Island Park Wolf Attacked A Farmer (Defiance Democrat 28 Nov 1901)

    The wolf which escaped from Island Park last summer it is believe is dead. At least an animal answering the description of that one was dispatched Monday morning after it had tackled a man who proved too much for the beast.
    James Scofield a farmer about 40 years of age, whose place is located about one mile north of Florida, Flat Rock township  in Henry county, where  his father lived before him, hence he is well known to the people of that vicinity, was in Defiance, Monday afternoon and gave the following account:
    That morning about 6 o'clock when he went out to the barn to attend to his chores he saw the wolf devouring a chicken, which it had but a few moments previously killed.
    When Mr. Scofield saw the beast, he started for the house to get his gun, but the wolf would not permit him to leave and made an attack on the man, biting him in the abdomen and on the arm and also on the hand, but none of the wounds were very severe. The wolf next attempted to reach his throat, but Mr. S., who is a good sized, strong man of about 175 pounds weight, was able to get a crack at the beast's head with his right fist. This knocked the brute away from him long enough to allow him to pick up a stick of wood lying conveniently near and with this missile he went after Mr. Wolf with sufficient force to soon lay the animal out cold in death.
    He took the carcass of the beast to Florida (Ohio), where it was examined by several people and all in position to judge pronounced it a wolf, and it answers very closely the description of the one sent here from Missouri, by Ezra Blanchard, intended for the zoo at Island Park, but which escaped from its cage several weeks ago, since when it has not been heard of until on this occasion so far as known.
    The presence of the wolf in the vicinity it was killed had not been suspected as no farmer there had reported the loss of poultry or live stock at any time.

 

Large Timber Wolf Gains Its Liberty (Defiance Democrat 10 Oct 1901)

    The large timber wolf which has been confined at Island Park for past few weeks made its escape Saturday and present is enjoying its liberty somewhere in the vicinity of Defiance.

    That its absence from island Park will soon be noticed there is little doubt. Reports of some strange wild beast making depredation in this or other counties will soon be made. Sheep, hogs calves, poultry, etc., will suffer until the animal has been recaptured or kill.
    A splendid opportunity presents itself to local hunters to take their dogs and have a wolf hunt. They could probably locate the animal now before it gets very far from Defiance.
    The wolf was captured in Missouri by Ezra Blanchard as a gift to the Island Park Company. It was taken to the resort to be exhibited in the menagarie. When it was received a few weeks ago, there was no secure place on the island on which to keep him, and a new cage was built by Del Wirebaugh. In putting on the roof, material ran short and a small hole in one of the corners was left open. Mr. Wirebaugh was of the opinion that the beast could not squeeze through this small opening and of course felt no apprehension when leaving the grounds.
    Saturday morning Mr. Wirebaugh had occasion to leave, and while he was gone the wolf demonstrated that he really knew what he could do better than his keeper. He crawled through this hole and where he is now is more than anyone can tell. That he used this small aperture as a means for escape is evident, for a quantity of hair was found on its side.
    The habits of this wolf are interesting. When caged, any opening large enough to admit the passage of the head, will be amply large enough for escape, even though the wolf would be compelled to eat its own flesh. This has been demonstrated when one is caught in a trap. If not taken out immediately the leg caught will be chewed off by the captured animal. They feed on flesh, and will carry off sheep, calves, poultry, etc., and are a source of constant annoyance to western farmers.
    When the escape was noticed Saturday, the park was thoroughly searched but no traces of the beast could be found. It is probable that it swam the river across the river and is now somewhere in the woods in the country. The gift was considered a valuable one and its loss is regretted.

