Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1878-12-25
BAUM AND ASMUS.
The Case as Far ~ Developed
Some Racy and Amusing
Tastim0uy. sfE 4I.EH

AO0eAssAOsas'-
The case OF the city VS. George Baum,
charged with Illicit Capitalization, Is
we'll known to all readers, from various
accounts published heretofore. These
were 50 conflicting that from want oi sub
sanitation and desire to do justice 10
both, We have refrained from all com
ment. Much general talk has been IN
dulged in, varying in its tenor a. the
parties engaged were favorable OF
against the administration.
George Baum has great number oil
friends who are displease'l at his re-
moval from the force and who do not
hesitate 10 ascribe his arrest solely To
malice on the part Of the police. On
the other hand, Asmus, his successor,
has many supporters who unite III
throwing slurs on Baum. As neither
side is chary Of its talk II is most DIM
cult matter to get at the true story
The case came up Tor trial on MONDAY
morning and was conllhued
by request until this morn
ing. An imposing array OF witnesses
have been summoned and Yesterday
morning only four could be examined,
from lack OF time, and We give the cream
of their testimony below.
Paul Heller, an cX-saloonist, WAS the
first witness called and his examination
DEVELOPED, in spite of himself, the eN-
IRENE interest he took in Baum's arrest.
After he had finished, he stood near by,
putting in an occasional word to fix mat
tiers, and in II manner that should nave
| called down reprooi. lie had been
! called by ASmus Ia assist III the seIr'h
! for "robbers" in Mrs. Srrig's house, and
afterwards deputized To assist IN the ar
rest Of Baum, Il duty he seemed by II"
{ means unwilling Ia perform.
/ Office. As I'd test II al TO having seen
! Bmm. or one that he imagined was hr,
standing in the alley near Mrs. Serlg :,
and who afterwards disappeared. lie
! had putten Fred. DIETRICH Ito take Il
! walk with him to see about the rob
/ hers" and stationed him III the rear.
| He then looked in the window, through
the shutter, and SAW Baum engaged III
! the crime ior which he was arrested,
! The scene WAS described III
detail, and is entirely un-
fit ior publication. lie then went
10 the front door, which is partly Of
glass, and told lady who looked out OF
! the window, that he wanted man
within. The lady came down with II
lamp, and upon entering, he told Baum
who, he claims was undrcSSed, that ne
was under arrest. Arrived at the street,
Baum offered him So to let him 90 and
say nothing about il, which offer he re-
fused. Capt. Dovener subjected him I"
severe CROSSE examination, during
which he flushed very red and seemed
nervous and defiant. II seems
that the shutter is small and composed
of Stats, set immovably at an angle uI
about fifty degrees, and Capt. DoNcnrr
! pushed the inquiry aS to how person
could see low objects within, the wit
ness insisting that he could see, saving
the Stats "wcre warped.
The next witness, Fred. Dietrich, was
the cause OF great amusement, both to
the Court and audience. His evil
dent ignorance ui legal forms and
Impotence under ross-qucstl"ning
being extremely mdicrou7. During
hi. examination, MIR. Caldwell, tor
the defense said: 81 submit, Your
| Honor, that while my cO-counsri has
been continually pleasant, this witness
| has shown unusual stubhurness ana III
pudcncr." Ills Honor said that he had
been dspleascd with the witness and
intimatel that little heroic treatment
might he necessary. Witness said he
was being talked Ia death, and called
for water. and after drinking remarked
that il might he necessary to call III IN.
llazlett yet.
His testimony corroborat 1t that OF
Asmus. He had first looked in at
the window, prying open the Stats
with knife, and calling Anus attcn-
ton Ia what he saw. What hr told
was in Il srrio-cumic strain that several
times conyulsed the audience.
DIR. llazlrtt was then called and tcStl-
fled to the general good reputation "i Mrs.
Scrig, and rs I" the location "i her bed
chamber
After the examination al the i"rcg".
ing witnesses, the case was continued
until tomorrow morning.