Transcribed from: New Hampshire Sentinel   August 12, 1847

Singular Development of Crime - One Reuben Maddox was recently committed to jail in Eaton, Preble county, Ohio, on a charge of arson.  The editor of the Democrat, published at that place, relates the following, which strongly reminds one of the revelations in the accounts respecting the schemes and doings of Murrell and his gang:

We attended the examination in the Court House, which was crowded to excess, and the startling disclosures there made, were enough to arouse the whole community. It appeared by the testimony of one who turned State's evidence against his comrades, that there is a mammoth company of pickpockets, thieves, robbers and murderers, by the name of the "Royal Band” or "Boston sons that have their head-quarters at Pittsburgh, Pa. At Lawrenceburgh, La., they have another resort, for the convenience of the “Sons” and one at Eaton, a small branch yet organized under a regu­lar captain, who enjoys the noted sobriquet of “Captain Kidd." This gang had laid their plans for burning the houses, and other property of our citizens, and of robbing, and even murdering some business men in our town. We state what was given in evidence, and which has not been denied by any evidence whatever. The testimony left several persons implicated in these transactions. Some of them have left the place; those who remain have in their power to show, by their conduct and actions, that these charges are without foun­dation, or that entire reformation has done its work. We are alarmed to know that in this quiet and peaceable community such men are to be found. We are none of us safe while these wretches are at large, and it is the imperative duty of every citizen of the place to help to prosecute all who are in any way concerned in these atrocities.  “Gentle­men at large” had better have a care in respect to visiting our town under present circumstances.  The people are on the alert.

Transcribed from: The Topeka Weekly Capital   Date: 1891-01-08

John T. Miller Arrested for Making Bogus Money

Cincinnati, January 1 - John T. Miller, living near Pittsburg, Preble county, Ohio, was placed in the county jail last night by a United States secret service detective, charged with making counterfeit gold coin. His arrest was made by means of a confession of one of his agents. Last week at Urbana, Ohio, an elderly Grand Army man hired a buggy and drove out to a farm house and, bought a turkey, paying for it with a new five dollar gold piece and receiving change therefor. He went to other places and bought turkeys, paying each time with gold coin. The woman who first sold her turkey went to a store for goods, and was told the money was counterfeit. This led to the arrest of the man when he returned with his buggy. He gave the name of Robert Alexander, but it was soon, discovered that he was an ex-convict and his name was Patterson. He consented to tell his story to save himself from punishment and said Miller supplied him with the coin.

He gave a letter to the detective asking Miller to sell the detective a supply. The ruse worked. Miller offered to make some, but he had none on hand. When a case was made out he was arrested though he fought bravely. The premises were searched and dies and preparations for electroplating were found. Miller used babbit metal and coated it first with copper and then with gold. The coin was about two-thirds the proper weight and easily detected. Miller refused to say after he was arrested.

Transcribed from:  The Duluth News Tribune    1906-12-11

Worry over Duties Cause of Suicide

RICHMOND. Ind. Dec 10.—W. S. Clayton, county commissioner elect of Preble county, Ohio, killed himself to­day by hanging at his home 15 miles east of this place. Worry over the responsibility attached to his official duties is said to have been the cause of his suicide.

Transcribed from: Weekly Telegraph and Messenger    1885-06-19

Poisoned by His Wife

Cincinnati, June 10—On June 6th Martin Eddins, a laborer living at Hamburg, Preble county, Ohio, was taken sick after eating lettuce for supper. On June 11th he died in great agony, soon after taking a powder prepared by his wife. She was arrested yesterday, and was sent last night to jail without bail. She made a confession last night stating that she gave arsenic to her husband at the suggestion of William Rowe, a man with whom she bad been intimate some time. Bowe is not to be found. She says be made her promise be­fore be went away to poison her husband. She maintains that the arsenic did not kill him, and is apparently not much con­cerned about her situation.

Transcribed from: The Philadelphia Inquirer    1867-10-16

Shocking Affair in a Circus Oct. 15.—A disturbance occurred at French's Circus at Eaton, Preble county, Ohio, last night, during which a man named William Thomas fired at the ringmaster. The ball, missing him, struck a young lady named Campbell in the breast, killing her instantly.

Transcribed from: Duluth News Tribune     1906-05-09

Crushes Skull of His Brother

Ohio Man Aged 65 Years Then Takes Poison with Fatal Effect

RICHMOND, Ind., May 8—A trag­edy was enacted some time last night seven miles northeast of Richmond In Preble county, Ohio. Isaac Mackey 65 years old, crushed the skull of his brother, David Mackey, 75 years old, with a hatchet, and then took poison in an effort to end his own life. The assailant died at 7 o'clock this evening: and his victim is not expected to survive the night. The men were found lying on the floor of the home shared by them today.

