Boy Wounded In Halloween Prank

The Register-Leader, November 1, 1922

Gun Turned Into Crowd By Doctor

As the result of an alleged Hallowe'en prank Tuesday evening, Jack Riley [Jack B. O'Riley; Jack O'Reilly], 18, of 325 Mathews street, is in Marietta hospital suffering from a bullet wound in the right leg and Dr. Winfield S. Ross, of 312 Fifth street, is at liberty under bond of $1,000 charged with shooting with intent to kill.  The physician is alleged to have fired the bullet which struck Riley and at his arraignment before Mayor G. B. H. Sanford, Wednesday morning, he entered a plea of not guilty and was released under bond for hearing Saturday morning at nine o'clock.

The bullet which struck Riley was fired from a 32 callibre Colt automatic revolver.  It penetrated the fleshy part of the right thigh midway between the knee and hip joint and penetrated within a quarter of an inch of the opposite side of the youth's leg.  Riley was removed to Marietta hospital shortly after the shooting and the bullet was removed Wednesday morning by Dr. C. A. S. Williams.  The wound is not considered a dangerous one and Riley's early recovery is expected.

Contradictory Reports

Contradictory stories as to happenings which led up to the shooting were secured by police officers who investigated the case but it appears that Riley and about twenty or twenty-five other young companions were in the party when the shooting occurred.  These boys, it was stated, were in the vicinity of the Mills home on Fifth street, directly across the street from the Ross residence, when someone hurled a portion of a brick on to the front porch of the Ross home.  At the same time, it was reported, someone shouted a name at the physician and he appeared on the porch of his home with the revolver in his hand.

The young men fled up Fifth street, it was stated to police, and Dr. Ross gave chase, firing the gun as he ran.  At Fifth and Scammel streets the boys turned down Scammel with the doctor in close pursuit.  When just opposite the high school building, Riley is said to have exclaimed that he was shot and he began limping.  His companions, however, continued to flee, thinking that the boy was only joking and Riley was soon left behind.  Dr. Ross apparently gave up the chase at this juncture and returned to his home.

Police Find Wounded Boy

Meantime police had been notified of the occurrence and Patrolmen Mills and Goodman were detailed on the case.  On Scammel street they found the Riley boy in considerable pain and suffering from a slight loss of blood.  He was taken to police headquarters and then rushed to Marietta hospital, where medical aid was rendered.

After placing the wounded lad in the hospital the patrolmen went to the Ross home on Fifth street and arrested the physician charged with the shooting.  He was lodged in the city jail for the night and was released Wednesday under bond.  When the officers arrived at the home, Dr. Ross is alleged to have been sitting just inside the front door with an old model single shot rifle of large calibre in his hands.  He also had in his possession the Colt 32 automatic and a number of cartridges for both weapons.  He showed no resistance to the officers but admitted them without a word.

Had Gun in Possession

The rifle which Dr. Ross had in his possession bore the trademark of the E. G. Lamson Company of Windsor, Vermont, and apparently was a gun of high power.  The cartridges for the weapon were of 48 calibre with wooden tips.  It was loaded when brought to headquarters.

During the affair which resulted in the wounding of the Riley boy, Dr. Ross is alleged to have fired six shots, police reported.  One of these bullets penetrated the home of Susman Ruby, at 325 Fifth street, tearing a hole nearly a half inch in width through the wall of the dwelling, ripped open a curtain behind which one of the sons of Mr. Ruby kept his clothing, shattered plastering on the wall of the closet and dropped into a coat pocket.  The bullet was later secured by the police.

Room Was Unoccupied

A son of Mr. Ruby is said to have missed being struck by the stray bullet by only a few moments.  The room which it penetrated is used by him as a study room and only a few moments before he had been seated at a typewriter at the desk over which the bullet sped.  He had just gone into the library of the home when the shooting occurred.  Police stated that had the youth been seated at the typewriter the course of the bullet indicated that he would have been struck squarely in the head.

Investigation of the case by police revealed only the names of three other members of the party in addition to Riley, who are alleged to have been fired upon by Dr. Ross.  They are Edward Cleary, of Muskingum Drive; Donald Haynes of Fifth street, and Clayton Porter.  It was reported that about twenty or twenty-five boys made up the party.

 The Riley boy, victim of the shooting, is a stepson of Cyril Tooley, who is employed at a clothing store on Greene street.  He is a student at St. Marys Parochial School and came to this city about six years ago from Bushnell, Illinois.  It was stated that the boy has a sister at Bushnell who is seriously ill with tuberculosis and his mother is in that city at the present time.  He had been out of school for several days and had been caring for younger children at his home.

*     *     *     *     *

Aged Man Who Shot Boy Sent to Jail for Twenty Days

Marietta Daily Times, January 8, 1923

Court Says Grand Jury Action Kind

A fine of $100 and costs and a jail sentence of 6 months and 20 days, the twenty days of which must be served, was administered to Dr. Winfield S. Ross in the court of common pleas on Monday afternoon. Judge Thomas took occasion to remind Dr. Ross that the grand jury "had at least been kind to him" in that it did not bring a more serious charge against him.

