Long time friends Clifford “Tacks” Latimer and Charles Mackrodt had been enmeshed in an argument regarding Mackrodt’s dismissal from his job at the railway police force, where Latimer served as his superior.
The men met up at the southwest corner in front of the Commercial and Savings bank and walked across the intersection to the northwest corner, where they argued in front of the Steele Building. Witnesses overheard the men discussing a duel, and they agreed to walk to a nearby alley to engage. Apparently, Mackrodt changed his mind at the last moment and turned to walk away when Latirmer pulled out a revolver and shot Mackrodt three times in the back. One of the shots pierced his heart and caused instant death. The other two shots would have likely proved fatal as well.
Deputy Sheriff John Baugan witnessed the shooting and along with Sheriff Morris Sharp, ran to the scene and arrested Latimer, who still had the revolver in his hand. Latimer did not resist arrest. He was held in the county jail, charged with first degree murder. Latimer claimed he shot Mackrodt in self defense, but was ultimately convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
Looking for Something to Do in Spooky Season?
Haunted Garage – Tipp City
Friday and Saturday Evenings from 7-10 pm
7373 Bard Road, Tipp City
The event is free, but donations for Multiple Sclerosis are accepted. Turn into the driveway for parking guidance and enjoy the friendly atmosphere and spooky delights.
Angry Ghosts
Confused, the family members protested this idea. When they did, the ghost grabbed the nearest child, the oldest, Cora. He quickly shoved her facedown onto the nearby table and started beating her. In shock, the family members could only watch in horror, glued to their seats. They recognized the ghost as that of Joe Lynch, who was murdered in 1878 in Waynesville by James Buckner. Before they had time to wonder why he showed up or react to his actions, another ghost appeared and rescued Cora.
Continue reading
Come See Us at Sanctuary Dayton!
Come see us!
Upcoming Author Events for Sara
- Bellbrook Historical Society
September 15, 7pm
72 West Franklin Street, Bellbrook, OH 45305 - Sanctuary Dayton 2nd Anniversary Celebration
September 19, 6-10 pm
Oregon District - Star City Booksellers Book Club
September 23, 7pm
55 South Main Street, Miamisburg, OH 45342 - Huber Haunts
October 5, 11am-6pm
Rose Music Center Parking Lot
6800 Executive Boulevard, Huber Heights, Ohio 45424 - Dayton Ghosts & Legends Talk
October 7, 11:45am
Earl Heck Community Center
201 Main Street, Englewood, Ohio 45322 - Murder & Mayhem in Dayton and the Miami Valley Talk
October 9, 12pm
Vandalia Senior Center
21 South Tionda Street, Vandalia, Ohio 45377 - Behind Urban Legends
October 11, 6pm
Dayton Metro Library, E.C. Doren Branch
701 Troy Street, Dayton, Ohio 45404 - Fairborn Halloween Festival
October 17, 4pm-11pm
October 18, 11am-11pm
October 19, 12pm-6pm
12 North Central Avenue, Fairborn, Ohio 45324 - Halloween Happy Hour in Courthouse Square
October 23, 4:30pm-6:30pm
Courthouse Square
23 North Main Street, Dayton, OH 45402 - Paranormal Meeting
October 25, 2pm
Tipp City Public Library
11 East Main Street, Tipp City, Ohio 45371 - Dayton Ghosts & Legends Talk
October 28, 6pm
Charles I. Lathrem Senior Center
2900 Glengarry Drive, Kettering, Ohio 45420 - Dayton Ghosts & LegendsTalk
October 30, 6pm
Dayton Metro Library, Vandalia Branch
330 South Dixie Drive, Vandalia, Ohio 45377
Fall 2025 Events
499 Old Main Street, Miamisburg
September 18, 4-8pm
Beer Fest + Hot Diggity Dog Fest
The Greene
4452 Buckeye Lane, Beavercreek
September 20, 5-9pm
Vandalia Fall Festival
Vandalia Sports Complex
1111 Stonequarry Rd, Vandalia
October 11, 12-6pm
Caramel Apple Festival
Hobson Freedom Park
2910 Trebein Road, Fairborn
October 25, 12-7pm
Seven Daschunds
Dye himself was an avid dog lover and was surprised at this answer. He mentioned that he had a dog of his own, a greyhound. To this, the German replied that the dogs he was worried about were faster and said that they were dachshunds. Dye roared with laughter at this response, imagining the tiny dogs racing past his greyhound. Indignant, the German replied that he had killed a man in Germany and immediately took the first boat out of the country. The dead man’s seven dogs followed him onto the boat, and he hadn’t a moment’s peace since. In the distance, the men heard the faint sound of dogs barking. Dye was still laughing at the story. The German retorted that he would fool the dogs that night. The pack barked and snarled outside Dye’s home all night. In the morning, when Dye went to wake the old man, he was gone. It appeared he had climbed out of the second-story window. From there, he climbed into a tree, then presumably leapt onto a passing wagon heading out of town—all to elude the dogs tracking his scent. He was never seen again, but the dogs remained outside Dye’s house for six nights before giving up on their target.
