PODCAST -- CRIME TRAVEL in TOLEDO, OHIO -- ANOTHER HORRIBLE MURDER in Toledo, Ohio (Ep 22)
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Episode Transcription:
Thursday, December 21, 2023
Hi there, it's Kelley Amstutz, the genealogy investigator and you guys are joining me for another episode of crime travel in Toledo, Ohio. It is right around Christmas time. So I'm sure everybody is really busy. But I wanted to make sure to get this episode out because you are going to really, really enjoy it.
It takes us to 1857 and I was kind of met with it in a really roundabout way.
It's really, it's really an interesting story. I'm not really sure what is going on here. But so there is this murder that takes place. And we are in. Let's see here. It's the fourth of March of 1857. This story actually was published in the states and union in Ashland, Ohio, but it takes place in Toledo like more specifically in Sylvania, Ohio. So the headline read murder will out. And I just kind of it really captured my eye just because the first paragraph says the readers of the Union, which is where I got this story from, will recollect the murder some years sense of Mr. Hall, a merchant uplink town, Richland County, Ohio, a full account of which we publish at the time to Irish men were arrested, tried and acquitted. Justice, however, appears at last to have overtaken the real criminal, as appears by the following which we copy from the shield and Banner newspaper. So before I get into our story for tonight, I kind of want to segue back because I'm like reading this and I'm like, What is this murder of Mr. Hall and I had read the whole article. So I kind of wanted to dig a little bit further and doing so and I'm gonna be really quick about this, but in doing so, on the 26th of March of 1857, so seven years prior, the Sandusky register published a story called foul murder and plaintiff. And it states that we learned that a Mr. Hall merchant in plankton Richland County, Ohio, was brutally murdered on Monday night by some person or persons entering his store while asleep, from the marks of violence about his head and in person it is suppose that he was murdered with a club, the store was robbed of all the money that could be found. These are the particulars that we haven't been able to gather as of yet. So it's just a snippet, because I didn't want to this isn't my main story. I just wanted to kind of segue because what happens here now is that we'll flip back to the fourth of March of 1857. And I'm calling this episode another horrible murder because of the fact that it's all going to come together here. So, it will be seen by the article below from the Toledo Commercial, which was published that Mr. R J. M. Ward, who some years since lived in Ashland, Ohio. Then he went to planked in Ohio and then more recently, he moved to Plymouth, Ohio. He was arrested in Sylvania, Lucas County, Ohio, which is where a lot of my stories take place. So he's kind of been all over the place. He's already kind of a sketchy character, right. So he was arrested for the murder of his wife. And he burned her remains to escape detection. So I am going to warn, I probably should have done it before. But I am going to warn that if we have any younger listeners, just kind of make sure that you monitor because it is going to get a little graphic again. 1857 times were much different things that were published were a lot more gruesome than we see today.
So he is picked up, he's charged his wife's remains obviously were detected.
So now we're going to kind of dig in and if it reads it will be remembered to that this same Ward Mr. Ward was strongly suspected of the murder of Mr. Hall, who we just referenced. A merchant uplink town, Ohio six or seven years since Mr. Hall boarded at his, which was Mr. Ward's tavern, and he slept in his store.
So he, as near as we can recollect, the murder was supposed to have been committed between nine and 10 o'clock at night by someone calling for coffee or sugar perhaps. And while it's not really the the story that we're on, they do kind of detail what happened.
Mr. Hall was knocked down with an axe handle or other bludgeoning instrument. And after making sure that the victim was he was down, he was dragged a few yards behind the counter, all of his money taken, which was supposed to have been about $1,500, which he had collected to renew his stock. The next morning, Mr. Hall store not being opened at the usual time.
This Mr. Ward was the first to suggest that something must be wrong and the door being forced open. He was found, as above stated, so he was kind of Mr. Ward who's the subject of our story.
He was kind of guilty by association at this point, right.