Dr. Ross was in court on an indictment charging him with "intentionally and willfully pointing and discharging fire arms without malice," to which he had formally entered a plea of guilty. Or rather, the plea had been entered by his attorney, W. E. Sykes, who waived reading of the indictment on behalf of his client.

A great crowd filled the court room when the aged man was arraigned, and the unusual spectacle of a defendant making an extended address to the court and to the crowd, was witnessed. The court was interrupted by the defendant in the midst of passing sentence, and the latter asked permission to say a word. The permission was granted, then Dr. Ross launched upon a lengthy recital of his experiences in Marietta during the 23 years that he has been a resident of the city.

In great detail he told of indignities to which he says he has been subjected, declaring that boys and men congregate in front of his home at all hours of the day and night and yell "rainwater" at him. He admitted that he used a gun on the night of Halloween, but declared that he had no intention of killing or even injuring anyone. He said he shot merely to frighten the boys and men who molested him.

The trouble that brought Dr. Ross to his present plight occurred on Halloween when he shot and severely wounded Jack O'Reilly of Matthew Street, an 18-year-old boy, who since has spent many weeks in the hospital.

*     *     *     *     *

Dr. Ross Goes to Jail Friday

Marietta Daily Times, January 10, 1923

Dr. Winfield S. Ross, Marietta physician who must serve a jail sentence of 20 days, upon his plea of guilty to an indictment of pointing firearms, is to report to the sheriff on Friday morning at 9 o'clock to enter the county jail and begin payment of the penalty for his act. He was sentenced late Monday afternoon, and at his own request was granted a stay of sentence until Friday that he might care for business matters that demanded his attention.

The exact sentence imposed by Judge Thomas upon Dr. Ross was a fine of $100 and the costs of the prosecution and a jail sentence of six months and 20 days. The six months' jail sentence was suspended during such time as Dr. Ross desists from any act of violence or from violation of law in the community.

Arrangements are being made by Sheriff Yarnall, it is understood, to commit Dr. Ross to the female section of the prison, where he will have more comfortable quarters than he would find in the general prison, which is well filled with prisoners, the majority of whom are moonshiners and bootleggers.

Complaint

The Marietta Times, April 27, 1898

Complaint having been made to Mayor Richardson that one Mollie Williams was running a disorderly house on Church street, he ordered the police to raid the place which they did about 2 o'clock Sunday morning.  They found in the house 5 women and 7 young men and arrested all but one woman who made her escape through a window.  The women captured were arraigned before the Mayor Monday morning, and three of them pleading guilty, they were each fined $10.00 and costs except Mollie Williams who, being the keeper of the place, was fined $40.00.  Edith Berry pleaded not guilty and her trial was set for a later date.

The boys arrested were given a lecture full of good advice, and after being notified that a severe penalty would follow a repetition of the offence, were permitted to go without being fined.  It is a sad commentary upon the time in which we live that they in age ranged from 15 to 20 years.  If we were Mayor those who encouraged the visits of boys of those tender years to their places would spend most of their time in jail.

Francis MacMillen Given Medal

The Marietta Daily Times, May 3, 1907

Francis McMillen and Associates Had Large Crowd at Last Concert.

The concert given at the Auditorium last evening was, like the three previous ones in which Francis McMillen participated attended by an audience which completely filled the house.

It was given under the auspices of and for the benefit of the Marietta Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.  The three artists in their lines - McMillen on the violin, Richard Hageman on the piano, and Mdme. Rosina Van Dyke, the Dutch soprano gave a concert which is seldom equaled in Marietta and it was an enthusiastic audience that greeted them last evening.

Hageman rendered two numbers in his usual finished style and Mdme. Van Dyke also came in for a share of the applause.

Upon behalf of the local chapter of the Daughters of the Revolution, Francis McMillen was presented with a gold medal.  Hon. Charles S. Dana made the presentation speech and he said that the medal was given on account of the real genius of McMillen.  The donors of the medal rose when the remembrance was being presented.

Francis McMillen was much affected.  He said that he was not much of a speech maker at any time and even less of a one last evening.  He and Mr. Hageman rendered "Home, Sweet Home."

McMillen will give one more concert in this city.  It will be for school children under 14 years of age and will be held at the Auditorium Saturday afternoon at 1 o'clock.  No admission will be charged, but nobody above the age stated will be admitted.

The Register-Leader, May 4, 1907:

Fifteen hundred little voices led by that masterful violinist in the great national anthem "America," sent a thrill through the hearts of older people such as they will remember the remainder of their lives.  Such was the opening number of the concert given this afternoon, by Francis MacMillen for the school children of Marietta.  When MacMillen stepped to the front of the stage every available seat in the house was taken, every foot of the stage occupied by children, after chairs had been placed for them, and still many had to stand up. The concert was announced for half past one.  Long before twelve o'clock the children flocked to the big Auditorium, for they realized that the opportunity of a lifetime was to be presented to many of them. 

