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Revealing A Mysterious Murder

Who is Mrs. Mary Munday? Her body is found in the basement of a vacant home on Wisconsin Street in Toledo, Ohio and her husband is missing.  This is a real WHO DONE IT.

The Stone Murder

Our second case, The Stone Murder takes us to Akron, Ohio in 1896, where we meet Mr. Anson B. Strong, an Ohio Horse thief who is charged with the double murder of Mr. and Mrs. Alvin N. Stone. Mr. Stone had been a prior witness to Mr. Strong’s crimes…

What we know about the STONE Family:

Alvin N. Stone (1826-1896)

AKA Alvin Newton Stone

Son of Samuel Mansfield Stone (1797-1851) and Amanda Sperry (1801-1870)

*Assassinated in 1896, with wife, Sarena Elizabeth Treat, by a former hired man. 

1826 Birth: 7 Mar 1826, Tallmadge, Summit, Ohio

1854 Marriage: 12 Nov 1854

Serena Elizabeth Treat (1833-1896)

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XD7T-G5V

1860 CENSUS: Tallmadge, Summit, Ohio

A N Stone (33) born abt 1827, Ohio is head of household, occupation: 

Farmer. Also in the household are: wife: Serena Stone (27) born in 1833, Ohio; daughter: Fanny Stone (5) born in 1855, Ohio; son, Chs Stone (3) born in 1857, Ohio; daughter, Mary Stone (1) born in 1859, Ohio; also in the household are: Hellen Stone (17) born in 1843, Ohio; Lyman Stone (15) born in 1845, Ohio;  [possibly Alvin’s siblings?]

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCLS-XVS

1870 CENSUS: Tallmadge, Summit, Ohio

Alex N. Stone (42) born abt 1828, Ohio is head of household, working as a 

FARMER; living with: wife: Sirena E. Stone (36) born 1834, Ohio; Charles E. Stone (12) born 1858, Ohio; Mary A. Stone (11) 1859, Ohio; Richard J. Stone (8) 1862, Ohio; Eva S. Stone (6) 1864, Ohio; Emma H. Stone (3) 1867, Ohio; and Melissa Coal (16) 1854, Ohio - DOMESTIC SERVANT; and Hattie C Stone (1) 1869, Ohio. 

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6LB-8SV

1880 CENSUS: Tallmadge, Summit, Ohio

Alvin N. Stone (53) born in 1827, Ohio - married, FARMER, head of 

household; father/mother born in Connecticut; living with wife: Serina E. Stone (46) born in 1834 in Ohio, keeping house; father born in Connecticut; mother born in Ohio; and daughter: Mary A. Stone (21) born in 1859, Ohio, at home; and son, Richard T. Stone (18) born in 1862, Ohio, at home. 

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M83M-M9J

1896 Death: 29 Mar 1896, Tallmadge Township, Summit, Ohio

Alvin A. Stone (69) married, Farmer died on 29 Mar 1896 in Tallmadge, 

Summit, Ohio, CAUSE: HOMICIDE

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F6F5-C2K

Burial: Tallmadge Cemetery, Tallmadge, Summit, Ohio

Plot: Old Section, Lot 27, Grave 5

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/142682730/alvin-newton-stone

More to the Story:

! On the 29th of March, 1896, an assassi

! On the 29th of March, 1896, an assassin entered the home of Alvin and Serena (Treat) Stone and murdered Mr. & Mrs. Stone and their nephew, Ira Stillson, and injured two of the Stone girls, Emma and Hattie. The youngest daughter was the only person uninjured in the house that night. The assassin was their former hired hand by the name of Romulus Lotell, living under the name of John Smith. ! Alvin was a farmer.

MYSTERIOUS MURDERS.

Masked Man Tries to Wipe Out a Family at Akron, O.

AKRON, O., March 31. -

At a late hour a masked man entered the farm house of Alvin M. Stone, near Tallmadge, a few miles from this city, killed Stone and his wife, both aged people, and badly injured Ira Stillson, the hired man, and Emma Stone, the eldest daughter. The crime is a mystery. There is no possible motive for the murders so far as can be learned. Certainly the murderer was not bent on robbery for in a bureau drawer in Mr. Stone's room were two gold watches and some money, but nothing had been taken apparently.