So the suspicion fell on him. And there were two men that lived a few miles from plankton Ohio one whose name was Mr. McGarvey, and the other was Mr. Meyers. Those two gentlemen were actually the ones that that were the main suspects after they did all of their all have their police work. And those two men Mr. McGarvey and Mr. Meyers were imprisoned in the county jail in Ashland, Ohio, but there wasn't a lot of proof that was found against them. So eventually they were discharged. Mr. Ward, while following his business, he was a tailor, he says, in quotes for the character of a desperate man, he nearly killed a boy in Mansfield, Ohio with a stone prepared for use for some trivial issue. Suspicion strongly rested upon him as being the murder of Mr. Hall. But if the murderer escaped detection you know, he escaped he got away with it. His wife, shortly after, became insane. And so Mr. Mr. Ward's wife shortly after that whole situation, she goes insane. And while she's in the state asylum, she's a married woman. And she's a bad character in Shelby, Ohio. She actually died some time some months after and the next that we hear of him as he marries another woman, and Adrian Michigan, she has some money, but he treats her bad, and on various occasions, and at the present time in here 1857 He ends up in Slidell jail and he is now charged with her murder, which the circumstances cannot feel the fasten the guilt upon this monster in human shape is how I want to help I want to quote that, because that's, that's literary
literary greatness at his finest, right? So we kind of move on, and then they take a snippet. This is the same newspaper the same publication. They take this snippet from the Toledo daily commercial. And in this reads shocking tragedy in Sylvania. So we're on page two of this newspaper but it gets a pretty big spread in the paper right? So it says murder most fallen unnatural, a woman murdered and her body burned arrest and examination of her husband the suppose it murder, he is committed to jail. So now I just kind of want to read what the story entails. So on the evening of the third instant Mrs. Ward, the wife of Mr. J. M. Ward, and Sylvania disappeared in a very mysterious manner. The ensuing morning her husband visited Mr. Aliens grocery store in the village of Sylvania and informed him that he and his wife were going away and desire that Mr. Aliens to tell those who might wish to see him that he had left the place so he's really covering his tracks here. On the Thursday following Mr. Ward again, visited the grocery store and had another conversation with Mr. Elan. He this time said that his wife had left him again, she had once in the past, and it is believe it's because of his ill treatment of her. So she had left before for a brief period of time. So Mr. Ale in the grocery store clerk he asked him When did she leave and Mr. Ward replied on Tuesday night last, she took the cars here, saying that she was going to California. Mr. Ward made the statement to a number of citizens and it was so much at variance with his previous statement. At aliens that suspicions of foul play were immediately excited. These suspicions were furthered by other circumstances and it was determined that the affair should be thoroughly sifted. Word was arrested and examined before Mr. Justice Clark, it was proven at the examination that Mr. Ward's last statement at Mr. Aliens was untrue, but the evidence was not sufficient to warrant the justice and committing him. Some of the citizens however, we're by no means satisfied a Mr. Ward's innocence, and they determined to still more thoroughly endeavor to solve the singular affair.
So the public is really standing up here and saying that something is fishy, right? Like they're just not having it. So they thoroughly searched Mr. Ward's premises, and they ended up finding the evidence that the woman had been falling, murdered and that her body had been burned in her own house, there was a pile of ashes near the must be the fireplace, I don't really know what that word is. And human bones and upper jaw were found almost an entire piece of her school, two fingers. rings were also found, which recognizes those worn by Mrs. Ward. So the citizens who made the search found abundant evidence at this point, right. And they think with with some credibility, that these are the effects of Mrs. Ward. And that's, that shows that she's been burned. And they're immediately saying Mr. Ward has got to be responsible. So the lock on Mrs. War trunk, pieces of her dresses, hooks and eyes and other articles were all found, the citizens searched further. The bed clothes in the house had the appearance of having been recently washed. On opening the bolster and bed the feathers were found covered with blood. Blood was also found on a mat in the upper part of the house. A minute search revealed traces of blood and other parts of the houses. Wow. So whether the woman had been stabbed, or shots they couldn't really tell, but that she had been falling murdered and her corpse had been definitely burned. They were satisfied and it was at once proceeded to cause the second arrest of Mr. Ward. He was arrested and again examined before Mr. Justice Clark and was committed to the jail in this in the city of Ashland, Ohio to await his trial before the next term of the Court of Common Pleas for murder in the first degree. So during the Mr. Ward trial, the Justice Office was crowded to suffocation and the excitement was really tremendous throughout the entire township of Sylvania. I don't think it was Ashland before. I think it's the Lucas County Common Pleas Court. I could be wrong. It doesn't state that but that's what I'm kind of thinking, especially since they're referencing the township, which I know is Sylvania. And that's Lucas County. Um, so it goes on to say that word is a trait tailor by trade. He had been married three times he married the deceased and Adrienne sometime last summer and carried her to Sylvania, Ohio. We are told that they did not live together pleasantly, once as before, stated the woman temporarily left him.
