"FOUL MURDER
Enos Rath, Hicksville's Night Watchman,
Clubbed to Death.
HELD UP IN THE DARKNESS
By a Gang of Three Toughs Bent Upon Revenge for Their Victim Having Watched Them.
Enos Rath is murdered!
Such was the startling, sensational information that greeted the people of Defiance upon their first appearance on the streets Saturday morning.
Hicksville's well known, faithful and efficient night watchman and Deputy Marshal had been set upon during the night by some desperate persons while performing his official duty and his life pounded away.
The story of the affair, as obtained by the Hicksville representative of this paper, is as follows:
About 1 o'clock a.m., Wm. Bricker who resides on High street, the principal business street, about twenty five rods south of the B & O depot, was awakened by the noise of men scuffling on the walk in front of his place and the cry of a man apparently in an agony of pain.
Mr. Bricker ran out of a side door of his house in his night clothes to see what was the trouble,and in coming into view, observed in the darkness three men and Night Watchman Enos Rath, the latter being assailed and beaten by the others. Feeling that it was necessary for him to be dressed before getting to Rath's assistance, he hurried back into the house to get some of his clothes on, ad on entering the house, he accidentally stumbled over a chair, which made considerable noise. About that time, Rath's assailants fled, it being supposed that the noise gave them the warning that assistance was coming to him.
Before Mr. Bricker had got fairly dressed, Rath managed to drag himself, or stagger, upon Bricker's porch, and on Bricker opening the front door, the officer entered. In answer to Bricker's questions, he responded that he had had trouble. Rath was bleeding freely from frightful blows which he had sustained about the head. His head was a mass of bruises and cuts.
His story of the affray, as he told it in a labored manner, due to his injuries, was that he had met three men in front of Bricker's place. In the darkness, he took them for men seeking a place to stay and thought they probably wanted to get in the village prison where tramps are allowed to spend the night. But, no sooner did he address them than two of them leveled revolvers at him while a third dealt him a terrible blow on the head with a club or some other blunt instrument. And this was followed up by several more blows on his head, which fell thick and fast, until his assailants took the alarm and left him.
Mr. Bricker called Charles Wires, a neighbor, to assist him, and together they started to take Mr. Rath home. They walked as far as the Swilley House, when Mr. Rath said he was too sick to go farther, and they took him in the hotel office and sat him down in a chair and sent for a doctor.
Rath soon relapsed into unconsciousness and, before the doctor arrived, he sank into the arms of death, his injuries being beyond human endurance. He died a few moments after 2 o'clock.
Later his remains were given in charge of an undertaker and removed to his home.
Details of the crime were telegraphed and telephoned to surrounding towns, and an order was sent to Oakwood for blood hounds with which to trail the murderers.
Boot tracks in the soft earth about the scene of the murder were the only clue left for the officers to work on. These were guarded during the forenoon hours so as to prevent their obliteration, in order that the bloodhounds might be given the scent.
The people of this entire county are very much wrought up over the terrible deed, as Mr. Rath's acquaintance was wide and his friends among the law abiding people are universal.
Enos Rath was an exceptionally good police officer. In the performance of his duty, he never faltered or wavered, no matter how great the danger to himself. It was his devotion to duty and fearlessness that probably inspired his treacherous murder.
He served as policeman in Defiance for three years and has been an officer in Hicksville since 1894, during all of which time he was regarded as an excellent officer."
(The incoming trains at the B & O depot were checked for suspicious characters, but none were found. Some of Rath's relatives, including his father, William, and brothers, W. I. and George A. and his sister Mrs. Toberen took the 11 a.m. into Hicksville that morning to give assistance to the family. Along with the relatives, others came from Defiance: Sheriff Eiser, Prosecuting Attorney Ansberry, Probate Judge Hockman, Marshal Hull and officers Daniel Shea and Seibert.)
"Mr. Rath leaves a wife and two children. His son, Joseph, is married and resides in Hicksville, and a daughter, Ina, who is single, and resides with her mother.
Enos Rath was born April 17, 1852, at which time his parents resided on the farm now owned by David Rasor, in Tiffin township. He remained at home working on the farm most of the time until January 1877, when he married Miss Elizabeth Wilson. He then moved to St. Johns, Mich. where he was employed sme years in a wood working factory.
He then moved back to Tiffin township where he was occupied for a time doing county ditch work on contracts. About thirteen years ago, he moved to the city of Defiance and for some time worked in the furniture factory of Geiger & Son, and the bucket factory of Burgland and Shead. Finally he was appointed on the city police force where he served about three years, having charge of the Third Ward.
In 1894 he was engaged by Hicksville people to come to that village and break up a gang of thieves who were making headquarters there and causing a good deal of trouble. His work was so effectual and satisfactory, the merchants of the village offered him steady employment as night policeman, and he has been thus engaged since.
He is the oldest of a family of seven children. His brothers are John H. assistant foreman of the box factory; George A., a painter who resides in this city; W. I., the ex-sheriff; and the youngest brother, James and sisters, Katie, wife of Joseph Fiddler and Dollie, wife of Henry Toberen. His father, Wm. Rath, also resides in this city with his second wife."
Enos Rath died on November 25, 1899.
(Defiance Democrat - November 30, 1899)
To be continued...
