The Court of Common Pleas

Marietta Intelligencer, November 23, 1843 

Commenced its session in this place on the 13th inst. Present, a full bench, viz: Hon. John E. Hanna, President Judge; Hon. John Cotton, Associate Judge; Hon. O. R. Loring, Associate Judge, Hon. Ebenezer Gates, Associate Judge.

The time of the court was almost exclusively occupied in the trial of criminals. Not a single case upon the civil docket was given to the jury. The following trials were had:

State of Ohio vs. Peter Noyes. Indictment for uttering and publishing counterfeit bank notes. Plea, not guilty. Parish & Buell, counsel for prisoner; Barber, Prosecuting Attorney; and A. S. Nye, for the State. This case was submitted to the jury without argument. Verdict, guilty. Sentence, ten years imprisonment in the Penitentiary.

State vs. William Hughes. Indictment for rape upon the body of Mrs. Elizabeth Figgins, in Adams township, in July last. [Betsey Perry married Thomas Figgins, Washington County, Ohio, March 2, 1832.] Plea, not guilty. Verdict, guilty. Sentence, twelve years in Penitentiary. Barber & Goddard for State; Parish & Buell for prisoner.

State vs. Aaron Carle, George Carle, and Joseph Carle. Indictment for aiding, abetting, and procuring the commission of rape by William Hughes. Plea, not guilty. Verdict, as to Aaron Carle, guilty. Sentence, three years in Penitentiary. George and Joseph Carle, not guilty. Counsel same as in case of Hughes.

State vs. Aaron Carle, George Carle, and Joseph Carle. Indictment against Aaron Carle for rape, and against George Carle and Joseph Carle for aiding and abetting in the commission of said rape. Plea, not guilty. Verdict, guilty. Sentence for Aaron Carle, twelve years in Penitentiary; George and Joseph (sons of Aaron), each three years. Counsel, same as in the case of Hughes.

State vs. George Wilson. Indictment for rape upon Sarah Perry in Adams township in December 1840. Plea, not guilty. After the examination of numerous witnesses, this case was submitted to the jury without argument. Verdict, guilty. Sentence, fifteen years i Penitentiary. Barber & A. S. Nye for State; Parish, Buell and Tompkins for prisoner.

The five prisoners first named were all residents of Morgan County. The one last named was originally from Morgan, but lived in this county at the time the offence was committed, escaped from the officer soon after his examination before the magistrate, and has since lived in Meigs County, until about three months ago, when on a visit to his friends in Morgan County, he was arrested by the officers of this county, and has since been confined in jail here. Not one of them was properly a citizen of Washington County. It will be noticed that the aggregate time for which these prisoners were sentenced is fifty-eight years.

Prehistoric Indian Camp Is Uncovered Near Reno

 The Marietta Daily Times, May 15, 1968

Earth moving equipment being operated along Ohio 7 near Reno, several days ago cut into what may have been the site of a small prehistoric Indian camp or village, almost completely destroying the archaeological find.

According to Richard P. Patterson, regional collaborator for Ohio State Archaeological Society and editor of the magazine, "The Ohio Archaeologist," what was left after the machinery dug into the earth along the river was chiefly "just a pile of useless bones."

Patterson, who examined and retrieved what he could from the discovery, said a small number of refuse pits had been disturbed by the blade of the machine, the pits having contained debris in the form of broken animal bones; fire-cracked river stones broken by the heat of the Indian campfires; flint debris; charcoal and mussel shells and a few small bits of broken pottery sherds. The pottery bits, he said, are representative of the most diagnostic artifact type, providing information about the group of people that lived at this location.

The pottery, tempered with crushed shell, indicates the Late Prehistoric Time Period, roughly after 12 A.D. to 1650. Patterson pointed out that the clay of the riverbank was mixed with crushed shell to temper it, or keep it from shrinking when it was baked.

He also indicated the destroyed site may have been a larger camp or village at one time, one that could have been destroyed largely by the river cutting into the banks. The portion uncovered and crushed by the machinery probably represented what was left of the original camp.