In consequence, it was supposed because of his bad treatment towards her. Mr. Ward is about 40 years old. He is of medium height, he's kind of a thicker man.
His head is somewhat bald. He just kind of is lying on a bench sound asleep when they visit the jail to check on him. So the story goes on the Sylvania tragedy. No more lights have been thrown on the shocking affairs since our last Mr. Ward, who is in jail accused of committing the fall in a natural murder maintains the utmost nonchalance. He was visited by quite a number of persons, but nothing further came from this whole situation. So we all know that I am the genealogy investigator and I wanted to learn more like this is a really horrific story. And what was going on, um, when I searched out a little bit more, I found on the 21st of April 1857. The sentence and confession of Mr. Ward who murdered his wife and burned her body is received so it says this is from we're in Pomeroy, Ohio, which I'm not even really sure where that's at, to be perfectly honest, but this publication made page four, and it states return of Mr. J. M. Ward, who murdered his wife in Sylvania, Ohio on the fourth of February of 1857. He was sentenced to death at Toledo on the sixth on the 12th of June next being named as a de for the execution of the sentence, the core and remarks preliminary to pronounce sentence gave the following brief statement of the circumstances of the murder.
So he was ultimately sentenced to death.
The act was done in secret as created no alarm but the sudden disappearance of Mrs. Ward required some explanation this you readily gave, what's your appearance and the probability of your statements with other circumstances excited the suspicion of your neighbors and led to the examination of your premises, which resulted in the discovery of the pole positions of human bones possessions, I think is what this will say, in your stove and also in some ashes which had been deposited in the rear of your house. During the delivery of the sentence. The prisoner wets bitterly the blade says that when brought into the courtroom, Mr. Ward was dressed as usual and a full suit of black appearing most downcast and as the court commanded him to stand up he arose, breathing heavily, his eyes fixed upon the floor, and only momentarily seeking the face of the judge. With one hand he laid heavily or he leans heavily on the chair, while the other hung trembling at his side. When he had received a sentence the blades as Mr. Ward knelt down and leaning on the chair buried his face in his hands weeping and groaning. He was suffered to remain thus for a few moments as the forms of adornment. Joining court till afternoon were gone through with when Sheriff Springer touched him on the shoulder and he rose, apparently much more composed, it was taken back to jail. So, he actually did make a confession. He the reporter that Slidell commercial procured an interview with Mr. Ward, and he told the whole story of the murder of his wife, interrupting his disclosure by exclamations of deep sorrow regret for the crime that he had committed. So this resistance his confession on Tuesday evening, February 3, Mrs. Ward and myself had some words during which Mrs. Ward struck me on the head with a fluid lamp also on the right side of the nose, causing the same to bleed freely. I begged her not to strike me took the lamp away from her and went to bed. We arose between six and seven o'clock on Wednesday morning, I spoke to her about the blow she had given me showing her where she had struck me on the evening previous, also the blood on my bolster, and she said she wished I had bled to death and picking up a stick of hickory wood she attempted to strike me, I warded off the blow which fell upon my right thumb, leaving it severely the sick fell from her hand, and as she stooped to pick it up, I seized a flat iron and in the heat of passion struck her with it on the right side of her head upon the under of the ear, driving the earring into the flesh. She fell to the floor, exclaiming, oh, Lord, You have killed me. I dropped the flat iron and went to her she was lying on her side, I turned her over on her back and place a petticoat under her heads, supposing she was only stunned. I use all means my power to restore her but in half an hour she died having only spoken once. Oh, my Nelly, meaning, as I suppose her little girl. After she was dead, I wrapped her head in a petticoat and drew the body under the bed to conceal it in case anyone should come in. About half past eight o'clock, William H. Nathan. Um, a lot of boy came to the door with some milk came into the shop, took the milk from him and he left. I then went to Leba Allens grocery store, bought a powdered sugar and told him I was going away. I then returned to the house and after a short time, commenced cutting