Long before MacMillen, escorted by the twelve little girls who had strewn flowers in his path upon his arrival at Marietta, last January, arrived, the big hall was filled.  Never did it contain such an audience.  Never did this world famous violinist, whom Marietta is proud to claim as a son, and who is proud to call the old city "home," have such an audience, exacting, yet appreciative.

As he drew his magic bow back and forth over the wonderful instrument there was a silence so great that even the softest of his harmonies could be heard distinctly any place in the house.  His program, which lasted more than an hour, was made up of numbers widely varied, giving the children an opportunity of hearing him in his every mood.  There were the little light pieces and the more classical, even to the most difficult numbers and they were all rendered with the same care as if he had been standing before the crowned heads of Europe.  He was at his best, that the children of Marietta might say they had heard the great MacMillen.

The concert was a compliment to the children of the city, given to them free of charge, and they certainly appreciated it.  MacMillen will be remembered by them as long as they live.  And it is safe to say that the feeling will be reciprocated.

Every possible precaution to prevent danger to this precious audience had been taken, the firemen keeping close watch over the building that nothing should happen while police protection was there in case of calamity, but nothing occurred to even slightly mar this most enjoyable occasion.  The children are especially honored for MacMillen's last public appearance before returning to Europe was for their benefit.  The first of next week he and his party leave for New York and will go from there to London.

Inundations

Marietta and Washington County, Pilot, April 21, 1826 

Much has been erroneously reported, and in some measure believed abroad, on this subject, prejudicial in its tendency to the interests and prosperity of this Town.  We feel it to be our duty, briefly to correct some mistaken views, entertained by strangers respecting our place.  During the high freshets of the present spring, whilst Louisville, Cincinnati, and other places, - are reported to have been more or less deluged; (and in the streets of one of said Towns, Steam Boats it was said, “were seen to ride at anchor,”) the waters of the Rivers here (Ohio and Muskingum) did not transcend the banks by some feet.

The truth is, that the banks of the Ohio at this place, are quite as high, if not higher than they are at the generality of the towns on the River.  The occasional inundations at this place, which occur perhaps once in ten years, result from the concurrent and simultaneous rise in the two rivers – Ohio and Muskingum, the latter, at its confluence, uniting with the former at right angles.

Some are led to suppose, from the Bug-Bear stories circulated abroad, that this town is situated very low, and is a sort of swamp or morass, than which, nothing can be more foreign from the truth.  Our river banks are about forty feet high, and on Point Harmar still higher.  At a short distance from the river, after ascending an acclivity of fifty or sixty feet, a beautiful and extensive plain presents itself to view, on which a part of the town is built; this summit has never been approached by flood, (since the general deluge) scarcely to its base.

County Boys Leave Camp Knox Today

The Marietta Register, July 31, 1924

After a month of intensive training in military tactics, the twenty-six young men from Washington county who attended the citizens' military training cantonment at Camp Knox, Ky., have started for home.  A large number of them will arrive here tonight, but several of the boys will remain in Cincinnati for a short sight-seeing trip.

Of the twenty-six Washington county youths who attended the camp, thirteen of them are from this city.  Three Marietta men, Major Robert Cole, Captain S. A. Coffman and Lieutenant Walter K. Payne, are in the officers' training school at Camp Knox.  They are expected to return the first of the week after eighteen days' instruction in military strategy and advanced tactics.

Marietta's delegation to camp Knox played no small part in the affairs of the camp.  Twelve of the thirteen boys from here were corporals, six of them in the First Ohio regiment.  Three Marietta boys, Edward Spence, Marvin Wellman and Robert Ford, were in the Camp Knox band, the largest military band in the country.  Spence was assisting director.

Those from Marietta who attended the camp are:

John E. Rennard, 528 Front street; Walter D. Sauer, Rathbone Addition; George A. Cooke, 308 Montgomery street; Robert R. Ford, 405 Franklin street; Howard M. Scott, 422 Bellevue street; James Sprague, 316 Third street; Ralph B. Klintworth, 618 Ninth street; John Philip Seeley, 806 Front street; Marvin F. Wellman, 415 Third street; Melvin A. Leppin, 411 Fort street; Edward D. Spence, and Ray C. Spence, 208 Putnam avenue; Albert R. Schuff, Rathbone Addition, and Edward J. Chamberlain, Elmwood street.

Those from out of Marietta who went to Camp Knox are:

Arthur W. Ellix, Main street, New Matamoras; Perry A. DeLong, and Howard C. Knapp, Newport; Cecil W. Beaver, R.F.D. No. 3, New Matamoras; Joseph C. Eddy, R.F.D. No. 3, Newport; Virgil R. Swift, Swift; Clarence M. Lager, R.F.D. No. 3, New Matamoras; Orland P. Clark, Newport; William G. Nixon, Waterford; Howard H. Nowland, Fay; Carl F. Edwards, Newport; Harold W. Sweeney, Lowell; Darryl W. Travis, Waterford.