Weekly Features

Historically Speaking – Doddridge County Feud Ends in Murder on Saturday, Feb. 22, 1908, Part 3

Chillicothe, Ross County, OH Courthouse in 1908

   Thus far in our story, we learned that a murder took place in Chillicothe, OH involving two Doddridge County men.  Edmond Williams, who was the alleged perpetrator and Benoni Swiger, who was the victim.  Williams was captured with his 3 children in tow after a long night of cat and mice with Chillicothe, Ross County law enforcement.  The trial began with testimony from Deputy Sheriff Swope, Clem Oliver, Gilbert Hathaway, the photographer, and.  William L Stocklin, who sold the ammunition to Williams.  Edmond Williams’ daughter, Belvia also testified after being brought back into the courtroom after a meltdown.

   Back in Middlebourne, Tyler County, WV, the Gazette Correspondent wrote:

   “BECAME MOODY AND RETICENT ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO AND HAS BEEN WRONG EVERSINCE.”

“He and His Wife Had Disagreement and Were Divorced.  Swiger and He Had Never Had Trouble – Prosecutor Goes to West Virginia – Williams gets a Letter From Home.”


   “Special to the Scioto Gazette: – Middlebourne, Tyler County.  West Virginia, February 27 – The news of the killing of some person in the city of Chillicothe, Ohio, by Edward (Edmond) N. Williams, was not received here where he is well known, with very much surprise, as it is the general consensus of opinion here that for two years or more Williams has been suffering under some mental strain which has rendered him non-compos mentis.  What has caused this reticent brooding disposition on the part of Williams is unknown, and his friends and those who know him can account for it is no other way than by the fact that he is mentally unbalanced.

   Williams was born and raised in Doddridge County adjoining this county, near West Union, but lived latterly at Ashley, and Alma (not clear).  He was the son of Squire Williams and spent most of his life working on a farm. 

   Twelve or thirteen years ago, he married Frances Edwards, the daughter of Squire James E. Edwards of West Union in Doddridge County and three children were born of the marriage.

   Williams and his wife got along all right for some time, and then they had several disagreements and finally agreed to disagree, and a suit was filed in the Circuit Court of Doddridge County, and the two were divorced.  Williams being given the care and custody of the children.  Two years or more ago, Williams began acting queerly, his habits changed, and he became a moody and reticent man, whereas formerly he had been otherwise.     His two shooting scrapes were enacted in that period, and were for trivial causes, so far as can be learned.

   He imagined all sorts of things, and in consequence, held aloof from those with whom he had formerly associated.

   The man, Swiger, whom Williams is charged with shooting, is not very well known in this neighborhood, having been here but a few times.  That he and Williams ever had any trouble in West Virginia, could not be learned by your correspondent, although inquiry was made among people who lived at Alma and Ashley, where Swiger hailed from.

   J.STURGIS McDOUGALL”


TESTIMONY CONTINUES 

   Mrs. Mary Throckmorton, who was the first witness introduced by the state, lived next door to the Williams family last February.  She stated the kitchens of the two homes being separated by a door.  She went on to describe the house in which Williams family lived, describing how the rooms were situated and how the kitchen was furnished.

   She went on to tell how Benoni Swiger had come to her store on the afternoon of Feb. 12, inquiring for Ed Williams, and how the Williams family had received him.  The children seemed to be happy over his arrival, but Williams seemed less than happy to see him.

   Mrs. Throckmorton was at home on the evening of the murder.  Her husband and son were with her.  About 7 p.m. she went downstairs into the kitchen, which adjoined Williams’ kitchen.  She heard a shot from the Williams kitchen.  She was close to the door between the two rooms.  Had heard no loud talking.  After the shot, she said she heard the rush of the children, and Williams tell the children to shut up.  It was between 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.  Her husband was at the barn at the time.

   Mrs. Throckmorton said she ran across the street to William Hitch’s house.  When she came back, she saw Williams and the children going north on Vine Street.  Williams was carrying some clothes.  All of them were walking and walking fast.  That was about 5 minutes after she heard the shot.  She said that she saw nothing unusual in the children’s condition.  They were not drunk.

   The next time she saw Benoni Swiger was when he was carried from the house.  No one but Williams, Swiger and the children had been in the house until after the shot was fired.  She said that a policeman was the first one she saw to enter the house after the murder happened.

   On cross examination, Mrs. Throckmorton stated that she had just stepped into the kitchen when the shot was fired, so she did not hear anything prior to the shot.  Judge Bitzer tried to get Mrs. Throckmorton to change her story but was unsuccessful.

TRIAL ADJOURNED

   After the trial had dragged on for a week, the defense began to put forth their evidence and the outcome was still anyone’s guess.

Judge Bitzer asked to have Ira Baker recalled in order to cross examine him further.  The prosecution objected, but Baker was allowed to testify.     He was only asked about the presence of Will Ashburn when the conversation between Williams and the witness occurred.

   Gilbert Hathaway was then recalled and asked to identify the photographs he took of Swiger after his death.  The Prosecution offered the photographs of Swiger into evidence in order to show the location of the wound.  Bitzer objected but was overruled.

   Will Ashburn was a farmer who lived near West Union.  He knew both Edmond Williams and Ira Baker.  He told the same story as the others.  Judge Bitzer revealed that Ashburn had been actively searching for evidence against Edmond Williams.  Judge Bitzer asked Ashburn about the conversation he had had with H.L. Baker and the witness in regard to Williams’ threat above testified to.  Ashburn admitted he had seen Baker but denied that he had repeated all the conversation.  He was somewhat uncertain as to which Baker meant.  Ashburn also admitted he was convicted of a misdemeanor.