Read this and other tales of Bizarre Beasts in Sar’s book Dayton Ghosts & Legends, available through Amazon and major book retailers. Autographed copies available directly from the author on SaraKaushal.com
August Events
Centennial Park
321 Union Boulevard, Englewood
August 9, 10:30-6
August 10, 11-5
Art on the Commons
Fraze Pavilion, Kettering
August 10, 11am to 5pm
Dayton Porch Fest at St. Anne’s Hill Historic District
1432 East 5th Street, Dayton
August 16, 12:15 to 6:45
Geeky Garage Sale
Englewood MetroPark
4361 National Road, Vandalia
August 16, 10-2
Taco & Nacho Fest
Austin Landing
10400 Innovation Drive, Miamisburg
August 23, 3-10pm
John Hinckley’s Visit to Dayton
Hinckley had been obsessed with the 1976 movie Taxi Driver, the premise of which was an assassination attempt. He was convinced he was in love with the leading actress, Jodie Foster.
Hinckley had been on a cross country campaign of his own, attempting to leave notes for and make contact with Foster. Her rejection of him sent him into a spiral. He needed to make a name for himself, he decided. After a while he determined the only way to get her attention was to shoot a president. Hearing about Carter’s election campaign, he traveled to Dayton to attend the next rally on October 2, 1980.
Hinckley stayed at the Sheraton Hotel at 21 S Jefferson Street and requested a room with a view of the Convention center where Carter would be speaking. He was given room 818 and paid a total fee of $35.52.
Fortunately for Carter and unfortunately for Hinckley, the crowd attracted was too large for Hinckley to be able to find a good point from which to shoot. Hinckley had left his weapons in his hotel room and was not in the mood to attempt to shoot after seeing the crowd.
After this event, Hinckley made several more attempts to shoot Carter and temporarily turned his sights to a leader of the American Nazi party. After many more failed attempts, he gave up and went home. During that time, he saw a psychiatrist, but did not mention his assassination attempts or his obsession with Jodie Foster.
When Carter lost the reelection campaign to Ronald Reagan, Hinckley turned his sights to President Reagan. He fired 6 shots and hit President Reagan and 3 of his attendants in front of the Washington Hilton before the Secret Service subdued him. President Reagan suffered a shot to the lung, missing his heart. During the chaos, he’d been shoved into the limo by a Secret Service agent and was unaware he’d been injured. He spent 12 days in the hospital before returning to the White House. Press Secretary James Brady was severely injured, suffering permanent brain damage after a shot to his head.
Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed to a mental health facility. He was ultimately released in 2018.
Local Author – Marcia Treadway
Marica may not appear as the type to have pursued ghost-hunting, yet there she was in Bellbrook, doing just that. Marcia’s instincts as a reporter led her to investigate phenomena that had no earthly explanations. Her skepticism soon became fascination and she couldn’t discount other people’s stories after witnessing a few bizarre happenings firsthand.
Marcia’s book, Transcending the Heart: When God Brought Me the Ghosts (soon to be renamed Seeker: From Skeptic to Believer) will captivate anyone who suspects there’s something beyond the universe other than what we can see or touch.
Dayton Unknown 