The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-01-23
SENTENCE OF the COURT.

The Grand Jury summoned to attend
the present term of Court have return
ed true bills of indictment against you
for the murder of Joseph Lilienthal on
the 9th day OF June, 1S6T-for the muir
der OF Rudolf Tsutor on the 9Th day
Of December, 1857, and for manning
John z. White, with intent TO kill, on
the 9th day OF January, 1868.
You were arrested for the latter of.
fence shortly after its commission.
The preparations made to accomplish
your wicked design upon Mr.. White
the attempted method of consumma-
ting your purpose-the heartless cruel
ty that characterized the attempt-the
entire absence of provocation on his
part-the desperate and bloody strug-
gle-the tieudish determination to ao-
complish the deed up to the time as
sistance came to his relief, were facts,
which as soon us known, fixed you in
public opinion as the guilty man who
committed the two murders described
In these indictments.
The murder of Lilienthal caused
great alarm throughout the communi-
". No one was particularly suspected
as the murderer-the belief was that
he had fled.
The marks OF violence upon the
mangled corpse Indicated a cruelty of
purpose rarely known in the annals of
crime. You were among the first to
aid In arranging the CHASTITY body for
burial.
Only six months afterwards our COM
munity was again startled with con-
sternation at the murder of Rudolf
Tsutor. His death had evidently been
comprised by similar means. The
common. belief was that one and the
same hand committed both deeds. The
wounds on each were much alike
there were many other circumstances
OF remarkable similarity.
Public feeling became intensely
aroused-consternation caused every
one to be upon the alert, and yet sus-
picion rested on none.
As In the other case you were early
at the residence of the murdered man.
and 1t Is said, assisted in the last sad
duties to the dead-cleansed the BODY
OF It's gore and helped 10 bear It to the
grave.
The last murderous assault with its
attending circumstances, removed all
doubt and uncertainty as to the guilty
author of the other deeds.
Crimes infinitely less terrible, and
horrld in their details have often exas-
perated citizens and caused summary
vengeance upon the offender, even in
regard of law and order.
To the credit OF this community be 1t
said that nothing has appeared indicat-
Ing any other than Il spirit of Obedi-
ence to the laws and willingness that
justice be fairly and rightfully admin-
istered.
a fair and impartial trial has been
secured to you throughout these pro-
Geedings. Although a foreigner by
birth, and almost stranger in our
midst-yet all your legal rights and
privileges have been as fully secured
10 you as could have been extended
even TO the most wealthy and influen-
ttal of our citizens under like cIrcum-
stances.
Counsel have been assigned for your
defense who We're learned in the law
and familiar with your native Ian.
guage. You have been arraigned upon
these several indictments which were
read to you both in English and Ger
man.
You here confess each of the indict-
ments 10 be true, after having been
fully informed Of the nature and effect
OF such confession; accordingly II be.
came necessary under our law for the
Court to examine witnesses and deter
mine the degree of the crime. This /
have done, and have also read the letter
uran5lated1 which you wrote, and re-
quested to have read at the trial. Upon
this examination OF witnesses / defer.
mime inc ueRree OF the crime to DO
murder in the first degree. The penal
~ OF this ottense is death.
Your care.h crime has been short
and terriOti in the extreme; the facts
disclosed Oy witnesses and in tho writ
ten confession are too shocking for re-
cital. We feel humlliated that our
common human nature Is capable OF
such awful depravity.
Under sudden provocation-or the
frenzy Of some great and overmaster-
ing passion, fearful crimes have been
committed-but In the cases before us
no such palliating circumstances APP
The killing was willful deliberate and
Premeditated, the only motive, a few
paltry dollars.
Why one so young, prepossessine
and intelligent in appearance, 40 well
educated and capable OF earning an
honest liye1ihood-of making himself
usefnl,ahd beloved in the community,
should hazard all and choose a career
SO dark and terrible, Is beyond all hh.
man comprehension! And yet the faoi
Otthis open and unreserved confession
on your part-the tender solicitude
manifested for an ahIectionate wife and
helpless tntant-tthe good will ayowed
Tor your lfellow-beings and the desire
that they will forgive yon-the deer