   Then, Miss Otie Edwards of West Union, WV took the stand.  She stated that she had known Edmond Williams for about 25 years.  She said she was the sister of Williams’ wife for about three months.  Miss Edwards said that she had heard Williams say that he was going to kill Swiger.  She told him that if he did, he would be sent to Moundsville for it.  Williams was said to have replied that it made no difference.  Judge Bitzer asked her if she had a kind feeling toward Williams and she refused to reply.

   On re-direct, Mr. Blosser attempted to get a statement from Miss Edwards as to why she refused to answer, but Judge Bitzer objected to this and the objection was sustained by the court.

   J. S. Doak, who also lived in Doddridge County was asked to take the stand.  He stated that about 12 years ago, he heard Williams say, “If that d-m-ed old Swiger fools with me, I’ll kill him.”

    When he was cross-examined, Judge Bitzer asked if Williams was drunk when he said it.  Doak said he staggered, spoke with a thick tongued voice.  Judge Bitzer and the witness clashed, and the court had to intervene to straighten out the difficulty.  Doak became indignant when the attorney asked him to get up and stagger like Williams did when he was drunk.

   Prosecutor Blosser then took the stand and stated the bullet which had been identified by various witnesses had been given him by the coroner a few days after the murder.

   He offered into evidence, the bullet, revolver, and cartridges found in the gun, box of cartridges, extra barrel for the gun, coat, and vest of Swiger, against the objections of the attorney for the defendant, all of which were overruled by the court.

THE STATE RESTED

   The defense began by asking the court to adjourn until Saturday morning, as his witnesses were not present.  However, one was found present, and he was called.

   George May was called as a witness for the defense.  He was asked to describe the physical condition of Swiger when at the witness’ house on the day of the murder.  May said that he seemed to be in good health. 

   On cross-examination, Mr. Blosser asked as to the mental condition of Williams on the day of the murder.  The defense objected and the court ruled that the question could not be asked until the defense had introduced its testimony to prove insanity.

   George May was asked to take the stand again.  It was then that May testified that Swiger was stronger than most men of his age.  Swiger had stated he was 73 years old.

   S. F. Williams, brother of Edmond Williams, lived at Ashley.  He stated that he knew Rebecca Williams.  When asked in regard to her record, the matter was objected to by the prosecutor, and Judge Bitzer insisted that the matter should be argued in open court.  The court heard the matter without argument and sustained the motion.  He also refused to allow Judge Bitzer to present his reasons before the jury but agreed to hear them upon the jury being excused.  Judge Bitzer refused to do it.

   Sam F. Williams began to go into the Williams family history, especially his brother, Edmond’s.  Sam had been around home off and on all his life.  Edmond was married about 13 years ago.  Sam had been with Edmond quite a bit of the time since both had grown up.

   Sam Williams said his brother’s mind had changed a great deal after he (Edmond) and his wife separated.  He said that he would break out into sudden bursts of laughter; would sing at the top of his voice at other times.    Williams did not do those things before the separation.  Sam said he asked his brother a question at different times, and his answer sometimes would be not at all responsive, and at other times would be indistinguishable.  He said Jesse Ash, brother of he and his brother, Edmond’s mother was insane and was in an asylum.

   On cross examination Sam stated Jesse Ash was now all right and farmed near Ashley.  His insanity dated back some 15 years ago.  Jesse Ash sold Edmond Williams the revolver the murder was committed with.

Sam, his father, and John Swiger were present with the prosecutor at the brother’s father, Squire Williams’ house of the 21st of last October and had a talk about Edmond’s insanity.  Sam denied he or his father had said that Edmond was sane.

   After a lengthy recess, the cross examination of the brother, Sam Williams resumed.  He was asked whether he remembered hearing his father say last October that Edmond said he could get Swiger a job in Ohio, but Judge Blitzer objected to the question and the objection was sustained.

   Sam said that he could not remember whether or not he ever noticed a time when Edmond could not tell right from wrong.

   Judge Bitzer made frequent objections to the prosecutor’s questions, and Williams became highly elated over the clashes of the attorney’s and convulsed with silent laughter.

   On re-direct, Sam said that he considered Edmond of unsound mind at times, but that he was unable to state whether he knew right from wrong.    He did not see Edmond buy the revolver from Jesse Ash, but had heard it said that he did.

   In reply to a question of Mr. Blosser’s, Sam said that by unsoundness of mind he meant a condition in which a man does things he would not do if he were in his right mind.

   E. M. Carrico was born and raised in West Virginia, but had been living in Chillicothe, OH for some time.  He said that he had known Williams since he nursed him as a baby. 

IN CONCLUSION

   Judge Bitzer stated that the defense would be based upon self-defense and temporary insanity, and that they hoped to present evidence to justify an acquittal at the hands of the jury upon these grounds.

   The witnesses for the state were then called forward and sworn by Deputy Clerk Nannie Boudinot and after which they were sent to the witness room.

   Court then took a short recess.

   When court resumed after the recess upon motion of Mr. Blosser the witnesses for the defense were also excluded from the court room.  The question of whether Deputy Swope who has been subpoenaed by the state should be permitted to remain, was raised and the court ruled that being an officer of the court, he should remain.

   NEXT WEEK PART 4…
   EDMOND WILLIAMS TELLS HIS STORY.  

   Is there light to be shown on this horror story?  Could he justify what he had done, or did he simply accept his fate as deemed by the Ross County, OH Court?

God Bless.
Patricia Richards Harris, President, Doddridge County Historical Society