Executed
John Callahan
John Callahan was a young man, and about 2,000 family members, friends, clergymen, businessmen and newspaper editors signed a petition asking Governor Charles Foster for mercy. He was held at the Wayne County Jail in Wooster while his execution was reprieved for 100 days. Governor Foster upheld the sentence, and John was hanged in the jail on December 3, 1880. At his funeral, Rev. Fr. Fridolin Ankley said he had atoned with his young life and that the community must now forgive him.
Cause of death, as reported: Executed by the state. About 2,000 community members petitioned Governor Charles Foster for mercy, but he upheld the sentence.