up the body, I tore the clothes open from the throat down, I only took a small pocket knife and open the body took out the bowels first and then put them in the stove. Upon the wood, they begin filling the air they begin filled with air would make a noise and exploding. So I took my knife and poked holes through them to prevent the noise, then took out the liver and heart and put them into the stove found it very difficult to burn them had to take the poker and frequently stir them before they would be destroyed, found the lungs very much decayed, I took the I then took out the blood remaining in the cavity of the body by placing a copper kettle close to the same and scooping it out with my hands. I then dip portions of her clothing in the same and burn it together fearing if I put the blood in the stove alone that it might be discovered. I then made an incision through the flesh along down each side, broke off the ribs and took out the breastbone and throwing it into a large boiler unjoined the arms at the shoulders doubled them up and placed them in the boiler then severed the remaining portions of the body by placing a stick of wood under the back and breaking the backbone over the same, cutting away the flesh and ligament with a knife I'm sorry, this is really graphic, then tried to sever the head from the body it proved inefficient and put the whole upper portion of the body into the boiler. Then took a large carving knife and severed the lower portion of the body and jointed the legs at the knees and again at the hip joint cut the thighs open and took out the bones and burnt them up. They burned very rapidly.
So I mean, my thoughts here or this guy might have been the person that should have been in the psych ward. Very demented. On Thursday night i commands he's continuing others in I commenced burning the body by placing the upper and back portions of the scene together with the head in the stove. On Friday morning finding it had not been consumed. I built a large fire by placing wood around and under it, and in a short time it was wholly consumed except some small portion of the larger bones and of the school. The remaining portions of the body were kept in the boiler and tubs under the bed covered with a second or with a corded petticoat and were there at the time. The first search was made on Saturday by constable Curtis hearing on Saturday evening that the citizens were not satisfied with the search made by Mr. Curtis. I proceeded on Sunday morning to destroy the remainder of the body by burning the same in the stove cutting the fleshy parts of the thighs and small strips, the more readily to dispose of them. On Monday morning I took up the ashes in the small bag sifting out the finger pieces or I'm not sure what that says the tiny pieces of bone with a with his hands placing the same in my overcoat pockets which I scattered in various places in the fields at different times. also took the major portion of the trunk nails together with the hinges and scattered them in different places. I then buried her trunk and every vestige of her clothing disposing of small portions at a time to prevent they're creating too much smoke. So there's a box here and it says that the Toledo Blade doubts the truthfulness of this confession, holding that the murder was not an act on in the heat of passion but deliberately upon and calculated in the same spirit that her remains were horribly consumed. So that was like really, really hard to get through. And I so apologize, because it's just it just makes you wonder, Is he like a narcissist. This is he like one of those like serial killers that's just like, maybe parts of it are true, maybe parts are but even just to have this type of gruesome murder and to do these gruesome hacks, there has got to be like sounds deed and think it there's got to be something wrong in your head. Right. So that was on the 21st of April.
Now, if we move forward just a little bit on the 18th of June of 1857. The Millersburg, Ohio it's called the Holmes County Republican posted story on page two on this is a Thursday, June 8 2018 57. And it's actually a story that's from the Cleveland leader. And the headline dream execution of Mr. Name is actually returned JM Ward, the murder and wife burner at Toledo on Friday. That's wells. So on June 12 1857. Mr. J on board was he was hung. So this kind of just goes into what happens this is just the final story of of this final chapter of our story. So it reads return JM Ward His name is returned, who killed his wife and afterwards burned her body last February in the village of Sylvania. New Toledo, Ohio, having been convicted of the crime and received a sentence at the March term of the court was executed yesterday for noon in the jail at Toledo so I guess he was actually executed on the 17th of June sorry about that.
It says the murders confession so after his trial had taken place, and while a motion for a new one was pending, Mr. Ward made a confession acknowledging his guilt but pleading in accentuation that he had done it in a moment of passion while smarting under provocative provocation received from his wife. He made this confession he says under the impression that it might favorably affect the motion for a new trial.
Obviously, that did not help whereby he hoped to have sentence commuted to imprisonment for life. But the motion having been overruled by the Supreme Court and all hope of life failed, he resigned himself to his fate wishing to make it
Clean breasts of it, and rid himself of the horrible secret which was locked up in his own heart. He made a second incomplete confession to one of his counsel Mr. Fuller, wherein he acknowledged not only to killing his wife deliberately, and with premeditation, but the murder of two other persons many years since the first storekeeper Mr. Hall, so he did ultimately confess to the murder of Mr. Hall of Richland, Ohio, who he murdered on the eve of Mr. Hall's departure for New York, supposing him to have in his possession a considerable amount of money. The second person that he murdered was a peddler in Richland, Ohio, who had stopped with word who was then keeping tavern for the night so he this man slept overnight and Mr. Ward's tavern. For these murders, he was not arrested. Although suspicion did fall upon him at one point, the woman to whom he was married at the time of his first murder was not so she was so sure of his guilt.
That she became insane under the tormenting thoughts of such knowledge.
She became and she's still alive at this point to 1857 She's still an inmate of lunatic asylum is what they call it. So the confession of these murders together with a fuller and truer acknowledgement of the murder, and burning up his own wife were made but two weeks previous to his execution, and was believed by the public to be a true exposition of his horrid crime. So the day of the execution reporter accompanied by Mr. Wagner, they visited the jail at eight o'clock in the morning prior to the execution, and through the politeness of Mr. Sheriff's for her. They were shown the arrangements that were already made for the the execution the jail is a low two story brick building in the rear of the courthouse on Ontario Street in Toledo, Ohio. The portion of it is used for incarceration purposes, that's going to be in the back part of the building. At this time contained 27 cells that ranged in tears of one above the other 14 below and the same number above. Outside of the space occupied by these cells or dungeons, if you may, is a corridor that's eight feet wide extending around the entire apartment, a walk two or three feet wide level with the floor of the upper tiers of the cells and seven feet four and a half inches from the floor leads to the cells on the two sides of the prison. There are 12 or 14 prisoners in the jail at this time in 1857. Now they committed various offenses, none of whom were permitted to witness the execution at this time. So the cell of Mr. Ward that he occupied it's in the southeast corner of the upper tier. It's furnished with some efforts towards neatness and taste and doubtless never contained a more hardened criminal. In the southwest corner of the prison diagonally from the style of the prisoner in the corridor between the wall the dungeon was erected. This there's a scaffold. It was built the night before the workmen commenced at 10 o'clock and finished before daylight. The prisoner was awake during this time and must have imagined every blow of the hammer to be his death. His death sentence, the scaffold was a strong frame of scantly brace and bolted with iron bars and painted black. The drop covered with carpet on which the prisoner was to stand, comprised about two thirds of the platform hung on hinges and was made to fall from under him by the simple moving of a lever. The platform was seven feet four and a half inches in height from the floor of the prison, and the dimensions of the frame containing it five by six feet. The rope was a whale line 3/4 inches in diameter fastened to a beam overhead by an iron bolt. A narrow stare led to the scaffold.
