Homicides of Adults in Ross County, Ohio, 1798-1900

Homicides of Adults in Ross County, Ohio, 1798-1900

ROS

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1798Chillicothe, ROS

HIST

NOTE: could be the same murderer as in 1818. Would make him 23 yrs. old in 1798

Class: certain

Crime: HOM

Rela: NONDOM

Motive: QUARREL

Intox?: yes, victim

Day of week:

Holiday?:

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Days to death: 0

SUSPECT(s):Thomas Thompson

VICTIM(s):Indian

Weapon: Victim of TT: [club] handspike. Skull frac. d. that night.

Circumstances: "Thomas Thompson, proprietor of a saloon, had a quarrel with an intoxicated Indian on the street. The savage (red) was on horseback and Thompson struck him with a handspike, felling him to the ground and badly fracturing his skull."

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Indictment? none

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Legal records:

Evans, Lyle S., A Standard History of Ross County, Ohio, 2 v. (1917; reprinted, Baltimore: Gateway Press, 1987). v. 1: 245-6.

"SAVAGE SURGICAL TREATMENT

In 1798 there was such a local Indian scare that nearly all the women and children in Chillicothe were confined in Abrams' Big House for safekeeping. It appears that Thomas Thompson, proprietor of a saloon, had a quarrel with an intoxicated Indian on the street. The savage (red) was on horseback and Thompson struck him with a handspike, felling him to the ground and badly fracturing his skull. He was immediately taken to Camp Bull, about a mile north of the town, where the Indians were quartered under the command of a Cherokee chief called Captain Johnny. Doctors Tiffin and McAdow were sent for, and upon examination, found trepanning was necessary. Taking out their instruments, they at once set about the operation. The Indians who were watching the work of the doctors, soon became very angry, and with an expressive Ugh! said, 'One white man kill Indian, two come to scalp him.' Captain Johnny tried to explain what was being done, and to quiet them, but it was contrary to their experience and observation that scalping tended to save life, and they continued to reiterate: 'One white man kill Indian, and two come to scalp him,' and each repetition increased their excitement. The old chief, finding they were getting beyond his control, went to the doctors and advised them to leave, telling them that he could not prevent their murder, if there should be an outbreak. The doctors did not stay upon ceremony, but gathering up their instruments, they took the Indian trail for town, and no doubt felt much more comfortable when they were beyond the reach of the scalping knives of the savages.

The Indian died during the night, and so terribly enraged were the rest of the band, that they demanded Thompson should be delivered up to them, and threatened the destruction of every man, woman and child in Chillicothe, if their demand was not complied with. Some of the citizens advised his surrender; but the majority, though they must have looked upon him as a murderer, could not bring themselves to consent to the barbarities of an Indian execution.

WHITES GATHER AT ABRAMS'

"Abrams' big house," being the largest in town, was used as a place of safety for the women and children the rest of the night, and the streets were patrolled by armed men, in constant expectation of an attack. The Indians were more numerous than the whites, and who can say that the tragedy of Wyoming might not have been re-enacted, had not their rage been restrained. Negotiations with the Indians resulted, finally, in pacifying them. Presents were made to the friends of the murdered Indian, and a promise given them to punish Thompson according to the laws of the United States. Thompson was arrested, and after being held in confinement for a time, was allowed to escape. When this was known, the Indians, according to their custom, felt called upon to avenge the murder, and a brother of the Indian who had been killed, known as Jack Hot, and another relative, killed two young men on Jonathan's Creek, and escaped to Canada. This information was given by the Indians to the Rev. James B. Finley, who was a missionary among them."

Carter, Clarence EdwinShaw, ed., The Territorial Papers of the United States, v. 3: The Territory Northwest of the River Ohio, 1787-1803 (Washington, D. C.: U. S. Government Printing Office, 1934), 508. HOM IN OHIO:

"June 6th [1798]: A Commission was granted to the Honorable John Cleves Symmes one of the Judges of the Territory to hold a Court Oyer & Terminer in the County of Adams for the trial of a certain Thomas Thomson for killing an Indian." [NOTE: Ross County was then a part of Adams County.]

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Accused 1: Thomas Thompson

Ethnicity:[nb Prot]

Race:w

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Age:adult

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Occupation:saloon keeper

Town:Chillicothe

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Victim 1: ___

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1798Jonathan's Creek, ROS

HIST

Class: probable

Crime: HOM: 2 adults

Rela: NONDOM

Motive: REVENGE

Intox?: [no]

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SUSPECT(s):Jack Hot [brother of the Indian killed by Thomas Thompson] and another relative

VICTIM(s):2 young men on Jonathan's Creek

Weapon: unknown

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Indictment? none

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Legal records:

Evans, Lyle S., A Standard History of Ross County, Ohio, 2 v. (1917; reprinted, Baltimore: Gateway Press, 1987). v. 1: 245-6.

"SAVAGE SURGICAL TREATMENT

WHITES GATHER AT ABRAMS'

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1800C & 1810C: nothing

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Accused 1: Jack Hot

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Age:adult

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Accused 2: ___

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Victim 1: ___

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Age:adultyoung man

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Town:Jonathan's Creek

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Victim 1: ___

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Age:adultyoung man

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Town:Jonathan's Creek

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1801, May 18Scioto Twp., Chillicothe, ROS

Class: certain

Crime: HOM

Rela: TAVERN / STREET CUSTOMER by CUSTOMER

Motive: QUARREL

Intox?: [possibly both]

Day of week:M

Holiday?:no

Time of day:evening, just after dark

Days to death: 0

SUSPECT(s):John Bowman

VICTIM(s):John Betz

Weapon: knife. Stabbed seven times.

