Thomas Carr was born in Sugar Hill, West Virginia, near Wheeling, on March 6, 1846. At the age of 15, he enlisted in the 16th Ohio Volunteer Infantry by lying that he was 4 years older. He saw very little action and was captured at Cheat Run, WVa and sent to a confederate prisoner camp. After the war, he lived in Tuscarawas and Harrison Counties before moving to Belmont County.
Both Louzia and Thomas were both employed by the same family, the Hunter family. Louzia was a domestic servent, and Carr worked in Hunter’s coal mine. The engagement was called off at the request of Louzia’s family and employer because Thomas Carr was much older and had a reputation violence. On January 21, 1869 Carr waited behind a fence for Louiza as she returned home from work. She was walking with her younger brother willie, when Carr approached them. He sent willie home so he could speak to Louiza alone. He then slit her throat from ear to hear and stabbed her 14 times. Willie who saw the whole thing ran home to tell his parents. Her father, John Fox, rounded up a posse to go after Carr. He was found the next day in a coal bunker after having attempted to commit sucide by slitting his own throat and then shooting himself. He was found and stood trial for the murder.
After a 5 day trial, he was found guilty and sentanced to be hanged. During the trial, Carr testefied that Louzia’s last words were “Farewell, Tom, I did not think you would serve me so.”. The sentance was carried out on March 24, 1870 due to a legal technicality which earned him a stay of a year. This was the first (and last) legal excution in Belmont County. It is also said that Carr requested to inspect the gallows to ensure they were sturdy before the execution. It is also said that among his visitors before being executed were two teenage girls, who he gave rings and pictures too and told them he would see them in heaven. Thomas Carr also gave a confession where he clained to have murdered 14 men. This would make him a serial killer. This is highly doubtful since he was known to exaggerate.
The story, from another website, goes on to say the gallows were between the county jail and the courthouse (which are currentally adjacent). I have a problem with this part of the story because the Belmont County Courthouse in St. Clairsville, Ohio was built in 1886. I am unsure if the currently vacent jail was standing in 1870. I have also received an email stating that the original Belmont County Court House was farther east on US 40. It stood at the location of the “Sippers Cafe”. I have yet to confirm this, but this came from a resident of Belmont County. This email went on to state that Thomas Carr was buried in an unmarked grave in the Methodist Cemetery. I believe this is the cemetary in which I have refered to as “the old section of Union Cemetary”. This story seems to make more sense and until it is disproven, I will accept it.