So the prisoner at the time, the reporter made these observations a prisoner was in confidence with the minister. After he had retired a friend entered his cell at his request, to whom he expressed himself ready to meet his feet. Acknowledge the truth of the confessions. He had made remark that he had seen a book which gave an account of his life and crimes, and that its continent contents were correct. Late in the evening before he denied the truth of all the confessions. While they are in the prison, heavy thunderstorm started to rage and the flashes of lightning throughout the barn Windows rendered gloom so the place was like even more depressing. And then it normally was. It says that it was a fearful time in which the soul of a murderer should be forced to wing its flight from dungeons and human accusers to eternity. So outside of the jail, it was generally known that the execution was to be strictly private. Hence there was not an exceedingly large number of strangers in the city, the rain to serve to diminish the crowd. But long before 10 o'clock, several 100 people were gathered in the vicinity of the jail waiting and watching to gratify a morbid curiosity. Just as much as we are right now listening to it right? Uptown there were a good deal of nervousness that had manifest by the citizens but not too much real excitement was happening. And inside the jail after 10 o'clock, the usual number of spectators was admitted. These consisted of the county officers had the police military, which were not in uniform reporters, physicians and that sort. In all there were about 40 persons a brother of Ward's wife was also present to Sheriff whose unavoidable duty it was to superintend the arrangements endeavored to appear calm and collected, but he was really much excited giving the guests with whom he shook hands a tighter grip than near friendship would call for. And then the appearance of Ward on the scaffold, something like an hour past and getting the prisoner ready during which he grew really excited, because polls had been beating at a rate of 132 the minute which I mean, we can only imagine right, he see here.
He, you know, was really just getting ready for this, this end, so it was precisely 11 o'clock he was conducted from his cell to the scaffold by his religious advisors, which were to Catholic priests, and seated on a chair directly under the rope. His step was not very firm, His face changed color really rapidly. He was habited in a rope of white or ropes or a robe of white with a belt under the waist, white pants, gloves and dove colored slippers, a cross hung from his neck suspended by a black cord, and he held another cross in his hands. He was a man of large size, he had a broad high forehead, he was somewhat bold, shaved clean on the face, except for a large go teen. The expression of His countenance was uncomfortable to observe.
So the ceremonies, the prisoner having been seated, the sheriff said fellow citizens, we are here to perform the painful duty of executing the law. I will read the papers relevant to the case. He then goes on to read the death warrant and a copy of the records to the of the court, after which he turned to the prisoner and says, Mr. Ward, we are to carry the sentence execution if you have anything to say this is the time to say it. So what did Mr. Ward say? The prisoner after several times commenced his remarks in a wavering yet sufficiently loud tone of his voice to be heard at the farthest end of the corridor. Breathless attention was observed the whole time he was speaking, what he said was disconnected, incoherent at times and often unintelligible, we should say that his mind had become weakened that his excitement the thoughts of his dreadful crimes, the fearful preparations for his own dies all around him, had rendered him if not insane, certainly very unsteady. He says, gentlemen, I'm guilty about one crime that confession is not true. I'm going to leave this world with a clear conscience. I never murdered but one person is Mr. Fuller here. Fuller is the gentleman who took down his confession and had it printed on being the tool that Mr. Fuller was not present. He then goes on to continue that I'm sorry for him, throws more crimes on me that I'm able to hold up. You're about to launch me into eternity which he says to the sheriff, you are a pretty good looking man, all of you. He says so the audience, I hope you have a good feeling for me. I have no hard feelings for anyone on this great Earth. I want to leave this world in peace. God can help me. I've made my peace with him. He here he repeated a Catholic prayer. All Holy Mary, Mother of God, etc. I think I stand it pretty well considering I would like someone to pray for me. Then he clasped his hands and repeated the Lord's Prayer after finishing which he repeated, I believe in God, the Father, etc. It has been wondered how it goes on to say it has been wondered how I became a Catholic. It was because I have more faith and then than in any other churches, they came to me more genteel. They didn't want me to confess to what I didn't commit doctors and ministers of this town wanted me to confess that I killed two men. I'm not going out of this world with a lie in my mouth. I've told you do all I can recollect. And if I had committed all other murders, I think I would remember that. One. Don't forget such things I have been decent all my life never sold $10 $5 $1 nor 50 cents, never murdered and robbed any man. I think my heart is good. At least I think so I have confess my sins have made my peace with God and not afraid to sit here. I hope it will prove a warning to others, a man who will kill his wife and burn her up. It's horrible. Here he goes on to beat his bras with his hands. I killed her because I did not want anybody else to have her. I made up my mind that if I could not have her nobody else should. Here is where a priest holds out a crucifix before telling before him telling him to cast his eyes on the cross. He dropped his head on the priest soldier shoulder sorry, while the officials talked and prayed with him. So a few minutes goes by then he raises his head and resumes his remarks in a somewhat like, more lively or tone. He's even said to be maybe jocular. And he's goes on to say I have no property but my body and that I have given to the preachers and my soul to God. Pretty good hands to give them to I hope you may do as well.
