Gilman goes to Jail

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXI I should start off today's post with the knowledge that as of 9 years ago, I knew absolutely nothing about my Houseworth side of the family....I knew my grandfather was named Sam, and that's about it....Sam died in 1928, 21 years before I was born in 1949...my grandmother was a Waldron by birth, and that's the side of dad's family I had knowledge of.

I developed an interest in antique and real photo postcards about 10 years ago, those included steroviews...one of the most famous of those involved in steroscope photography was a man named Thomas Houseworth out of San Francisco....a gentleman from Atlanta named Marvin Housworth(correct spelling) is a collector and encouraged me to see if I was somehow related, that is how my genealogy interest began...January 1999 was the time....for the next few years I devoted countless hours to my Houseworth family....I probably gained about 90% of my material(used on this blog and elsewhere) in the first 3 years of research.

Gilman Houseworth, along with first cousin, and fellow Waldo Civil War Veteran Maish Houseworth, are probably the 2 most "interesting" fellows from the Houseworth line, other than the man who started the Houseworth movement west Israel Houseworth.

Gilman's family, including wives and children are post previously on this blog, and can be found in the earlier portions...as can his service and military and other records, so I won't go back and rehash those items.

After is service in the Civil War, Gilman Houseworth returned to Waldo had 7 children with his first wife Mary Minerva Ward Houseworth, who died in shortly after child birth with the couples final child named John Houseworth(one of many Johns in the family). Mary died in Janurary 1877 about 3 years before the murder in Waldo. He remarried a couple of years after the incident to Sarah "Lizzie" Shelton, and they were together until his death in 1915, they had one child....Lizzie passed away in Kenton in 1927....she never remarried.

Gilman and his brother Henry were with Company C of the Ohio 26th OVI, Henry was killed in action at Chickamagua, Georgia, on September 19, 1863...Gilman received a head wound as well as a bullet to the right hip, and spent 4 months in the hospital. His war pension records call his occupation "Horse Trader"....he received a pension until his death, and Lizzie continued to receive $30 per month until she passed away.

More information on the 26th OVI and the Houseworth Boys in it can be found at this fine website:

http://www.geocities.com/ovi26th/index.html

Both Gilman and Enoch were in jail by midnight on the evening of the murder...Enoch was charged with Murder Gilman charged as an accessory.

From the Marion Star February 27, 1880.(this is the way it was written, so it may contain grammer errors or missing words, but that is the way it was printed)

"The investigation revealed the fact that at the time Young went after the butcher knife, Houseworth went after a pair of shears, for the purpose of assisting Young, it appears"

A Warning to the Sheriff(Printed in the paper)

"Sheriff--"Guard the Jail if you want to keep the prisoner, Young. The people here talk of lynching him." --"A Citizen of said Village"

February 28, 1880-

Within 2 days of the killing, a Special Grand Jury had already been seated....within just over 2 hours they had bills against Enoch and Gilman, charging both with FIRST DEGREE MURDER..both prisoners would be arranged the following Monday March 1, 1880(this being a leap year).

Both Young and Gilman were read the indictments that evening(the 27th) Gilman was still claiming to have been at home at the time of the murder....26 witnesses at the Coroner's Investigation said otherwise

The Marion Star March 1, 1880

The newspaper interviews Gilman on Sunday February 29th....and says the following concerning that interview.

"We visited the jail yesterday and in conversation with Houseworth, Young's accomplice in the Bensley murder, we asked him whether he expected to be tried during the present term of court, or would he prefer to have the trial postponed until the June term? The prisoner said "We don't want to be tried during this excitement of course; we will wasit until June, or some time after the people gets over the excitement; that we may have a fair and impartial trial:"

We did not say so to the prisoner, but we thought as we looked at the unfortunate fellows, how anxious they appeared that "quarters" be showed tem, as well as time enough to allow the feelings against them to subside. They did'nt show their victims any 'quarters' or mercy nor did they give poor Bensley(upon whom a wife and five children were dependent) a moment's warning, but without cause or provocations, murdered him in cold blood. And now expect mercy and leniency in the courts. It is hoped that justics will done them, and if it is, the people of Waldo and vicinity will feel that their opinions in this matter have been properly respected, and that they need not longer live in dread of these desperadoes and murderers"

So much for the unbiased press....

{photos} Ohio 26th OVI patch and Ohio 26th OVI Band Member

Next....the Horse Trader and his property...."No property at all, except two old plug horses, that are not worth much"