An Ice Cold Murder

Note: In May of 2012, Marie Felt Christiano sent me the following message:

I graduated Harding in ’72. During the ’60s the Girl Scouts took a tour of the old city hall and there was an ax on display that had fingerprints on it from a murder between neighbors on Fairground Street across from the east entrance to Fair Park. One house is gone, but the other may still be there. I remember it because I lived in Fair Park, and the two small houses were both still there at that time. Unfortunately, I don’t remember when the murder occurred.

Curious about the story, I posted a message on the Facebook group “Growing up in Marion, Ohio” to see if anyone remembered the names or dates associated with this tragic story, and many people responded. GUIMO member Dennis Fabian in particular was very helpful in digging up the original newspaper articles as they appeared in The Marion Star. The Marion County Historical Society also generously shared high quality scans of the original Star articles.

Just before Christmas

 A Canadian immigrant originally from London, Ontario, The Marion Star article described Mrs. Stewart as "semi-invalid" and weighing only 115 pounds at the time of her murder. Image scan courtesy of the Marion County Historical Society.
A Canadian immigrant originally from London, Ontario, The Marion Star article described Mrs. Stewart as “semi-invalid” and weighing only 115 pounds at the time of her murder. Image courtesy of the Marion County Historical Society.

Wednesday, December 23rd, 1959, was a cold day in Marion. The weather forecast called for a high of only 31, and there was a chance of snow. Perfect Christmas weather, in other words. People in Marion were busy with the last minute shopping and baking and choir rehearsals and school plays that fill the days leading up to Christmas. Amid this hustle and bustle, Willis Stewart went to check on his widowed, 83-year-old step-mother, Rose Stewart, in her East Fairground Street home. Nothing could have prepared him for what he would find there.

Mrs. Stewart was dead. She had been strangled and struck multiple times with an ax, and her killer was on the loose in Marion.

The Murderer

As hard as it may be for us to imagine today, Mrs. Stewart did not have running water in her home. As a result, she relied on her neighbor, a sporadically employed 52-year-old named Daniel Hunter, to carry it to her twice a day (once in the morning and once in the evening). Early in the investigation, police noted that Mr. Hunter, most likely the last person to have seen Mrs. Stewart alive, showed very little emotion about Mrs. Stewart’s murder and very little interest in the investigation.

When police later sat down for a formal interview with Mr. Hunter later on the 23rd, he insisted that Mrs. Stewart had been alive and well when he had gone by with water that morning. Police weren’t buying Mr. Hunter’s story, though. They had noticed some of the buckets of water in the house were frozen, and they concluded that Mrs. Stewart had been dead since at least the previous night. After further questioning, Hunter finally confessed to murdering Mrs. Stewart on Tuesday evening, and police promptly charged him with first-degree murder.

Hunter reportedly showed no signs of concern or remorse when he was arrested. When asked to give his profession during booking, Hunter joked with policemen that it was "Just set'n around." Image scan courtesy of the Marion County Historical Society.
Hunter reportedly showed no signs of concern or remorse when he was arrested. When asked to give his profession during booking, Hunter joked with policemen that it was “Just set’n around.” Image courtesy of the Marion County Historical Society.

During his police interview, Hunter dispassionately laid out the details of the murder as it happened on the evening of the 22nd:

Hunter said he carried the two buckets of water into the kitchen, put them down, went back out to the rear porch, picked up a long-handled ax that Mrs. Stewart kept there, went back in and stuck her on the head with it.

He next went back out to the rear porch and found an electric light cord which he took back in and wrapped around the neck of the prone woman.

After wrapping the cord around his victim’s neck…he struck her again a number of times with the ax but could not remember how many times.

One of the most troubling aspects of the crime was the lack of a clear motive. After killing Mrs. Stewart, Hunter rummaged through her house; when police asked him what he had been searching for, he replied, “I guess I was looking for money.” Finding none, he left empty handed, locking the door behind him.

Mrs. Stewart, it seems, had died for nothing.

Mr. Hunter’s Sentence

Mr. Hunter initially pled not guilty to the first degree murder charge. Just one week before his trial was scheduled to begin, however, he agreed to plead guilty to second degree murder. Judge Paul Smith sentenced him to life in prison on June 30th, 1960. The entire proceedings, from the time Hunter entered the courtroom until the judge passed sentence, took just seven minutes.