Sorry. So taking hold of the robe he remarks to the sheriff that it was rather short. gentleman said he, you see I'm not afraid to leave this world don't you hear again? He said the Lord's Prayer. He stammered, he shuts his eyes and the murmurs, Holy Mary, Mother of God, etc. I believe in God, Jesus Christ who descended into hell on the third day he rose again and sits in heaven, as the right hand of Almighty God, etcetera, etcetera. He goes on may the Almighty God give me pardon and absolution for my sins. My God, my God, I'm dying. Amen. So the here they raised him to his feet, but it was sometime before he could really stand firmly. He even said like I can't stand he remarks, then I bid you all goodbye. Turning to some gentleman who were near he says, I guess you don't have as much trouble with me as I did with the chap in Cleveland. Now gentlemen, see me go. And nobody really understands what that really means. I mean, it's just kind of who's the guy in Cleveland. So the sheriff prepared the pinion to his arms, where he tells him You need not tie my arms, I will never touch that row. And then there's another pause. And he's goes on to say you might all shut your eyes when I go down, don't laugh. These were the last words he addressed to the spectators, the priests held across to his lips for him to kiss, which he did. After several minutes spent in prayer both hid the prisoner and his religious attendance. The cap was pulled down over his eyes. And at five minutes before 12 He closed his career upon Earth is how they worded it, which is great, that's the end. It's impossible to give the entire marks of Ward as he stood on that scaffold, he prayed between his sentences, which is really odd. Occasionally, he would raise his voice to a high key and then he would sink really low, speaking really rapidly and then just being almost an audible.
It says that they were under the obligations to JJ minor, of the prosecutor prosecuting attorney and to the reporter the blade for getting this entire story, which I'm sharing with you guys today.
Just remarkable, though, and I just think it gives some some credence to just different things that have happens in our city that maybe we just don't know about. And I just love bringing these stories back to life because they are so buried. I mean, this is a horrific crime that happened Sylvania Township, Ohio, in 1857. Horrific like there's no there's no doubt about it. And his execution was handled so quickly. You know, I mean, this, this entire story broke in April of 1857. And here we are in June, and he's already executed. So I just think it kind of goes to show.
It was a horrendous crime. And I'm so excited to share it with you guys. I know it was really tough, and thanks for bearing with me on it. But I think it just goes to show you that there were really bad things happening back in the day. And just because things are more televised, and we have social media nowadays. I think that bringing these old stories to light, I'm not trying to give them credit. I think it's horrendous, but it's still like just fascinating. How we as people have for one evolve.
But how we haven't, you know, and this is still happening today. And it's just it's kind of mind blowing when you sit back and you think like 1857. That was, it's hard to even like Fathom when that even happened. So that's why I like to bring these stories to light. That is it for tonight guys, I am super glad that you have stuck with me.
I'm going to close up the year here, I'm gonna take some time off, I want to regroup and find some really good stories like I feel like the end of this year like I found some really juicy stories for you guys. And that's what I kind of want to bring back their fuel farm between so I got to do a lot of digging. But in the meantime, please feel free to check out all the old episodes that are out there. And if you have exciting episode ideas for me reach out I love connecting and the more I know, the more I know so I'm gonna leave you guys with that. It's been a great 2023 Thank you so much for all the support. I am a small business who has a passion for true crime so I do this true crime podcasts on top of everything else and it's just it's kind of like a passion project for me. So I thank you so much for the support. Thank you so much for great 2023 I cannot wait to reconnect and 2024 and that is it for tonight. You guys. Thank you so much for listening!
