A 1921 brickyard argument turned deadly, leading to a trial partially decided by a baseball legend. During the Great Migration, a period of American history when millions of black southerners moved to find work in the industrialized cities of the north, many found themselves in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. A fatal confrontation occurred at the CrownContinue reading “Bloodshed at the Brickyard: The 1921 Murder of George Andrews”
Tag Archives: murderer
A Fatal Eviction: The 1954 Murder of Harvey Johnson
Kicked out of his apartment, a Dennison man took his rage out on the World War Two veteran who evicted him. Content warning: This post contains references to suicide. If you or someone you know has a mental illness, is struggling emotionally, or has concerns about their mental health, there are ways to get help. Click hereContinue reading “A Fatal Eviction: The 1954 Murder of Harvey Johnson”
1925-1932: The Seven-Year Hunt for the Slayer of Frank Wilson
During the Great Migration, a period of American history when millions of black southerners moved to find work in the industrialized cities of the north, many found themselves in Tuscarawas County, Ohio including Tennessee native Frank Wilson. In the early hours of November 7, 1925, Frank Wilson (1902-1925) was killed by a six-inch ax fractureContinue reading “1925-1932: The Seven-Year Hunt for the Slayer of Frank Wilson”
A Veteran’s Final Battle: The Murder of George LeMasters
New Philadelphia WWII veteran George Jasper LeMasters was tragically murdered during a robbery at a Canton hotel. George Jasper LeMasters (1906–1950), known to many as “Jap,” was born in Union Township, Tuscarawas County. His early life was marked by tragedy when his father, Ernest LeMasters (1877–1918), was killed in a mine accident when George wasContinue reading “A Veteran’s Final Battle: The Murder of George LeMasters”
Death at the Packing Plant: The 1941 Killing of Ferdinand Sandry
Workplace ‘kidding’ at a Dennison meat packing plant in the spring of 1941 sparked a fatal explosion of violence. Frank McGuire (1895-1955), born in Tuscarawas County, was a long-time resident of the Dennison area with a diverse work history. He married Emma Robinson (1898-1970) in 1914 and supported his family through various roles including clayContinue reading “Death at the Packing Plant: The 1941 Killing of Ferdinand Sandry”
Glasgow Tragedy: The Conley Killing of 1875
A deadly confrontation, a mob, and a Civil War veteran’s fight for survival ignite a two-year legal battle that divided the village of Glasgow. In the village of Glasgow during the spring of 1875, tensions simmered among the men working at the Glasgow-Port Washington Furnaces. Gilbert Linsey (1839-aft. 1890), an Ohio native born to parentsContinue reading “Glasgow Tragedy: The Conley Killing of 1875”
Midnight at the Dover Hotel: The Unsolved Slaying of Harry Snyder
An unsolved 1940 slaying left Tuscarawas County questioning if a “total stranger” or hidden secrets killed Harry “Hetz” Snyder. The town of Dover, Ohio, was shaken in early May of 1940 by a fatal confrontation that ended the life of well-known Harry “Hetz” Snyder (1901-1940), a 39-year-old divorced Wooster Avenue gas station owner. Snyder spentContinue reading “Midnight at the Dover Hotel: The Unsolved Slaying of Harry Snyder”
Murder in Newcomerstown: The 1917 Nickles–Mayer Case
An early-morning confrontation at an Ohio foundry in 1917 ended two lives in different ways. Content warning: This post contains a historical discussion of ethnicity and race in Tuscarawas County. Very little is known about William “Bud” Nickles (1871-1925) other than what newspapers reported about him at the time. He was born in Louisville, KentuckyContinue reading “Murder in Newcomerstown: The 1917 Nickles–Mayer Case”
The Brightside Road Killing: The Death of Asbury S. Fowler
A feud between two Tuscarawas County neighbors ended violently on a Goshen Township road in 1924. Asbury S. Fowler (1870-1924) was born in Warwick Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, the son of George W. Fowler and Susan B. Burroway. He grew up in the Uhrichsville area alongside several siblings and half-siblings. Fowler married Eva Stempfly inContinue reading “The Brightside Road Killing: The Death of Asbury S. Fowler”
“You Want Your Divorce”: The 1949 Murder of Mary Covic, Part Two
The trial of Andrew Covic was one of the most talked about trials of the era, garnering attention from the entire county. Content warning: The following story contains references to domestic violence. If you are experiencing domestic abuse or violence and need help, please visit the National Domestic Violence Hotline. The trial of Andrew Henry CovicContinue reading ““You Want Your Divorce”: The 1949 Murder of Mary Covic, Part Two”
