Lima ... the rest of the story

Well, I accidentally hit the publish button on the previous Lima post instead of the save button.  So, in fact, I'm guessing it wasn't all that interesting after all.  But here's the rest of the story...

Remember that I was Ohio judging when I decided to investigate the story that my mom told us numerous times about my great-grandfather being hung for murdering his wife.  I had just found out that while there was no museum or a rope as Mom claimed; Lima had indeed been the site of the first public execution in that state and the convicted man was hung for murdering his wife.  Well, that piqued my interest, so I came home to San Diego and did some Internet research (of course).
Look what I found:


File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Judy Woerner judyw0113@yahoo.com May 7, 2006, 4:50 pm

Lima News January 29, 1928
ROPE IN SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS REMINDER OF ALLEN-CO HANGING
Lima News, January 29, 1928
Excerpts from the article:


"For more than five decades a piece of rope has hung in the office of the Allen-
co Sheriff. It is part of the rope that was used to hang ANDREW BRENTLINGER
on Friday, April 7, 1872. He was the only man ever executed in Lima.
BRENTLINGER, a resident of Shawnee-tp, stabbed his second wife, Sarah, to
death on October 24, 1871 and dug and buried her in a grave a short distance
from their home.
After his children gave the alarm, the murderer was found and although he had
swallowed poison, medical assistance saved his life.
A trial was held before Judge Mackenzie. BRENTLINGER was found to be guilty
and sentenced to be hanged January 20, 1872, however, the governor, RUTHERFORD
B. HAYES, granted a reprieve of 100 days.
Two days before the hanging, the BRENTLINGER children and grandchildren called at the jail. His aged father and his brothers did not visit him. His attorneys, ISAIAH S. PILLARS and C. M. HUGHES, visited him the following day. With them was T. E. CUNNINGHAM, who had assisted in the prosecution.
The night before the hanging the prisoner could hear the talk of a threatened mob. Fifty men were assembled to guard the jail. The prisoner arose early on the morning of the execution and ate a hearty breakfast. A Lutheran minister, Rev. BARTHOLOWMEW visited and offered prayer and readings from the Bible. The condemned man acted unconcerned through it all.
On the day of the hanging Sheriff COLBRATH led the prisoner to the scaffold. It was erected in the corridor of the jail and BRENTLINGER stepped from the landing of the stairway onto the death trap. Spectators remained on the main floor. The sheriff read the death warrant and the condemned man was asked to make a final statement, but he remained stoically silent. The black cap was adjusted while Rev. BARTHOLOMEW chanted the hymn “Eternity Is Waiting.” The trap was sprung and the scaffold disappeared from under the man. After BRENTLINGER’S body was prepared for burial, his bier was placed on the street where everyone could see him."

Mom talked of this story many, many times as I was growing up; but she didn't supply any true particulars and didn't even know her own mother's true last name.  Mom died of complications of Alzheimer's in 2005, so we'll never really know what the true story is. But it certainly leaves a question in my mind... how about yours?