Size of the parts of human bones examined by Patterson suggest they may have been from two bodies, an adult male and an adult female. He said it was reasonable to assume they had been buried in a flexed position (knees tightly against chest) in a small space and that apparently no burial offerings had been placed in the graves with the bodies.

In fact, he noted, the bodies may have been buried in the refuse pits, which were usually quite near the Indian dwellings. These, he said, were often built in a circle inside a palisades, possibly for protection against warring tribes. Bodies were generally buried on their side or back in as small a space as possible, since these Fort Ancient Culture Indians had very little in the way of digging tools, only sticks or the shoulder bone of an animal.

The broken bones and the debris within the pits are the same types as those uncovered last year at the boat launching facility at the fairgrounds.

"It is regrettable," stated Patterson, "that it was not possible to halt the operation once the machinery dug into the pits until properly qualified persons could make careful excavations and prevent damage." 

City Purchases Ohio Bell Putnam Street Building for $47,500

The Marietta Daily Times, July 17, 1956

The two-story brick building at 30[8] Putnam Street, formerly occupied by the Ohio Bell Telephone Company, was purchased Monday afternoon by the City of Marietta. It proposes to use it for the new municipal court.

Purchase price was $47,500, less $1,250 allowed the city for the removal of the overhead walk above the alley and $52.25 to cover the cost of the revenue stamps. City Auditor Norman L. LaFaber gave the city's check for $46,197.75. The city will take possession in 60 days.

Notes are to be issued in anticipation of a bond issue for $75,000. The remaining $28,802.25 will be for alterations on the building.

Sale of the building was closed in the office of City Solicitor Clifford D. Fleming. Those present besides Fleming were Safety-Service Director Harry L. Miller, City Auditor LaFaber, City Councilman Atty. Warren E. Souers, chairman of the special council committee that decided upon the location, and George O'Hara of Columbus, representing the telephone company.

New Municipal Court May Wind Up on Second Floor of City Hall

The Marietta Daily Times, July 20, 1956

There is a possibility that Marietta's new municipal court may be located on the second floor of city hall instead of the second floor of the newly purchased two-story Putnam Street building formerly occupied by the Ohio Bell Telephone Company.

Extensive rearrangement of city offices created by the establishment of the new court has city officials racking their brains as to the best way to meet the situation. 

Many Suggestions

While many suggestions have been advanced in the last few days, no definite decision is expected to be reached until around the first of the year when an architect will be employed to study the entire problem. The city will not obtain possession of the new building for 60 days.

The original intention was to purchase the building for location of the new court since alteration problems developed in regard to changes on the second floor of city hall. It is now believed that council will find it too expensive to attempt to move the present city jail or build a new jail in the newly acquired building opposite city hall.

It is reported that if the court is to occupy the entire second floor of city hall, the council chamber will be moved to the old telephone building. Since the court and its associated offices will require all the space on the second floor of city hall, there is talk of moving the offices of auditor, treasurer, clerk of council and the engineer's office across the street.

Passageway Cut

The council room would be converted into a municipal court room and a passageway cut through the treasurer's office connecting with city jail, which is on the same level. This would permit prisoners to be brought directly from jail to the court room.

Offices on the second floor would be converted for use of the judge, court clerk, witness room and jury room.

It has also been considered that moving city health offices from the first floor of city hall to the telephone building would provide more space for offices of the city water and sanitation departments.

Sliding

Marietta Olio, February 8, 1873

Among the students of Marietta College, sliding seems to be the order of the day; not sliding off from recitation, for that, it is too early in the term, nor into someone's affections, for they are already there, nor yet off without paying a wash bill, but down Mills' Hill to the detriment of passersby, and in fact all over town.

There has been more sleighing this year than any we remember for some time past. Jingle, jingle from one end of the town to the other, some on chairs elevated upon upon runners, others upon inverted goods boxes, while still others in real sleighs. 

The active individuals of '76, partly to evince their class spirit, and partly to show what verdancy could be gotten together, took a grand sleighing under the guidance of Parson Cooke, Jr. This group meeting one of the Professors, of course, cheered him, he waving his hat in return, but the same efforts in reference to a higher official failed, as he accidentally stepped into a store just about that time.