By Thomas Palmer
For the last few weeks, Preserving Galion has been holding Eerie Galion Walks, each taking place along the streets of Uptowne Galion and ending at the Gill House. During each Walk, true stories from Galion’s past are told in locations that figure in the narrative.
Today on Galion History Corner, we share one such story that is routinely told outside of the Central Hotel on Public Square:
Ladies and gentlemen, as we stand at the Central Hotel, let the gentle breeze transport you back to a chilling winter night in February 1867. The town of Galion was gripped by a tale of love, betrayal, and murder, a story that would go down in local lore.
The Bucyrus Journal, sensing the town’s insatiable hunger for details, printed an additional 200 copies to cover the riveting trial held at the Crawford County Courthouse. The man in the dock? George O. Fitch, accused of the cold-blooded murder of D.E. Smith, the Treasurer of the Home Insurance Company of Columbus.
Fitch, a recent Galionite since 1865, had his heart set on marrying a local beauty named Emma. But fate had other plans. During a trip to New York, Emma’s heart was stolen by Mr. Smith. Upon Fitch’s return, Emma delivered the crushing news: she would not marry him.
The stage was set for a tragic confrontation. One fateful Sunday night, as Emma left church, Fitch lurked in the shadows, waiting. Days later, during Smith’s visit to Galion and his stay at the Central Hotel, the ill-fated lovers spent an evening together. As they bid each other farewell at 11 PM, a shadowy figure, resembling Fitch, stood ominously nearby, his face obscured by a hat.
Moments later, a couple walking on Atwood Street stumbled upon a gruesome scene. Smith lay lifeless, his face a canvas of violence with gashes and a right temple which appeared to have actually been machine drilled. Nearby, the chilling echo of six blows rang out from near the engine house.
Evidence mounted against Fitch: a spot of blood in his room, on his shoes, and his socks. His defense? A mere finger wound. But the jury was unconvinced. Fitch was convicted of manslaughter. However, due to a legal technicality, he escaped the noose, receiving a 10-year sentence instead.
As we continue our journey, let this tale be a reminder of the passions that can drive a man to the brink and the thin line between love and obsession.
Each Saturday, we share a post about local history. We call this series “Galion History Corner,” and we will be sharing not only stories about our shared heritage but also updates on history news here in southeast Crawford County.
This series is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Bernard M. Mansfield, whose “Your Historical Galion” was a fixture in weekend editions of the Galion Inquirer. Dr. Mansfield was a friend and family physician, and he inspired the current generation of Galion historians to continue his work.
Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay
