William Smith, 1866 November 30

hanged at Washington Court House on Nov, 30, 1866, he protested his
innocence for the last time,

HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO, Pages 31-319

hanged at Washington Court House on Nov, 30, 1866, he protested his
innocence for the last time,

HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO, Pages 31-39

hanged at Washi
innocence for the

ton Court House on Nov, 30, 1866, he prot
st time,

IISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO, 8 31-39

SMITH, William George Washington

Smith, a white man, was born in Hardy Co., Va., on April 15, 1817.

He and another man named John Gray married sisters and in time they
became involved in a family feud, Both men moved to Ohio with Smith
settling in Petersburg where he became a stock trader and driver and
Gray settling in Concord Township, Fayette Co, Gray and his wife
were no longer living together and he had a widow and her daughter
staying with him, On the night of Oct, 29, 186), while the two women
were away visiting relatives, Smith persuaded a man named John ‘dams
to accompany him to Gray's house for the pmmpose of robbery, assuring
him that Gray was wealthy and kept his money on the premises. When
they arrived, Adams remained outside holding their horses while Smith
entered and bludgeoned Gray to death with a club that he had cut in
the woods, After stealing around $)00 that Gray had in gold and pa-
per, they threw the body in a nearby ravine where it was discovered
the next day. Both men were arrested and Adams readily admitted that
while he had accompanied Smith, he did not know of his intentions to
kill Gray until after they reached the cabin, Smith protested his
innoncence, but was convicted and sentenced to die, largely on Adams!
testimony, For his cooperation, Adams received a 10-year sentence

in the penitentiary. Smith never admitted his guilt and when he was

SMITH, William George Washington

Smith, a white man, was born in Hardy Co,, Va., on April 15, 1817.

He and another man named John Gray married sisters and in time they
became involved in a family feud. Both men moved to Ohio with Smith
settling in Petersburg where he became a stock trader and driver and
Gray settling in Concord Township, Fayette Co, Gray and his wife
were no longer living together and he had a widow and her daughter
staying with him, On the night of Oct, 29, 186, while the two women
were away visiting relatives, Smith persuaded a man named John ‘Adams
to accompany him to Gray's house for the pmupose of robbery, assuring
him that Gray was wealthy and kept his money on the premises. When
they arrived, Adams remained outside holding their horses while Smith
entered and bludgeoned Gray to death with a club that he had cut in
the woods. After stealing around $00 that Gray had in gold and pa-
per, they threw the body in a nearby ravine where it was discovered
the next day. Both men were arrested and Adams readily admitted that
while he had accompanied Smith, he did not know of his intentions to
kill Gray until after they reached the cabin. Smith protested his
innoncence, but was convicted and sentenced to die, largely on Adams!
testimony, For his cooperation, Adams received a lO-year sentence
in the penitentiary. Smith never admitted his guilt and when he was

SMITH, William George Vashington

Smith, a white man, was born in Hardy Go,, Va., on April 15, 1817.

He and another man named John Gray married sisters and in time they
became involved in a family feud, Both men moved to Ohio with Smith
settling in Petersburg where he became a stock trader and driver and
Gray settling in Concord Township, Fayette Co, Gray and his wife
were no longer living together and he had a widow and her daughter
staying with him, On the night of Oct, 29, 186h, while the two women
were away visiting relatives, Smith persuaded a man named John #tdams

+o accompany him to Gray's house for the pumpose of robbery, assuring
him that Gray was wealthy and kept his money on the premises. When
they arrived, Adams remained outside holding their horses while Smith
entered and bludgeoned Gray to death with a club that he had cut in
After stealing around $00 that Gray had in gold and pa-

while he had accompanied Smith, he did not know of his intentions to
kill Gray until after they reached the cabin, Smith protested his
innoncence, but was convicted and sentenced to die, largely on Adams!
testimony, For his cooperation, Adams received a 10-year sentence
in the penitentiary. Smith never admitted his guilt fand when he wes