. The elevations upon the north and the banky heights of Howard's woods, opposite upon the west, af- forded facilities to immense numbers, especially of women and children. A great many carriages, chiefly crowded with women, occupied the line of Belvidere Road, and some had drawn up cearer to the wall. The windows of nearly all the houses com- amanding a view of the death scene-a few exceptions forning & pleasing attraction to the eye of the observer -- were densely crowded Soy the occupants, their friends and acquaintances. And an unin- formed traveller who had passed that way might have looked on dor an hour, and had the gallows escaped his eye, imagined that a mational jubilee was about to be celebrated, and that the shrine of oblation was the jail.
But we revert to the more immediate details connected with the · criminal and the closing scenes of his life. We visited the jail at about 9 o'clock in the morning, and found our friend Sollers, the warden, with anxiety and fatigue in the corner of his eye, he hav- ting been up all night with his prisoner.
Horn x ('ell, 10 o'clock .- We have just been admitted to the cell at the aromed malefactor. The officers have this moment knocked of the iron shackles from his legs, having been engaged at it son.e
1
126
CHAMPAIGN AND
twenty minutes. Horn then turned to the fire, stirred it up, sat down and warmed his boots, which stood at the hearth, and put them upon his feet. Horn is now in conversation with the rever- end gentlemen in attendance, Messrs. Sarndel and Newman. Ho is evidently conversing with a freedom and ease of mind and ex- pression that denotes the most perfect composure.
We learn from Mr. Sollers, who was up with him during the greater portion of the night, that he remained engaged in reading and prayer until about two o'clock in the morning, when he lak? down for about an hour, and appeared to enjoy repose during that time. He then rose and re-applied himself to devotional exercises during the residue of the night. He declined taking any breakfast this morning, the only meal, by the way, he has taken for two og three weeks past, and from Friday last until Monday, he main- tained perfect abstinence, He was, however, persuaded to resume his morning meal again, lest he should become too weak to sustain the trying scene of this day unassisted.
Half past 10 o'clock .- The Rev. S. Tuston, chaplain of the U. S. Senate, has entered the cell by consent of the criminal, and the reverend gentlemen attending, of course with no purpose of taking any part in the religious exercises. Horn has continued in inter- course with the priests, the conversation being carried on in Ger- man. A few minutes since, Mr. Tracy, the sheriff, came into the cell, he having previously visited the prisoner during the morning.
At about 20 minutes before 11 o'clock, Mr. Bersch and young Henry Hellman came into the cell. The prisoner directly took the hand of his son and said "Well, Henry," and the youth replied, "Well, father ;" it seemed as much as either could say for the mo- ment. Horn, after interchanging salutation with Mr. Bersch, beck- oned his son to the table and took up a variety of papers and pam- phlets tied in a bundie, which with a carpenter's rule he delivered to him ; the package appearing rather loose, Horn took up some books, saving "There was a piece of paper here somewhere," and having found it took the bundle again, carefully wrapped it up, and delivered it to his son.
They then retired to a corner of the cell, and had some conversar- tion together, which we subsequently understood was in relation to the disposition of the body, Horn expressing a desire that his son, as next of kin, would make a formal demand of it of the sher- iff. Mr. Bersch was afterwards called up by Horn, and the three
127
LOGAN COUNTIES.
continued the conversation together, Horn appearing exceedingly earnest in his instructions, which related chiefly to the disposition of his body.
At the close of this conversation, Mr. Laws, sheriff's clerk, Mr. Wilson, deputy sheriff, and Mr. Cook, deputy high constable, ap- peared, for the purpose of arraying the criminal. His shroud was produced, and he put it on as composedly as if it had been his daily garb, assisted by the officers, after which his arms were pinioned by a small cord passing from each elbow joint, behind him, having his hands free. This being accomplished, the Rev. Tuston took the prisoner's hand to bid him farewell, he having called for the pur- pose of a few minutes conversation with him and his son. Mr. Tuston, on parting, said to him : "Keep your eye steadfastly fixed on the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ, as the only hope of perishing mortals, and may God have mercy on your soul." The reverend gentleman then shortly withdrew from the cell, and returned into town. The Rev. Mr. Newman, with the prisoner, then occupied a few minutes in prayer during which the tears came freely from the eyes of the unhappy man.
