Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-07-15
MANSLAUCHTER.
THE WARREN MURDER TRIAL.
Abstract of Verdict
of fIIe Jury.

Prosecuting Atty, and Hon. l.. Danford,
were attorneys for the State, and Judge
Chambers, E. G. Cracraft and w. S Ken
non, for the accused. The jury Wore
out from o'clock Monday night to ~
o'clock Wednesday morning-except at
nights from about II o'clock-when they
returned into Court a verdict of MAN
slaughter" with recommendation of
mercy TO the Court. 1t is said that at
first, the jury stood, 3 for murder in the
second degree, for manslaughter, and 4
for acquittal. The jury was composed
of the following gentlemen, viz: i.aban
Lodge, Adam Bent2, Thomas Smith,
John Greenfield, Wm. Junkins, i. Z.
H0ge, ThOS. Wilson, Alex. Anderson,
Cephas Carroll. L. p. Hoftner. Dr.. WIN.
McMaSters and Henry Close.
The case was ably conducted on both
sides. Over 10 witnesses were subpH-
naed, many of whom were on the ques-
ton of character, and we're not used.
The speeches took about nine hours
for their delivery, and were all able, but
without disparagement to our home at
torneys, we may be permitted to say es-
pecially of Mr.. CracIaft, because he is
not of this Bar, that its eloquence and
rhetoric, mark him as an orator of high
order He had the whole attention of
the large audience present for nearly
three hours.
Alfred Rheinstrom, Esq, of Wheeling,
was the stenographic reporter of the ey-
idence and charge of the Court.
Great public interest was manifested
Throughout the trial.
The family of the Warrens consisted
Of the deceased, Robinson f. Warren,
Mrs. Eliza J. Warren, (the accused), and
four children-the eldest a daughter,
who married after the homicide; the
youngest is years old, and one is in
! firm in mind and body. The married
daughter, the son Davis, 10 years old,
and the son-in-laW, John Tschapat, jr.,
were the only witnesses at the trial
who saw any part of the scene of the
homicide.
During the trial and rendition of the
verdict, Mrs. Warren was accompanied,
by her sister Miss Knight of Wheeling
who it is said until this trial began, for
many years previous had not been on
friendly terms. Save during the speech
es in her defense, the defendant sat with
apparent Indifference, facing the jury,
and eVinced little concern when the jury
pronounced her guilty"
A motion for a new trial having been
made, by counsel for defense. it was ar
gued to the Court i'll the afternoon. AT
ter a patient hearing and consideration
| n q
ruled the motion. Counsel excepted,
and were given ninety days to prepare
their bill of exceptions and go to the Su-
preme Court.
Subsequently the Court pronounced
sentence upon the accused. as follows
That she be remanded to the county jail
to remain ninety days and within five
days thereafter to be taken to the Peni-
tentiary of the State to be confined at
hard labor for period of two years.
Owing to the length of our report in
this case we are obliged to omit the
charge of the Court Below is an alb
Stract of the evidence:
Testimony for State.
John Tschapat, i'll live in York
township; am 20 years old; married
Claudia, daughter of the accused, about
three weeks ago; visited daughter be-
fore her fathers death for six or seven
months; worked there last spring or
days; would eat breakfast at home, some
400 yards away, and dinner and supper
at Warren's. The day of the killing we
were planting corn, Claudia and Davy
Warren working part of the day with
US, and about 4 o'clock in the evening
Claudia went in to get supper; did not
see defendant after After supper Mr..
| Warren and l started to so back to work,
and got short distance, when Warren
turned back to the house; he didn't say
what for. He sat down on the porch, the
defendant was there. He asked for an
ak; didn't hear her reply he asked two
or three times; heard no answer; they
had gone into the house; l heard the
children screaming for Gods sake for
him to quit. He came out and picked
up stick or cane and banged the door
with it three or four time, hard as he
could, and the door came open or 10
inches, and heard the pistol. He was
standing on the porch floor with his left
foot Oh the lower step, and had the cane
in position for striking. There were
two steps and raise to the door; he
was in the house two or three minutes
was scared at the shot and went and
sat under an apple tree. 1t was the
| kitchen door, and open, when he turned
back to the house. I:did not see the de-
fendant at dinner, and Mr.. Warren and
l came and went to dinner together; l
don't remember Of speaking while he
was pounding the door; l took it to be
Claudia saying, "for Gods sake quit. -
The defendant came out and said,
Claudia, tell John I've killed Pap, and
for him to tell his father to come" l
was gone for him about ten minutes.
hallooed, and mother and Mike Hess an
swered. Pa got there first; l didn't see
Mr.. Hess go. Mr.. Warren fell between
the house and spring, across the stone
walk. He seemed dead. Defendant
was in the house when l returned. 1t
was about o'clock; we went to and
started from supper together When
she called to Claudia it sounded as if
from the porch. Saw her have the re-
Volver last Christmas, a five shooter.
She said | might use it if 1 would clean
it; some time after she got it from me,
saying that she wanted it-something
about chickens; to the door there was
latch and little inside day lock.
Cross examined by Mr.. Cracraft-In
the field the morning of the day before
the killing Warren said he believed he
would finish planting corn, and give the
Cd d-n b-ch good whipping and
then leave. His son was present; l
told Claudia, maybe the some night after.
He said Wednesday he believed he'd fin
ish planting corn and then beat her Cd
d-n brains out and leave. lie associa-
ted her name with Mr. Hess most al
ways; the shooting was on Wednesday.
In chief-What he said was because
she hit him with rolling-pin. Often
last winter heard him call her b-ch
and wh-re. Last winter he picked up
a chair and she the poker, in quar-
rel. I've heard her make some threats.
Saw Hess there the Sunday before: they