, 1862-12-19
TRIAL OF WILLIAM HOPP FOE
THE MURDER OF HIS WIFE.


TRIAL OF WILLIAM HOPp FOE
THE MURDER OF HIS WIFE,
History Of tho Case-Opentng Of the
Testimony.
The trial OF William Hopp for the murder
Of his wife, Martha Hopp, was commenced
yesterday morning in the Circuit Court, the
Hon. Judge Manierre presiding: In order
that our readers may come TO correct un-
deTstanding Of the case, and thus be able to
follow the testimony, as the hearing progress
ses, we briefly recapitulate the main facts, as
preface to our regular report.
William Hopp and his wife Martha Hopp,
were united in marriage in 1889, at the town
Of Paw Paw, Lee County, III. They resided at
that Place short time, and then removed to
Wheeling, where the murder was committed
From small beginning, they amassed con
siderable wealth, secured a farm of 500 acres,
wel-stocked, and probably the finest in, Cook
house, handsomely furnished. They have
had thirteen children,-seven girls and six
boIs,-of whom three have died. His wife
HAoAk fC1t AA1Ei3 44uuSLI1tAS1 6EOkEA W0N2us
from all accounts loving her husband most
stIectionately, and n1anagIng the domestic
economy With rare tact. He WAS taciturn,
reserved man, but for many years was highly
esteemed, and enjoyed the confidence Of the
community Of which, probably, he was the
most prominent member. Year by year this
wealth increased, and apparently their happi-
ness, but some two years since, trouble arose
in the household.
The husband unaccountably and without
the shadow Of a pretext, was seized with sud
den fits Of Jealousy, and accused his wife Of
improprieties with other men, although una
bic to single out any one against whom to d.
rect his suspicious. The wife, conscious Of
her innocence, paid little heed to his insane
accusations. The matter was dropped for
accompanied with blows. The wife then left
the house and went to her brothers in Paw
Paw. where she remained for three months,
but finally returned upon the promise Of her
husband that lie would do better in future.
He minded his promise but q short time, and
from that time until the date of the tragedy
he frequently Eeiter1tcd Ills charge, abused
her without any cause, and She was
compelled to leave him on several occ:a-
ssiops, sn3n 80 bitter Ter; wa5 his jealousy. On the
and returned about dusk: His wife was in the
garden. He approached her, and after abus-
ing her for several minutes, to which she
made no reply, she went into the house. He
followed her and expressed regrets; she told
him she did not wish to listen to him. At this
he became suddenly enraged, and drawing a
largc knife from his pocket with 4 bladc four
inches in length plungedit into her abdomen,
and tile unfortunate mother fell to the floor
bathed in blood. Hopp then cody closed the
knife, put it back into his pocket, and sat
down at the front door as if nothing had hap
pencd.
The neighbors alarmed by the screams Of
the woman and l;er children came rushing to
the house, and asked him what was the mat-
ter, to which he replied, aOht nothing"
into the room where the victim was lying on
the bed in extreme agony. She made no ac-
cusations against any one, but the daughter
said her father had killed her. Upon queB-
tioning hin, he acknowledged the deed, told
the neighbors that he was perfectly rational;
that be intended to do it, and he should do it
again. He then justified the crime on tile
| ground that his wife was hateful and treated
him uIlkindly, and stated that he was per-
fectly aware Of what he had done.
| We have thus given summary Of the facts
as they were brought out in the investigation
| by the Coroner's jury.