Transcribed from:  The Sun   May 30, 1881

Kukluxers from Ohio

Cincinnati, May 28 – A special from Richmond, Ind., says “A kuklux gang, supposed to be from Darke county, Ohio, shot down two men in their doorways at night in Darke county, and have given Mr. Timmons, a farmer, residing near Palestine, Preble county, Ohio, notice to leave on penalty of death, after having broken down his doors and destroyed his household goods.  They have also served a similar notice on Mr. Emerich, living near the same place.

Transcribed from:  Flake’s Bulletin    May 8, 1867

Heavy Forgeries in Preble County, Ohio

From the Dayton Journal, April 20

A chronic case of dishonesty and crime was, we are credibly informed, recently brought to light in Preble county. William Gifford was a well-to-do farmer, residing on a large and valuable farm near Euphemia. Besides the regular business of farming, Gifford had been for several years engaged in buying and sell­ing stock, etc., and he had on several occa­sions borrowed money in considerable quanti­ties from wealthy farmers in the vicinity of West Alexandria, in most cases giving his note, with a brother-in-law named Jacob Fudge, for security.

A week or two ago, we are informed, Gif­ford met another brother-in-law named Fudge in West Alexandria, and asked him to go on a small note for him. Fudge refused, and made some remarks disparaging to his credit, and Gifford left the room greatly offended. A farmer who was present remarked, after Gifford withdrew, "Why, you don’t seem to have as much faith in G. as your brother Jacob, who goes on his paper to any amount desired." Fudge replied that none of the family had much confidence in Gifford, and he would warrant that Jacob Fudge was not on his paper for $5. This alarmed the farmer, und he showed Gifford's note to Jacob Fudge, who pronounced the name forged to the document. This expose brought matters to a crisis.

In the meantime Gifford ascertained what was going on, and he made over his farm, stock etc., to his brother-in-law, Jacob Fudge, and gathering up some ready means, he fled—it is not generally known where— leaving his family to be provided for by his relatives. Besides the farm, there was a large amount of stock on hand – enough, Gifford assured Fudge, to make him safe on the notes to which his name had been signed. The matter got noised abroad, and then Gifford's paper began to come in. The stock was soon swallowed up in liquidation; yet the notes kept coming in for redemption, until the brother-in-law, seeing no possible end to it, shut down 011 the transaction until he can make himself sure on the farm, which is by no means a sure thing, for about $6,000 of notes have been redeemed, and it is estimated that about $3,000 are yet outstanding.

The   forgeries of   Gifford over there have been going on, it is affirmed, some five years.  The notes were not given in his own neigh­borhood, and as they were regularly renewed, and interest punctually paid, the fraud was not discovered until the accidental conversa­tion about surety in West Alexandria, the other week, brought it to light.

The conduct of Gifford is most inexplicable. As his farm was unencumbered, and he had not lost in his speculations in stock, it is a mystery what he did with the money he raised on the forged notes. The mystery will probably be developed in the course of time. The affair has created a great deal of excitement and wonder in that part of Preble county and has greatly shaken the confidence of the people in private negotiations.

Transcribed from: Independent Inquirer   1833-10-19

Culture of Silk - The Eaton Register says that Mrs. Alfred Newcum, of Preble county, Ohio, has the present season, with the aid of one small girl and two boys about twelve years old, fed and attended about 50,000 silk worms with the leaves of a common mulberry. From her labors (about 6 weeks) she will realize about $225, even should she sell the materials in a raw state. But should she manufacture the cocoons into sewing silk, which she does with ease and facility, the products of her labor will amount to near $400. The silk she manufactures is equal for strength and evenness to any foreign silk. Farmers who can command some twenty or thirty mulberry trees, will find, it a pleasant and profitable employment for some of their daughters. The necessary la­bors are simple and easily attended.

Transcribed from: Grand Forks Daily Herald    1909-03-21

Rooster Lays Eggs

Eaton. Ohio, March 20 — Preble county's latest freak is a fowl owned by Frank Dine, a farmer living north­west of Eaton. It is to all appear­ances a rooster of the Black Minorca species. In the last three weeks this rooster has laid 21 eggs. The eggs have been exhibited over the commun­ity there being no two of them the same size or shape,

One looks like a miniature tenpin, another is the shape of a half- moon, one like a stuffed sausage, and still another looks like a greatly enlarged capsule.

The fowl is apparently healthy and the occurrence has produced a good deal of merriment, no one believing the story until the goods were produced. None of the eggs contains a yolk.

Transcribed from:  Dayton, Ohio Statesman    Oct. 3, 1837

            Departed this life on Wednesday evening, the 27^th of this inst., Mr. John G. Jameson, of New Paris, Preble county, Ohio, in the 43d year of his age.

Transcribed from:  The Daily Inter Ocean    Dec. 9, 1886

            William Mussel went Tuesday night to the home of Daniel Christman, an aged farmer living in Preble county, Ohio, fifteen miles from Richmond, Indiana.  He split the old man’s head with an ax, knocked his wife senseless on the bed, on which he then threw a lighted lamp, robbing the house of $20.00 and decamped.  The woman recovered, put out the fire, and gave the alarm, but the murderer is yet at liberty.

