Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1867-12-18
Court PROCEEDINGS.

prisoner could not be convicted oil Inc
crime charged. 1t appeared that the U.
s.. Treasury Notes stolen, were spoken of
in the indictment, as Promisory Notes,
when they should have been described as
money. Under the existing state of things
the prisoner plead guilty to petty larceny,
which plea the Prosecuting Attorney &C
eepted, and al further proceedings were
dispensed with. This denoHmeHf took
every body by surprise, as it was entirely
unexpected, at least TO the uninItia.ed.-
Most Potent Technicslity!I Who, after
this, will have the temerity to urge that
you should be forever excluded from
Criminal Jurisprudence?
The next culprit brought to the Bar was
CHARLES Hill BE is indicted with John
How for stealing a gelding and mare in
Auglaize Co, Ohio, some time last August.
They were arrested in Pennington, in
this county, with the stolen horses in thei T
possession, which fact would of necessity
reflect against them unless explained in a
manner satisfactory to the jury. j.
Hill is a young man about 20 years O.
age; has dark hair and eyes, and wears a
.-countenanee not we'll calculated to gain
him many friends among strangers. In
his testimony he named Columbians Co..
as his place of residence. The indications
are that this young offender will have an
early opportunity TO learn a trade at the
expense of the generous State of Ohio
This cause was not concluded when court
adjourned.
We DNEsDAY, Dec. 18th.
The case of the State of Ohio VS.. Charles
Hill was submitted to the jury about noon
to-day. The jury had not remained lock-
ed up in their consultation room, under
the strict surveillance of that stern old
~iconoelsst, father Noble, but q few min
utes, when they were reeonducted into the
"Halis of Justice" and there in the pres
ence of the court, and of the anxious and
trembling prisoner, pronounced that ter
rible verdict gNilty. Upon being polled
at the instance Of the condemned, each
juror rose to his feet and in a clear firm
voice pronounced the prisoner guilty of
the crime charged in the indictment. His
Attorney, Mr.. Forrest, who defended him
with great skill and eloquence, then gave
notice of motion for q new trial, when the
young culprit was returned to that filthy
prison-home which the humane and en-
IigAteaed county Of TFumbull has provided
for thieves and ~malefactors. 'a0ld Trum-
bull" you ought to be ashamed of your
magazines in this particular. The worst
days of the Spanish Inquisition did not
furnish a more unchristOGn prison than
this same old brick Jail.
Hills companion in crime, John How,
was next brought to trial. He is charged
with the same ~offense, committed at the
same time. How is probably two or three
years the senior Of Hill, and is even more
unprepossessing in appearance than his
'Pal". He is of medium height, has very
black hair and eyes, and Irresistibly i'm
presses one with the belief that he is a
character both to be feared and to be
watched. Mr.. Forrest is acting as his
counsel, and is doing for him all that any
,ne could. Prosecutor Stull and Mr..
are prosecuting for tie State. This
Ease was vet unfinished when court sd-
THURSDAY, Dec. 18th.
In the case of Ohio VS.. How, Mr.. Arnel
opened for the prosecution this morning
in q very neat maiden speech, and was
BY Mr.. Forrest in a protracted
able argument, q little extravagant at
times, but on the whole ingenious anu
His remarks concerning the
old Jail were not only very truthful and
acceptable, but also brilliant and eloquent.
Mr.. Prosecutor Stull closed for the State
a brief but sensible speech. The case
submitted to the jury just before the
noon recess. They did not return with
the verdict until about 9 o'clock, P. M,
which was .,guilty." 1t is understood
they stood on the first ballot 8 for
conviction and 4 for scquittal. Notice
also given in this case of a motion for
8 new trial.
The next culprit brought into court was
DR.. Stephen Myers. He Is charged with
stealing a horse in Gustavus in this coun-
~, some time last August. He is an old
bald-headed sinner, and has a strange
romantic history. About % years ago he
was a young fine looking man of considers
bic promise, and was studying medicine,
if We are correctly informed, in Farming
ton IN this County. He was quite prepOs-
sessing in appearance End was readily ad-
into good society. BE became en-
gagged to an intelligent and estimable
lady in that neighborhood, and was on the
point of making her his wife when he was
arrested for horse stealng-tried, convict
ed and sent to the Penitentiary. He has
been there most of the time since, for the
crime, he having been sent from
three different counties. Mr.. Forrest who
IS defending him on this trial, acted as
his counsel twenty odd years ago, and
then and there made his maiden speech to
a jury. History does not inform Is how
successful he was then, but if the evidence
was as strong and conclusive in that case
as it appears to be in this, We do not ap-
prehend that even the Tervent eloquence
of young Ferrist, was sufficient to save the
then youthful criminal. The jury in this
case ut was submitted without argument)
were conducted TO their room about 4
O'Clock, P. NJ, and after a few moments
consultation returned a verdict of guilty.
So the old bald-head 'fgoes up"
But to be serious. Is there not some
ground for the belief that this unfortunate
old man has become q moHOnaniae on the