The prisoner is on the shady side OF fifty, of
amedium hight, Of q muscular but not heavy
build, sharp features and narrow forehead.
| His hair is . dark-brown, straight aud well
kept, and his eyes, gray in color, are restless
I " moving from one object to another, with
the Fapidity Of lightning. After looking at
the accused full ID the face for several min
utcs We could not but feel that there may be
some trnth in the theory Of the defense, to
wit: that he was at the time Of the murder,
ard has been for years past, insane. There is
| afirmncss and determination about his mouth
and chin which is somewhat forbiddiRg. bnt
| otherwise William Hopp is not, Judging from
external appearances, the man who would he
selected from his neighbors as likely to COM
nit acold-blooded murder That he inflicted
4 4hn
have his own word for, but whether the act
was committed while in his right mind, remains
| to be Rcens-His brother Ralph is now, and hls
been for months, hopelcssly insane, and it is
| claimed that the accused has on numerous oc-
| casions previous to the murder exhibited
| symptoms of the same malady He will now,
| when in conversation touching the alleged
! murder, attempt to justify the act, and up
! pear fully convinced fnat he has Succeeded in
doing SO. His manner is that Of o man who
/ sition he occupies, but rather Of one belieY-
ing he has an Unpleasant duty to perform, has
nerved himself to the task.
| TEE 5URf.
The cmpanelling of the jury was rapidl,
proceeded With and before noon the required
number bad >heen sworn. The following are
| the nanlesof the iarers: j. G. Williams, Johr
Gay, ]. B. Rice. Arnold Bigelow, Tloula:
Stergold, Robert Scott, Eli Whitney, B. B.
Bcrgole, Joseph Meeker, Reuben Taylor, "
r. Downs, 4. q. Head.
TIE OPENING.
The opening Of counsel was very brief, ani
confined to the facts as heretofore given, ant
the readipg Of the Law governing cases Of thi:
naturc.
The first witness introduced was y-Corone]
| James, who held tile ln4uest. His testimony
was directed to proving the body dtziai.
Mary Hopp, the daughter Of the accused
T:s then called. Her evidence, as given be
fore the Coroncr's Jury,ls recapitulatsd in tht
statement which We have already made, though
at this time the minor details Of the ,ffiii
were somcwhnt enlarged upon. Her father
| she said, was almost always kind to his chill
dfen. She could only recollect Of two instan
cts when he had been otherwise On one 0
| these occasions, when he lad used abusiT,
and violent words to her, Mrs. Hopp had sub
sequently spoken to him about it, when Ii,
apologised to the witness, and said be did no
remember anything Of it.
Dr.. Mergler, who WAS the physician, callei
at the time the deed Was committed, ties
tilted to the character Of the wound aud til.
cause Of death.
The hour fer adjournment having arrived
the further hearing was continued to thi
morning at 9 o'clock.
to1ney Knox, assisted by ". E. McAliste
and ChaS. e; Reed, Esqs: The accused is dc
Tended by Mr. E. ". MeComas and Messrs
Walker s. Dexter.
requisite number Of beds hare been pm
up in the jury room, and during the continu
anee OF the trial the jurors will be boarded
and lodged there at the county's expense. Th,
large assemhlage OF spectators present
in court yesterday, exhibits the inte
rest and curiosity which the public take in
trial Of this kind.
James Raymond, the Hotel Thief
His Trial and Convfcstpn.
Yesterday morning young man aged s5ou
r. neatly attired, and Of pleasant address
was brought before Justice Miller charged
with stealing coats, at various dates recently
from The Sherman, fremont, Briggs and MI
tropolitan Hotels. He first gaye his name a
Brown, but afterwards said his real name Wa
james Raymond, and plead guilty to th
} charge. When asked his age he stated h
would be IS years old the 4th day Of mex
February.'' Judge Miller, who evidently ha
horse sense, examined his teeth, and told hin
''hc was lying-that he would never see hi
twenty-frst birthday again. The youth
declared he could prove the statement by hi
mother, but the Court couldn't see it, and b
! was not allowed the advantage Of the ssbab
actn
Tile articles that we're produced at the couT
were heavy pilot-c1oth oyercoat, fur-trim
! med kid gloves, and several packages of off
cial papers, belonging to Lieut.. Thos. Bren
nan, recruiting officer for the Irish Brigade
| ali II, IT,