Despite his life sentence, it appears Mr. Hunter died a free man in 1976. His death certificate lists a Pearl Street address as his residence.

The Ax

There’s also one loose thread I should mention: the ax that Ms. Christiano saw hanging on the wall. I got in touch with Kathy Caudill, who has been the property manager for the Marion City Police for the past 17 years. Unfortunately, she was unable to find out what had happened to the ax. However, she has promised to let me know if she hears anything.

-Josh Simpkins

_______

Sources:

The Marion Star, December 24th, 1959

The Marion Star, June 30th, 1960

Marion’s Ruins, Part II

Last year, we published a photo essay about Marion’s “ruins”, and the post garnered so much interest that we’ve decided to do a follow up photo essay. You may have driven past some of these places dozens of  times and never known that they represent interesting bits of Marion’s history. Other places, while not necessarily historically significant, have achieved a certain sort of local notoriety simply because their decrepitude has made them hard to miss. Although many of these buildings, churches and houses scattered around Marion County are probably beyond saving (and some, truth be told, shouldn’t be saved), we believe that these places as well as the stories that often go with them offer a unique take on Marion County.

originalbrewerybuildings
The Marion Brewing and Bottling Company was located on Bellfontaine Avenue between the railroad tracks. The Leffler and Bland Company – the same company that erected the Marion County courthouse – began construction in 1895, and the brewery began selling its beer early the following year. For almost 25 years, the brewery did brisk business in and around Marion. However, with the passage of state and federal prohibition acts, the brewery was out of business by the beginning of the 1920s. From the late 1930s until the 1970s, the Betty Zane company produced popcorn products in the old brewery. After Betty Zane ceased production, the building fell into disuse, and in 1980 the main building was demolished. A more complete story of the Marion Brewing and Bottling Company can be found here. Photo courtesy of Larry Henne.
breweryI
This photo, which appeared in the February 18th, 1980, edition of The Marion Star, shows the former Marion Brewing and Bottling Company building (minus the upper portions) shortly before it was razed.
This building, now used for storage, is one of the last remaining buildings which were once part of the Marion Brewing and Bottling Company.
This building, now used for storage, is one of the few remaining buildings which were once part of the Marion Brewing and Bottling Company.
An forlorn-looking house on one of Marion County's busiest roads, Harding Highway East.
An forlorn-looking house on one of Marion County’s busiest roads, Harding Highway East.
This seemingly unremarkable and derelict house, located behind the old Sawyer Sanatorium (now Elite Apartments), actually represents an interesting little piece of Marion history. According to local historian Stuart Haley, this house once belonged to Charles and Mae Sawyer and pre-dates the Civil War. For those who don't know, Dr. Sawyer was Warren G. Harding's personal physician, both before and during Harding's presidency. Sawyer is also somewhat notorious for his misdiagnosis of Harding's coronary condition that eventually led to the President’s death in San Francisco in 1923.
This seemingly unremarkable and derelict house located behind the old Sawyer Sanatorium (now Elite Apartments) actually represents an interesting little piece of Marion history. According to local historian Stuart Haley, this house once belonged to Charles and Mae Sawyer and pre-dates the Civil War. For those who don’t know, Dr. Sawyer was Warren G. Harding’s personal physician, both before and during Harding’s presidency. Sawyer is also somewhat notorious for his misdiagnosis of the coronary condition that eventually led to the President’s death in San Francisco in 1923.
Patients who were suffering from physical and emotional maladies were treated at Dr. Sawyer's sanatorium. In this old postcard, Dr. Sawyer's house is visible at the back. Interestingly, the house originally faced Main Street but was moved to it's present location around 1901 to accommodate the sanatorium's expansion. This postcard is courtesy of Mike Crane's very cool collection of old Marion photos and postcards.
Patients who were suffering from physical and emotional maladies were treated at Dr. Sawyer’s sanatorium on South Main Street. In this old postcard, Dr. Sawyer’s house is clearly visible at the back. Interestingly, the house originally faced Main Street but was moved to it’s present location around 1901 to accommodate the sanatorium’s expansion. This postcard is courtesy of Mike Crane, who has a very cool collection of old Marion photos and postcards.
 This abandoned bridge, located in Tully Township, crosses the Olentangy River and is visible from Morral-Kirkpatrick Road East. It dates to 1876 and was constructed by the Wrought Iron Bridge Company.
This abandoned bridge, located in Tully Township, crosses the Olentangy River and is visible from Morral-Kirkpatrick Road East. It dates to 1876 and was constructed by the Wrought Iron Bridge Company.
