George D. Saxton came from a wealthy Canton, Ohio family. He had two sisters. His older sister Ida married William McKinley Jr., the 25th president of America. He served from 1898 until Leon Czolgosz assassinated him in 1901.

Marc Hoover.

George was educated, wealthy, well-dressed, and handsome. He also had an eye for the ladies. On October 7, 1898, George had arrived at his girlfriend Eva Althouse’s home. She wasn’t home. As George turned to leave, two gunshots rang out. An unidentified shooter dressed in black shot George twice. He cried out for help. The killer approached George and then fired two more shots into his body. George died on the steps of Eva Althouse’s home.

News of George’s death spread fast. The news reached the White House. President McKinley told his wife that someone had murdered her brother. Within several hours, authorities arrested and charged a woman named Annie George with first-degree murder.

Annie was a married seamstress with two kids. Her husband was Sample George. While at a department store, Annie caught George’s attention. A store employee arranged for them to talk. Once George found out where Annie lived, he offered her family a chance to move into an apartment he owned. She accepted the offer and then moved her family into the apartment.

The Georges’ must have been gullible. They didn’t wonder why a wealthy man would offer to let them stay in one of his apartments for no reason. But George had a motive. He began bringing clothing to Annie for mending. He soon began visiting Annie while her husband worked. After a while, George convinced Annie to engage in an affair with him. Annie tried to end it after her husband became suspicious. George didn’t care. He wanted Annie and nothing would stop him from keeping her.

Once Annie’s husband realized his wife was sleeping with George, he demanded she end the affair. Sample even visited George and told him to leave his wife alone. The torrid affair continued and ended Annie and Sample’s marriage.

In February 1892, Sample George filed a $20,000 lawsuit against George Saxton for alienation of affections. He accused his wife of adultery and blamed George for his marital woes. Sample claimed Saxton engaged in adulterous behavior with his wife. George convinced Annie to move away for six months and to file for divorce in South Dakota.

After the divorce, Annie returned to Ohio to marry George. However, to her dismay, George no longer wanted Annie. He began avoiding her. Annie then sued George for breaking a promise to marry her. She also unsuccessfully tried to get back with her husband, but he had remarried.

Annie was livid. She had divorced Sample to marry George Saxton. And now, he had dismissed her. Annie decided she would force George into marrying her or he would die. She began appearing unannounced at his place of employment. Annie also stalked George’s girlfriend Eva Althouse, who filed a restraining order against Annie.

One night, Annie approached George and Eva. She pointed a gun at George and threatened to kill him if he didn’t marry her. On April 4, 1899, Annie George went on trial for killing George Saxton. The trial ended on April 28, 1899.

A jury found Annie not guilty.

After the trial, Annie became an in demand public speaker for women’s rights. In 1903, she married a deadbeat doctor who gambled and drank heavily. He committed suicide in 1906. Annie contracted cancer and died on June 25, 1922.

George died over 100 years ago. Did Annie kill him? According to the law, she didn’t. Today, his case remains unsolved. George had a reputation of being a lady’s man. Had he just left Annie George alone, he may have lived longer. It’s been said Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. George should have heeded those wise words.

Marc is a longtime resident of Clermont County and an avid reader. Contact him through his website at www.themarcabe.com or through Facebook: www.Facebook.com/themarcabe or his Twitter account @themarcabe. Marc also has a podcast called Catch my Killer where he interviews family members seeking justice for their murdered loved ones. You can listen at www.catchmykiller.com.