Circumstances: in a fight that began in a tavern on Water Street and was taken outside to the bank of the Scioto River at the end of Water Street, Bowman pulled a knife and stabbed Betz several times. [Bowman] & others who had been working on the roads went to the tavern at the end of their work day. Betz and others who had not been working on the roads came in soon after and a dispute started b/w the two men. Bowman set Betz's hair on fire with a candle. Betz pushed Bowman down and suggested that they take the dispute outside. The crowd interfered, but Bowman then challenged Betz & they did go outside. Ed. describes Bowman as a "rash and unreflecting man."

Inquest:

Indictment? yes, murder

Term?: 7/1801

Court proceedings: initially fG M-1, but at retrial fG MANSL. Branded with an M in the palm of his hand.

Legal records:

Carter, Clarence Edwin, ed., The Territorial Papers of the United States, v. 3: The Territory Northwest of the River Ohio, 1787-1803 (Washington, D. C.: U. S. Government Printing Office, 1934), 529. HOM IN OHIO: Sept. 1, 1801: the Governor "issued a Commission of Oyer and Terminer to Joseph Gilman and Return Jonathan Meigs Junior Judges, of the Territory for the trial of Bowman of Ross County, accused of murder, and a writ of si non omnes to the same, and a venire to the Sheriff of Ross."

Newspaper:

WSHG, 6/3/1801 (W): HOM: acct of incident in Chillicothe on M evening, 5/18/1801, in which John Bates and John Bowman fought at a tavern, & Bates was killed.

"A melancholy accident took place at Chilicothe on Monday evening, the 18th ult. A Mr. John Bates and John Bowman met at a tavern, where they had some differences--Bates proposed going out and deciding the quarrel by themselves, to which Bowman agreed--They went out, and Bowman stabbed Bates with his knife in seven different places, of which he expired in a few minutes. A jury of inquest set on the body next morning, and brought in a verdict of 'Wilful murder by the hands of John Bowman,' who is lodged in jail."

SGCA, 5/21/1801 (Th): HOM: ditto, John Bates/Betz & John Bowman. Bowman arrested for murder. "On Monday evening last, just after dark, a very melancholly and distressing scene took place in this town. A number of persons who had been working on the roads, assembled at a house on Water street to take some refreshment. A short time after they had met, Mr. John Bates, with other citizens who had not been working on the roads came in. Immediately after an altercation took place between Bates and John Bowman--Bates knocked or pushed Bowman nearly down; the company separated them. Soon after they met, Bates proposed to Bowman to walk out, by themselves, some distance from the company and decide the quarrel, to which Bowman agreed. They left the house, went to the edge of the bank near the lower end of Water-street, separate from the company, when they engaged. Having fought some time, they separated, and both made towards the house they had left--but horrid to relate! the former, unable to reach the house, seated himself on a stump; the persons from the house ran to his assistance, but too late to afford him relief! He expired! On immediately examining his body, it was found he had been stabbed in seven different places; one in the pit of his stomach, which, from the depth of the wound, was supposed to have been the fatal stroke. The unfortunate Bowman was immediately taken into custody, and on search being made, a knife was found on the ground, covered with fresh blood, near the spot where they fought. Bowman was committed to goal, under a strong guard.--On Tuesday morning, a jury of inquest sat on the remains of the deceased; who, after a minute examination of a number of witnesses, brought in their verdict, wilful murder, by the hands of John Bowman.

This rash and unreflecting man was late from Berkeley County, Virginia, has a wife and family. The deceased, a young man sometime since a resident here, and much respected by all who knew him. We forbear any comments, as the case of the unfortunate Bowman will shortly be decided on by a jury of his country.

The remains of the deceased was decently interred on Tuesday evening, attended by a very large assembly of relations and friends."

SGCA, 5/28/1801 (Th): HOM: ditto, John Bates/Betz & John Bowman. More on the murder. "An unintentional error took place in the statement of the affray between Bates and Bowman, as related in our last. It appears by the declarations of several of the witnesses, that previous to Bates pushing down Bowman, he (Bowman) set Bates' hair on fire with a candle, which he resented, and challedged [sic] him out to fight, but the company interfered;--the quarrel still continuing, Bowman challenged Bates--they went out and fought, and the fatal consequences followed which have been already stated."

SCGA, 7/23/1801 (Th): HOM: trial of John Bates/Betez postponed due to illness of Judge Meigs. "A court of oyer and terminer, for the trial of John Bowman, charg'd with the murder of John Betez, was opened here on Tuesday last, but in consequence of the indisposition of judge Meigs, the court adjourned until this day, 10 o'clock."

SCGA, 7/30/1801 (Th): HOM: note on trial of John Bowman for murder of John Betz. "Thursday last commenced the trial of John Bowman, charged with the murder of John Betz, which continued until Monday evening following, when the jury retired, and on Tuesday morning brought in their verdict 'GUILTY.'