This structure, located near Grandview Estates north of town, is called a coal tipple, and many years ago its purpose was to supply steam locomotives with both coal for their fireboxes and water for the boilers. According to Harry Titus, the structure was saved from demolition when an American Eagle nest was discovered in it. In any case, the coal tipple was once a popular hang out where local teenagers would to drink and flirt and generally behave recklessly while trains raced below them.
This structure, located near Grandview Estates north of town, is called a coal tipple, and many years ago its purpose was to supply steam locomotives with both coal for their fireboxes and water for the boilers. According to Harry Titus, the structure was saved from demolition when an American eagle nest was discovered in it. In any case, the coal tipple was once a popular hang-out where local teenagers would go to drink and flirt and generally behave recklessly while trains raced below them.
For over 100 years Marion Grain and Supply sold livestock feed, field grain, fertilizer and other agricultural goods at its North Vine Street location. Although the business passed through many owners and had different names over the years, it remained in more or less continuous operation until closing its doors in the 1980s. Although the building is not abandoned, it has certainly seen better days.
For over 100 years Marion Grain and Supply sold livestock feed, field grain, fertilizer and other agricultural goods at its North Vine Street location. Although the business passed through many owners and had different names over the years, it remained in more or less continuous operation until closing its doors in the 1980s. Although the building is not abandoned, it has certainly seen better days.
This photo of Marion Grain and Supply, which appears in the Marion County 1979 History, dates from around 1900.
This photo of Marion Grain and Supply, which appears in the Marion County 1979 History, dates from around 1900.
The abandoned Grand Prarire Elementary School out on Marseilles-Galion Road East. Construction began in 1915, and it closed in 1990.
The abandoned Grand Prarire Elementary School out on Marseilles-Galion Road East. Construction began in 1915, and it closed in 1990.
Both vandals and nature have taken their toll on the school.
Both vandals and the elements have taken their toll on the school.
The former gymnasium.
The former gymnasium.
3. It doesn't take nature long to have its way with a house once it has been abandoned as the condition of this house on Blaine Avenue proves.
It doesn’t take nature long to have its way with a house once it has been abandoned as the condition of this house on Blaine Avenue proves.
According to Willis Thomas' book The Schools of Marion County, Ohio, this building, located near the intersection of Marion-Bucyrus Road and Morral-Kirkpatrick Road, was once known as the "Hill School" and dates to at least 1869. The school was later owned by the Mitchell family, and they ran various businesses (e.g. repairing chainsaws, selling wood-burning stoves) out of it for years.
According to Willis Thomas’ book The Schools of Marion County, Ohio, this building, located near the intersection of Marion-Bucyrus Road and Morral-Kirkpatrick Road, was once known as the “Hill School” and dates to at least 1869. The school was later owned by the Mitchell family, and they ran various businesses (e.g. repairing chainsaws, selling wood-burning stoves) out of it for years.
The overgrown front door to the old Mitchell place.
The overgrown front door to the old Mitchell place.
Located on the corner of Pole Lane Road and Likens Road, this church, known by many as Likens Chapel, dates to 1917 and replaced the original church that stood at this location. During WWII, the US government took much of the land in that area for the Scioto Ordinance Plant, and the church was forced to close its doors. By 1950, however, church services were once again taking place there. Nevertheless, by the 1980s the congregation had dwindled to such an extent that the church disbanded. Since then, the church has generally stood empty (though at one point a family was using the church as a private residence).
Located on the corner of Pole Lane Road and Likens Road, this church, known by many as Likens Chapel, dates to 1917 and replaced the original church that stood at this location. During WWII, the US government took much of the land in that area for the Scioto Ordinance Plant, and the church was forced to close its doors. By 1950, however, church services were once again taking place there. Nevertheless, by the 1980s the congregation had dwindled to such an extent that the church disbanded. Since then, the church has generally stood empty (though at one point a family was using the church as a private residence).

As always, if you find any errors in the above information or would like to add something to it, please drop us a line at spooks@spookymarion.com. Also, we would like to extend a special thank you to the “Growing up in Marion, Ohio” Facebook group whose members were happy to provide information about many of these places.