Murder, Cattle Thievery, and Grand Larceny in Mark Center, Ohio - Part ONE

 

The Hicksville News, 5 January 1882, p. 4

"Considerable interest has been created in our town in the past few days about the theft of several head of cattle in Mark township.  In the past few weeks, fourteen head of cattle have been missing in that township, but the cause of their disappearance was not known until Saturday last, when Jack Wonderly and George Sewell were detected.

On that morning those parties drove to Williams Center and sold toJames Fisher, five head of cattle for $80, the Wonderly boys giving their names as Blackburn, and the Sewell boy as Eaton.  Eugene Blair saw the  boys driving the cattle and recognized them as belonging to Harvey Hulbert, and this led to their detection.

George Sewell and John Wonderly were arrested Saturday, and Jack Wonderly on Sunday. It seems that Jack Wonderly, aged about 21 years, stole the cattle, and that he hired George Sewell, aged 17 years, and John Wonderly, aged 13, to help drive them.

At a trial yesterday, Jack was bound over to the court by Esq. Huffman in the sum of $1000, John, $500, and Sewell, $1000. As soon as the arrests were made, it became known that Jack Wonderly had also sold stolen cattle, five in number, to Hugh Mills at Williams Center, for $70, several weeks ago and that the cattle belonged to Albert Coy.  To Mr. Mills, Wonderly gave his name as Keister. In both cases, Wonderly told the story that his mother was a widow and did not have feed for the stock.  

To the boys, Jack represented that he had bought the cattle.  On the second count, they waived examination. Esq. Huffman placed $1000 more bail for Jack, for his appearance before the grand jury at Defiance today.

Jack Wonderly shot and killed his father in Mark township a few years ago, for which he was sent to the penitentiary, but was pardoned out two years ago.

Each lot of cattle was worth about $100, and Jack will have to go over that road.  Opinion is divided as to the guilt of the young boys.

J. F. Coulter appeared for the state, and Thompson & Griffin for the defense.  The boys were taken away yesterday evening.  It is not probable that they will get bail, except the small one, George.  Mr. Mills and Mr. Fisher will both lose the money paid for the cattle."   

Jack W. and George Sewell pled guilty to a charge of stealing cattle in Common Pleas court.  The small Wonderly boy was discharged with no sentence.  Jack Wonderly got seven years in the penitentiary in Columbus, but he only served three years and eleven months and was released.  Sewell was sentenced to four years

But here is the rest of the story...Part TWO.