Going back in time to July, 1876, public opinion was running high in the county over the murder case involving young Jack Wonderly who killed his father, Joseph, in Mark Township. Many had the opinion that maybe it was self-defense or a justifiable murder, while others wanted the full punishment for the son, Jack.
The story appeared in many newspapers across the area and into adjoining states, but most followed this pattern:
"A WAR LEGACY
Our people were startled on Tuesday to learn that on Sunday evening, J. W. Wonderly of Mark Tp. had been shot and fatally injured by his son, Jackson Wonderly. The facts, as we have learned them, are as follows:
On Sunday afternoon Wonderly was at Mark Center, where he imbibed too freely of whisky. He returned to his home about two miles west of Mark Center, about half-past six o'clock in the evening, and requested his wife to get supper. She refused, and he made an assault upon her. To escape from him, she went upstairs and locked herself in her bedroom. He followed and attempted to kick the door down.
The children were in the house at the time, and, seeing the infuriated father at work endeavoring to reach his mother's room, Jackson Wonderly, a lad of eighteen years old, small of size, but stout and wiry, picked up an ax- helve (handle) and ran upstairs and grabbed his father. A tussle ensued, during which Wonderly (the father) was pitched down stairs and out of the house.
Mrs. Wonderly raised the window in her room and called to Jackson to get the gun and shoot his father. Quick to obey his mother, whose side he had always taken against his father in the family quarrels, Jackson took down a rifle carrying a 125 caliber ball and while his father was standing about six feet away, he fired. The shot took effect about two inches below and a little to the left of the navel, and the man dropped in his tracks. As soon as possible, assistance was obtained and the wounded man was taken in the house, and Dr. Richards was called, who pronounced the wound fatal in its nature. Wonderly lived about five hours after being shot. Before dying, he stated that his son shot him.
Jackson Wonderly was arrested, and under the direction of Sheriff Hootman, a postmortem examination of his victim was made by Drs. Rakestraw and Kinmont. An inquest was held, Justice Maxwell of Hicksville Township, acting as Coroner. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the above facts. The boy-murderer was brought to Defiance on Wednesday and was confined to jail.
From the neighbors of this unfortunate family, we learn that trouble had been brewing for a long time between Wonderly and his family - in fact, the commencement of the quarrel was during the late war. While Wonderly was in the army, his wife bore an illegitimate child, and this worked upon the mind of the man almost continually. He labored hard to ensure a good home for his family, but he got on sprees and then raised Cain generally. Jackson always took sides with his mother and the murder on Sunday night was the outgrowth of a long and bitter quarrel."
Telegraph-Forum, Bucyrus, Ohio - 8 Jan. 1876
It was July 5, 1876, before the courts met to hear Jack's case and pass sentencing. This article appeared in The Defiance Democrat on July 20, 1876, on page 3:
"TRIAL OF JACKSON WONDERLY.
This case, which caused much interest and excitement, terminated on Saturday night by a verdict of manslaughter. The facts in the case are familiar to our readers. Jackson Wonderly, a lad of seventeen years shot his father in a quarrel last November. The circumstances were peculiar and the previous life of the family was such as to bring disaster sooner or later upon some member of the household. The father was the victim. The boy was arrested and confined in the county jail to await trial.
The grand jury indicted him for murder in the first degree. His trial commenced on the 5th of July and lasted until the close of the 15th. Many witnesses were examined and attorneys contested ably the case upon which the life of the boy depended. Examination of witnesses closed on Friday noon. The afternoon was taken up with arguments. by Prosecuting Attorney Bronson for the State and Messers. Myers and Sutphen for the defense. Friday forenoon was occupied entirely by W. D. Hill for the defense. Mr. Owen closed for the prosecution on Saturday afternoon.
The charge of Judge Latty was lengthy , very able and strictly impartial. The jury were sent out at half-past six o'clock. The first ballot taken by them resulted in 3 for murder in the first degree, 5 for manslaughter and 3 for acquittal. At half-past eleven o'clock they agreed upon a verdict for manslaughter, but as Court had adjourned until Monday morning, the jurors were obliged to remain over Sunday.
At convening of court on Monday morning, the verdict was announced, whereupon counsel for the defense made a motion for a new trial.
Hearing on the motion was postponed until yesterday morning. Counsel for the defense concluded to withdraw motion for new trial and yesterday morning Court convened and Jackson W. Wonderly was arraigned for sentence. In a most impressive manner, Judge Latty reviewed the case and gave good practical advice to the prisoner, at the conclusion of which he sentenced him to seven years hard labor in the penitentiary. The young man may consider himself very fortunate in escaping so easily. The offense was a most grave one and a verdict of manslaughter when the indictment was murder in the first degree may be considered by the murderer as an act of clemency and a prolongation of his life in a more humane manner that he was willing to accord his victim. The boy was taken to Columbus today."
So much for neutral reporting. Obviously the writer of this article was not happy with the sentencing, thinking that Jackson got off way too easily for the crime.
He was probably joined in that thinking by many others.
Jackson did not really learn any lessons through all this though, as in 1885, after his early release from the charge of cattle theft, he was charged and convicted of grand larceny and made the trip to Columbus for the third stint in the penitentiary there.
1870 Census, Milford Township, Defiance County, Ohio
Joseph H. Wonderly 42, carpenter, house value $500
Elizabeth Wonderly, 32
Seneca Wonderly, 15
Melissa Wonderly, 13
Jackson Wonderly, 11
Peleg (?) Wonderly, 9
Emma Wonderly, 6
Madison Wonderly, 3
Chauncey Wonderly, 11 months
After prison, Jackson Wonderly moved at some point to Montgomery County, Ohio, where he died in 1932. He was buried in Shiloh Park Cemetery there with his wife, Bardie Ann (1874-1928).
Jackson's obituary from The Dayton Herald, November 12, 1932, p. 14 -
"YEAR'S ILLNESS IS ENDED BY DEATH OF JACKSON WONDERLY
Funeral Service for Davis Avenue Resident to Be Held Monday Afternoon.
J. Jackson Wonderly, 71, of 21 Davis Avenue, died at 8:30 p.m. Friday at the St. Elizabeth hospital, following an illness of one year.
He was a member of Dayton Council No. 24, Jr. O. U. A. M. (Junior Order of United American Mechanics).
Surviving him are one daughter, Mrs. Madonna Delrymple, of Cambridge, Ohio; two brothers, Tiel W. Wonderly of Mark Center, Ohio; and John W. Wonderly of Sherwood, Ohio; and one sister, Mrs. Emma Cable, of Sidney.
Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Monday at the Marker funeral home, 2218 North Main street. Burial will be in Shiloh"