The Daily Plainsman; Huron, South Dakota.

April 1, 1896; Page Three.

dm wms (#47395868)

Alvin’s Wife: 

Sarena Elizabeth Treat (1833-1896)

*AKA Serena

Daughter of Richard Bryan Treat Sr. (1803-1871) and Amorette Aurora Hutchins (1801-1873)

*Assassinated in 1896, with husband Alvin N. Stone by a former hired man. 

1833 Birth: 31 Aug 1833, Tallmadge, Summit, Ohio

1896 Death: 29 Mar 1896, Tallmadge, Summit, Ohio

Serena E. Stone (62) married, retired, died on 29 Mar 1896 in Tallmadge, 

Summit, Ohio

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F6F5-C22

Burial: Tallmadge Cemetery, Tallmadge, Summit County, Ohio

Plot: Old Section, Lot 27, Grave 4

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/142682795/serena-elizabeth-stone

Alvin and Sarena’s Children: (x8)

1. Fannie Pierce Stone - KENT (1855-1937)

2. Charles Edward Stone (1857-1878)

3. Mary Amanda Stone - KENT (1859-1945)

4. Richard Treat Stone (1861-1946)

5. Eva Serena Stone (1864-1930)

6. Emma Hutchins Stone - HART (1866-1930)

7. Harriet Eliza Stone - ROTHROCK (1868-1944)

8. Alvin Henry Stone (1872-1960)

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X6RS-DHF

1. Flora Amorette Stone (1880-1956)

More about the MURDERS:

The tragic story of Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Stone begins on the 30th of March 1896 in Tallmadge, Ohio, just outside of Akron, Ohio when in the middle of the night Mr. Alvin Stone, his wife, Mrs. Serena Stone (both in their 60’s), their nephew, and hired house servant, Ira Stillson, and the two oldest daughters, Hattie and Emma were brutally attacked, resulting in the death of Mr. and Mrs. Stone. A large, metallic and heavy hay stack hook was found in the initial newspaper article, covered in blood and resting on a shelf in the kitchen.

There were so many twists and turns to this case, but the murderer had come in contact with Flora, the Stone’s youngest daughter and left her unharmed, knocking Emma unconscious and injuring Hattie, who noticed a ladder at her bedroom window and escaped to run to her Uncle Stillson’s home for help, losing consciousness intermittently throughout her travels.

It was noted that the suspect was thought to be Mr. John Smith, a hired hand whom was fired two weeks prior by Mr. Alvin Stone because he was showing too much interest in the Stone’s youngest daughter, Flora, resulting in a heated argument between the two men and Mr. Smith being asked to leave the premises.

Mr. Stone was a wealthy farmer, and motive had not been larceny, as nothing was taken from the Stone’s home during the attack.

On the 31st of March 1896, the Akron Police had enough evidence against Mr. Anson B. Strong to make an arrest against him. It is said that Mr. Alvin Stone had helped to convict Mr. Strong with his testimony against Mr. Strong and the theft of some horses, not once, but twice over the years and results in Mr. Strong making threats of revenge against Mr. Alvin Stone and his family. Because of the uproar this was causing within the community, the Militia was called to guard the jail.

On the 2nd of April, the funeral was held for Mr. and Mrs. Stone at the church and in the Stone’s home with immense crowds gathering to mourn their respected and beloved neighbors.

On the 4th of April 1896, the police are still collecting evidence, which is staking up for Mr. Anson B. Strong, as the police suspect him due to finding railroad tickets from Ravenna to Kent, the latter place being within two miles of the scene of the crime.

It is on the 6th of April 1896 that the nephew of Mr. and Mrs. Stone succumbs to his wounds and dies, a week after his injuries were made.

On the 9th of April 1896 the plot really thickens as Mr. John Smith, aka Romulus Cotell CONFESSES to the CRIMES! John Smith, as you remember, is the ex-hired man, whom Mr. Alvin Stone had fired because his affections for Mr. Stone’s youngest daughter were not welcome. Mr. Smith claims his motive for committing the crime was to assault Flora Stone, the only family member who was NOT injured by the murderer.