Transcribed from:  The Sun    April 24, 1880

            In Preble county, Ohio, Robert Savage, colored, fatally shot a daughter of George Williams, also colored, because she refused to marry him, and then shot but did not kill himself.

Transcribed from:  The Sun   Oct. 21, 1857

Snow Storm – It is stated that a snow storm occurred in Preble county, Ohio, on Thursday morning last, and that the ground was quite white with snow, which remained until melted by the sun.  The previous night it both rained and hailed pretty severely.

Transcribed from:  Wheeling Sunday Register   Date: 1890-07-24

To Hang His Cousin.

An Ohio Attorney Who Put Duty to Law Above Relationship

Columbus, O.. July 23. In the Ohio Su­preme Court today a novel and striking spectacle presented itself to those who knew the circumstances. A motion for a new trial for Elmer Sharkey, the boy matricide, was before the Court, and on behalf of the State there appeared J. L. Risinger, Attorney of Preble where the crime was committed, who is a first cousin of the condemned young man. There is no enimity between the two cousins, and Mr. Risinger appeared as a matter of duty. To the few present who knew of the relationship it was an impressive scene, as the eloqueut young attorney stood before the last tribunal with power to save his cousin from the scaffold and urged the Court not to grant him a new trial.

Transcribed from:  The Daily Inter Ocean   Dec. 19, 1890

TWO MURDERERS HANGED

Elmer Sharkey and Henry Popp Expiate their

Crimes

Columbus, Ohio, Dec. 13 — Elmer Sharkey and Henry Popp were executed by hanging in the annex of the Ohio Penitentiary shortly midnight. Sharkey was the first to go, and, contrary to expectation, he did not weaken. He stepped on the scaffold at 12:05, and sixteen minutes later was pronounced dead. His neck was not broken and death resulted from strangulation.

He made no confession nor statement from the gallows, simply saying: "I will answer to God for what I have done and forgive all.” Eight minutes after Sharkey was pronounced dead his body hid been removed and the scaffold prepared for Popp, who stepped out from the death cell at 12:29. In less than one minute his arms and legs had been pinioned, the cap and rope adjusted, and the lever pulled which launched him into eter­nity. His neck was broken by the fall and he died without a struggle. Elmer Sharkey killed his mother, a widow, near Eaton, Preble County, Jan. 12, 1889, crushing her skull with a maul while she was sleeping. He feigned a burglar had committed the crime, but suspicion was so strong that he was arrested at the funeral or his mother and after a few days confessed the crime. The motive was to get possession of the farm and remove the objections of his mother to his marriage with a girl of the neighborhood.  Sharkey had two trials, at both of which he was convicted.  He claimed more recently that the confession was forced from him through threats of lynching.  Commutation of sentence was urged on the ground of insanity in the family.  He claimed to have no remembrance of committing the crime.  Sharkey’s age was 23.

Transcribed from:  Miami Herald Record    July 21, 1914

ARRESTED HAAG FOR PLOWING BALL GROUND

Merely a dream—is the war between the National Baseball League and the Federals as compared with local baseball vs. Adam Haag. Haag almost put this popular pastime out of existence at Midway park between here and Somerville, where visiting teams and the Somerville aggregation have been putting up some splendid exhibitions of the sport.

The story goes that Haag rented the farm on which the grounds are located, from Charles Bruce, the own­er, and it is said in the   rental   the ball grounds   were   reserved.   Haag later concluded he should receive same compensation and was passed a ten spot by J. R. Teague,    one   of    the financiers of the ball   club.    Things are said to have went along merrily again for awhile—Haag hauling the sports from Somerville to the grounds in an open farm wagon—running a hack in other words.   After a while, those interested in the game and tired of these accommodations   and other conveyances were used.   This is said to have angered Haag and two weeks ago he attempted   to   plow   up   the grounds.   However, they were again put in shape, and a week ago he is alleged to have   completed   the   job which was discovered too late to cancel the game scheduled with the Cincinnati Manhattans, causing consider­able expense to those   backing    the Somerville team and great disappointment to the lovers of the game.

Haag was arrested on Wednesday evening of last week on a warrant sworn out by Andy Neanover arid his hearing was set for    the    following evening by Mayor Marsh, who re­leased him on his own recognition, awaiting a hearing. The hearing was again postponed until Friday evening, when he was arraigned before Mayor Marsh on a charge of destruction of property.  Through his attorney, P. A. Saylor, he waived examination and was bound over to the grand jury in the sum of $500.

Haag's actions were apparently unpopular and he was unable to secure local bond. He was removed to the countv jail at Eaton.

F. G. Shuey, of Camden, and Isaac Baker, of Somerville, were attorneys for J. R. Teague. Andy Neanover and John Bacon, owners of the Somerville ball team,—Preble Co. News, Camden, Ohio.