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44 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
ject to such other internal arrangements as the commissioners shall hereafter
direct and adopt; and also remove the partition in the second story,
and lay a floor over the present stairAvay so that the courtroom Avill
extend over the Avhole of the second story." The latter portion of this
instrument Avas subsequently modified in relation to the construction of
the portico and%stairAvays, and provision made for a semi-circular portico
with circular stairs.
The deed from the proprietors of the land and the shareholders of
the "stone building" bears the date of May 14, 1842, and is made upon
the express condition that the county seat be not removed from Sandusky
City. The deed Avas signed and executed by the folloAving named
persons: W. II. Mills, David Campbell, S. B. Caldwell, A. P. Tower,
I'KINKER HOME
William B. Smith, William II. Hunter, I. 1). Davidson, (i. S. Dowel,
Josiah AV. Hollister, James Hollister, by attorney, R. I. Jennings, M. A.
Bradley, S. C. Moss, Eleutheros Cooke, Moses Farwell, John N. Sloane,
L. S. Beecher, John G. Camp, F. D. Parish, F. S. Wildman, Nathan
Starr, John Wearn, Thomas Neill, Isaac Mills, by attorney, J. A. Mills,
James Foman, Thomas T. White, William Null, Oran Follett, E. S.
Gregg, Burr Higgins, AV. Townsend, L. I>. Johnson, Martin Ellis and I.
Darling.
For a period of nearly fifty years this building, though not originally
intended as such, served the purposes of the county as a hall of justice.
Could a record of each and every case, civil and criminal, tried and
argued Avithin its AA*I1IS be made, Avhat an interest Avould it create. Here
was tried, convicted and sentenced to be hanged the only murderer ever
executed within the bounds of Erie County. James Evans, a crippled
tailor, Avas the man, and the sentence of death Avas executed upon him
for the wilful, deliberate murder of John Ritter. Counsellor L. S.