A cunning thief plotted a midnight robbery, but shared his plans with the wrong man and paid the price.
John F. Myers (1799-1875) and his wife Elizabeth (1800-1872) were Moravians who migrated from Pennsylvania to Tuscarawas County in the first half of the 19th century. The family settled in southern Goshen Township and northern Warwick Township. Like many settlers of Tuscarawas County, the Myers first language was German and they continued to speak it for their entire life. The Myers’ raised a large family on their properties and became quite prosperous members of the Tuscarawas County community.
Jesse Beachler (1834-1915) was born in Tuscarawas County and worked as a laborer in and around the city of New Philadelphia. During the Civil War, he served in the 51st Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment before returning home and settling down in New Philadelphia. He often rented rooms in homes around town and was a common feature in the neighborhood taverns and public establishments. Jesse’s connection to the Myers family began with a conversation between Jesse and a stranger in one of the local establishments.
A man calling himself Smith, who also went by Johnson, drifted into New Philadelphia, Ohio with the confidence of a seasoned criminal in October 1869. He struck up a conversation with Jesse Beachler, and dangled the promise of “easy money” through a scheme. Smith’s plan was simple and sinister: rob John and Elizabeth Myers. Smith told Jesse that he knew that Myers had large amounts of cash hidden away in his home, and he wanted Beachler’s help to steal it. Smith did not count on Beachler having a sense of loyalty to his neighbors. Outwardly, Jesse nodded along, pretending to agree. Secretly, he hurried to Constable William Campbell (1834-1886) and revealed the entire plot. Together, Beachler and Campbell hatched a plan to turn the trap back on Smith.
The first attempt failed. Campbell and his men went to the Myers’s home, but language barriers prevented them from warning the German-speaking family that night. Alarmed by noises, the elderly couple lit candles and stayed awake until dawn, thwarting the robbers for the time being. The following day, Campbell returned with a German friend, ensuring the family understood the danger. Smith, meanwhile, grew cautious. Another accomplice who was staking out the Myers home warned him that something was amiss, and the plan was postponed again.
Finally, on a Friday night, Campbell and his assistants concealed themselves inside the Myers home. Around midnight, Smith arrived with his “accomplice” Beachler. Smith smashed the outer door with a rail and kicked down the bedroom door. Candle in hand, Smith crept forward, his eyes darting until they fixed on the bed. He then leapt forward, pressing a pillow toward Mrs. Myers’s face. That was the moment Constable Campbell sprang from the shadows. A violent struggle erupted in the dark, the candle snuffed out, the room filled with chaos. Smith fought desperately, but he was no match for the ambush. Overpowered and captured, he was hauled to New Philadelphia and locked in jail to await trial.
While behind bars, Smith confessed more than he should have. He admitted to being part of an attempted robbery in New Hagerstown and to the violent robbery of a Rush Township resident two years earlier—a crime for which his accomplice at that time was sent to the penitentiary. Boasting, Smith revealed that he had been in the business of crime for over eleven years. What happened to Smith after his arrest is unknown, but it is likely he joined his accomplice at the Ohio State Penitentiary.
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© Noel B. Poirier, 2025.
Tuscarawas County Stories 