Our Jack Shannon And How He Captured The Thompson Brothers, Henry County Desperadoes (Defiance Democrat 21 Aug. 1902)

    The Toledo Times has been having a talk with Jack Shannon. The following is the result:

    It transpires that the Thompson brothers, who shot Sheriff Barnhill and made their escape, are much wanted individuals by officers of two or three counties are not unknown in the criminal annals of Northwest Ohio. Jack Shannon, of Defiance, Ohio, who was deputy United States marshal with Headquarters in Toledo, said that he had experience with Aleck Thompson, one of the brothers, at his home in Cecil four years ago. At that time Thompson was a member of a gang of counterfeiters, who were operating in Paulding and Defiance counties. They had some sort of a secret organization and compelled all members to take an oath which was most binding, the penalty or showing the white feather being death. Shannon, accompanied by Sheriff Eiser, of Defiance, went over to Thompson's house in Cecil, Paulding county, to effect his arrest. They surprised him and Thompson was covered by revolvers before he had time to make resistance. He however flourished a inevitable he handed the gun to his wife with the remark "keep this until I come back. You may need it." He came to Toledo without resistance and was tried and convicted in the United States court and was sentenced to one year in the penitentiary. He was an inmate of the county jail when the wholesale escape was made under the regime of Chas. Stager and refused to leave as he had only a short sentence to serve. He has a brother who has served time in the penitentiary and who is now out on parole. This brother has a wife in Sandusky.
    It is thought that Thompson is accompanied in his flight by the paroled prisoner. Jack Shannon regards the Thompson brothers as desperate characters who would not hesitate to fire to kill if brought to bay. He is of the opinion that they will soon visit Cecil, the home of Aleck, and that they will; be captured there. 
    The Thompson were at the head of an ingenious and daring band of counterfeiters and they gave the authorities no end of trouble. Their modus operandi was to visit small towns and pass the money on saloon keepers and restaurant men, buying small quantities and getting the spurious money changed. Soon after the arrest of Thompson the organization was broken up, for it lacked a leader who could direct their movements. With his arrest came to light the oath they were required to take and it was one of the most unique and blood curdling obligation ever taken. Thompson remained taciturn during his trial and confinement and did not implicate any others of the band. Shannon regards him as one most dangerous counterfeiters that ever operated in this section.

Sheriff Barnhill Shot In Henry County (Defiance Democrat 14 Aug. 1902)

    While attempting to arrest three thieves near the Nishwich school house in Flatrock township, Henry county, adjoining Richland township, Defiance county, Sheriff W.C. Barnhill, was shot in the neck about 1 o'clock am Monday by one of the trio. The wound is not considered fatal unless complication arise, the bullet passing between the jugular and windpipe, without injuring either.

    Shorty before midnight farmers in the vicinity of the Nishwich school house heard a commotion in their poultry yards. The thieves were discovered and Sheriff Barnhill telephoned. The sheriff enlisted the aid of Marshall Heyser and his deputy G.F. Mann, of Napoleon, and started for the scene, arriving there about 1 o'clock.
    At the school house they found two covered wagons and surrounding them commanded the men within to surrender. One came and the sheriff immediately placed him under arrest. The marshal and his deputy secured the other two. The man in charge of sheriff Barnhill asked that he be allowed to get a drink at the well close by. His request was granted, the sheriff accompanying him. While stooping to the water the fellow drew a revolver from his pocket and shot, the bullet striking the sheriff. A break for liberty was immediately made and the one who shot, with one of the other two, succeeded in getting away, followed by bullets from officers who gave chase, including Sheriff Barnhill. They succeeded in eluding the police under cover of darkness, but it is thought that one of the shots took effect. The captured thief was taken to Napoleon and locked up and Sheriff Barnhill was placed under the care of a physician, as the wound was a dangerous one.
    A posse was formed and the country scoured. It was learned that the two free robbers stole a horse and buggy two miles south of the scene of the shooting and had gone south and west. The Defiance police were requested to lookout for them. A description of the fellow who shot the sheriff is that he is a man about 50 years old, smooth face, white hat, brown coat and pants, the latter torn in front, no vest, white shirt and rather light complected.
    Deputy Marshal Mann went to the scene and took the two covered wagons to Napoleon. The vehicles were found to contain felt boots, rubber shoes, hats, caps, mittens, gloves, tobacco, coffee, etc., which gives the officers an opinion that some general store has been robbed recently in the vicinity, possibly the one at Matamora, near Sylvania. There has been no later word concerning the chase after the escaped robbers.