The minutes now sped rapidly away. Horn entered into spir- itual converse with the priests, and remaining standing by their side, manifesting the most wonderful fortitude, and evidently marvelously sustained by the consolatory hope of happiness be- yond the awful noon to which the time was fast hastening. >
At half past eleven Mr. Tracey and Mr. Sollers came into the cell, and intimated to the prisoner that the time had arrived. He instantly rose, and, preceded by the gentlemen above named, accompanied by the priests, and followed by Mr. Bersch, Henry Hellman, his son, young Mr. Bersch, and those in the cell present at the time, walked out through the long line of spectators ex- tending to the gallows.
Having arrived at its foot, Messrs. Tracey and Sollen, the two clergymen and the prisoner, ascended the steps without any pause, on the scaffold, a short prayer was said, farewells were in- terchanged, Horn thanking each for their kindness, and then all retired. At exactly 22 minutes before 12 o'clock the trigger was drawn, and the unhappy criminal launched from the platform. He struggled for about four minutes, when, to all appearance, he was dead.
THE LOST CHILD.
An Account of the Extraordinary Sufferings of John Curl, Son of James Curl, of Champaign County, (now Logan County) Ohio, Aged Seven Years, who was Lost Eight Days in the Woods.
BY JOHN GARWOOD.
On the 2d day of the 6th month, in the year 1816, in Champaign county, (now Logan county,) Ohio, it appears that the feelings of the people were greatly aroused. Search was made, with the ut- most diligence, far and near, for a child of James Curl, which had wandered away in the woods, and was in danger of perishing with hunger or falling a prey to savage beasts. At this the people in general appeared greatly affected with ro mournful a circumstance, as to be deprived of a precious child in such a sorrowful manner, and since the neighbors have manifested such an unwearied dili- gence for the relief of the child, it is judged that a narrative of what the child passed through, as near as circumstances will admit, from the time it wandered from its father's house, until it returned, might be of some satisfaction to the public in general. It appears that the child was about seven years old. It is said this child with two of his elder brothers, went into the woods and amused them- selves for a time in hunting wild gooseberries; but his two brothers
129
LOGAN COUNTIES.
growing weary of their employment, returned home; he continued wandering about until he mistook his way home, and took the wrong end of the path ; still hoping that he should soon arrive at some place that he knew, he was encouraged to press on until time and distance convinced him of his sad mistake; for he found him- self not only bewildered, but in a wilderness, surrounded by wild beasts, and destitute of father, mother, or any other human com- forter. After calling atond for his brothers and getting no answer, he endeavored to vent his grief by letting fall a flood of tears; but what greatly increased his horror, night came on, and he had to take up his lodging in a tree top. Grief and terror prevented him from sleeping for the greater part of the night. When morning appeared he pursued his lonely travel again-hungry and with a heavy heart. With weary steps he followed the various windings of a stream called Mill Creek, bearing for a while a south-east course; northerly crossing the same several times, supposing it to be Derby Creek, still hoping he should arrive at some house; but his hopes centered in disappointments; he continued traveling un- til night came on. He found nothing to satisfy his hunger save a few wild onions and gooseberries. He then took theside of an old log for his shelter, and laid himself down to rest in the dusk of the evening; but was soon visited by two wild beasts, supposed to have been wolves, seemingly with the intention of devouring him. This terrified him much, as one of them came within a yard of where he was lying, and grinned at him. He then held up his little hand against him, having no other weapon to defend him- self with-at which it seemed the beast laid himself down near him! Here we may justly conclude that the God who shut the Lions' mouths, when Daniel (by the king's decree) was cast into their den, hath in a like manner shut the mouths of those savage beasts and preserved this infant. This is certainly a miracle, in our eyes, and may justly lead us to adore that Almighty hand, which condescends to preserve the innocent when in the most im- minent danger! Here wesay with the Apostles :- "Lord, increase our faith, that we may never distrust thy Providence while we re- tain our innocency." Here it seems those ravenous beasts had not power to destroy or even hurt this defenceless infant, which no doubt was their intent, if an overruling hand had not prevented them ; so that instead of devouring the child, one of them laid
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.