At this point, Mr. Anson B. Strong is still in jail on murder charges, but Mr. Smith is now a suspect and is arrested at the farm of Mr. Porter, a neighbor to the Stone Family, for whom Mr. Smith has been working since his dismissal by Mr. Alvin Stone.

Police had received a tip about some evidence and upon investigation, they found a flour sack containing a suit of men’s clothing in the barn with what is believed to be blood stains that Mr. Porter confirmed belonged to Mr. Smith. A bat was also recovered that was believed to have blood splatter present.

Mr. Smith claims that the bat was used to administer the deadly blows to the victims.

In later April, Mr. Anson B. Strong is released from jail and all charges have been dismissed. ** This is a key moment.

On the 24th of June 1896, Mr. John Smith AKA Mr. Romulus Cotell’s trial begins.

Mr. Cotell is said to have been acting very distant, nonchalant, and unaffected by the case in the least. He is also said to have been smiling when his name was mentioned, laughing about and making comments to his father and reporters who sat directly behind him.

The defense is going for an insanity plea, but after many testimonials proving otherwise, it is found that Mr. Romulus Cotell, who is reported to have changed his name to escape the abuse of his father, might not be bright, but he is a perfectly sane eighteen year old boy.

On the 25th of June, 1896, the court and Mr. Cotell visit the scene of the crime and pay witness to Mr. Cotell’s strange behavior. He is said to have been pointing things out, acting very happy and chatting with the judge the jurors alike. The court was also taken to Mr. Porter’s place, and shown where Mr. Cotell resides while under his employ, noting the narrow staircase that was used by Mr. Cotell and the squeaky entry door.

The visit was due to the fact the Emma and Hattie Stone were unable to identify the murderer and could only record their experiences of that night. Other witnesses were brought forth but none contained anything of importance to the details of the case.

On the 3rd of July 1896, all the evidence was in and the jury was left with selecting a verdict for Mr. Romulus Cotell (AKA Mr. John Smith).

When the Jury returned on Monday, 7th of July 1896, they charged Mr. Cotell with LIFE in the penitentiary on the conviction of murder, one indictment, for Mr. Alvin Stone. The other two (2) convictions of indictment were thrown out.

We would THINK that THIS is the end of the case, right!

Well… in 1899, three years AFTER Mr. Anson B. Strong was acquitted of his murder conviction charges, his cellmate comes forward and drops a HUGE bombshell… stating that Mr. Strong confessed to him while locked up for the testimony given by Mr. Alvin Stone for the theft of horses, that he was going to KILL the Stone Family and even went through HOW he would do the murders with such vivid detail that the cellmate stated that there was NO DOUBT that he was behind the murders of Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Stone and their nephew.

The prosecution was fixed on the murder weapon being the baseball bat that was used and confessed as the murder weapon by Romulus Cotell, but the cellmate brought the Hay bale Hook to light stating that Mr. Strong had plotted the murders using just such a weapon.

This caused the prosecution to try to absolve Mr. Romulus Cotell of the crimes of murder, allowing him to be awarded with a NEW TRIAL, allowing him to potentially avoid LIFE in prison.

Because there were so many unanswered questions surrounding the whereabouts of Mr. Anson B. Strong on the night of the murder in 1896, it put things into motion… resulting in the release of Mr. Romulus Cotell at the age of 35, seventeen years AFTER his conviction of murder and sentence of LIFE in prison.

Mr. Anson B. Strong was never re-tried (double jeopardy might be a factor, although not stated) nor was he found after the 1914 release of Romulus.

Judge R.M. Wanamaker of the Supreme Court, who was prosecutor when Cotell was tried, was highly displeased that Cotell should be released!

What A Story!

On a brighter note, I did find on the 22nd of January 1903, Miss Flora Stone, the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Stone, and the person suspected of being the motive for the murders, was married to Louis Edgar Freeman, both of Akron, Ohio. They were married at the home of Miss. Stone, who moved to Akron after the murders with her sisters.

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More From Time Travel in Toledo, Ohio

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