STAND OUT THIS HOLIDAY SEASON with a UNIQUE gift… that KEEPS on GIVING!
As we start to think about the upcoming holidays and shopping for those dreaded folks who seem to have EVERYTHING… why not give them a gift that keeps on giving… a GIFT to GENEALOGY.
I have Gift Certificates available that are perfect for printing up and adding to that stocking for 4 hours of research time for $200, which includes a free kickoff consultation, a customized research report to help your loved one learn their ancestor’s story and share for generations to come, as well as an option to add a customized family tree to print and display.
Don’t miss out! Only a select number of gift certificates are available and are sure to be a HIT under the tree this season for a unique gift that keeps on giving.
Display Your Family Tree
Celebrate and Share your ancestors by having a custom family tree made for print.
Family tree displays can make thoughtful gifts for your loved ones - or even serve as ice breakers for curious relatives. They are valuable research tools that help sum up your family history process, sure up genealogy gaps, and help provide an at-a-glance reference reminders of where we come from.
Family trees are also popular features at family reunions and weddings.
Charts and Trees are a great way to show family members the geographic areas and time frames of how the family has moved through the past. It is incredibly powerful and can show names and/or photographs of your ancestors.
I offer a few customizable options that I create using your guidance and send in a file that is yours forever to print and distribute as needed. The family trees can be printed and displayed on a wall or used within a family research binder to bring all the research together.
My family trees are creative and unique as I work with you to tell your ancestors stories in a beautiful way to be displayed and carried on for generations to come.
BRICK WALL BUSTER CARDS
I have a SECRET to share! I added the Brick Wall Buster Cards to my Genealogy Toolbox and it has CHANGED the way I do research!
The cards have special prompts to help you stay on track while researching those ancestors that help you break through brick walls and avoid those pesky rabbit holes, altogether!
It’s like making a MURDER MAP that Detectives use in their true crime cases.
And, because I believe in this product SO MUCH, I have a SPECIAL CODE for all my followers to save you some $$ and add Brick Wall Buster Cards to your TOOLBOX, now!
CLICK the LINK below — add your KIT to your cart and enter:
GENEALOGY
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ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A GENEALOGIST?
Consider HIRING ME, Kelley Amstutz, The Genealogy Investigator to help tell your ANCESTORS’ STORIES?
And, I am having a special!!!
A 4-hour research package is $200!
This will get you started on your Ancestor’s story by setting up a detailed, fully cited research report and a collection of any documents found with links to all findings.
Let me get started on your ancestors stories and give you something that your family can share generation after generation!
EMAIL me NOW to schedule a FREE CONSULTATION via ZOOM!
CONSIDER THE GENEALOGY ACADEMY
If you aren’t looking to HIRE a genealogist… but have a passion for GENEALOGY, why NOT level up? I have two (2) fully comprehensive courses within THE GENEALOGY ACADEMY that give YOU the tools to take your genealogy to THE NEXT LEVEL!
The Genealogy Academy - is a 6-week, fully-comprehensive CERTIFICATE course that gives you A to Z and everything in between, HOW to research, review records, start your genealogy business, market and find clients so YOU succeed! This course is jam-packed with valuable content, tons of printables and you have access to me, Kelley Amstutz, while enrolled!
DNA and Genetic Genealogy Academy - is a 12-week, fully comprehensive CERTIFICATE course for EVERYONE. Even if you have ZERO prior knowledge of DNA methodologies! Basic skills in traditional document-based genealogy research is helpful. Within this course you will learn the many techniques for organizing and using your research, introducing you to the tried-and-true methods, and tools, while giving you the key skills and confidence to find biological relatives (relations) and JUMP over brick walls!
If you’re in need of brushing up on your traditional skills, THE GENEALOGY ACADEMY is a great option and I have a BUNDLE!
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More From Time Travel in Toledo, Ohio
The History of Mother’s Day
Anna Maria Jarvis (May 1, 1864 – November 24, 1948) was the founder of Mother's Day in the United States. Her mother had frequently expressed a desire to establish such a holiday, and after her mother's death, Jarvis led the movement for the commemoration.