The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-09-17
THE zEYELY TRIAL.
The Famous FOFger In cOurt-A plea or
InSnnity-SEOG Guilty..

AnAanity-SSoS Guilty.,
The case Of John H. zeyely, charged with
forgery, was tried before Judge Melvin, in
part 2 Of the Circuit Court, yesterday, to the
following jury
Thomas Prince, Andrew White, George J,
Mathison, Isaac Oldham, L, o, Smith, Robt
Strange tcoloredL WIN, Armbruster, Geo, Q.
Black, Jerry Hrutleib, VIM, Green, James
Russell, Fred NOlte.
Prosecuting Attorney Jordan conducted the
case for the StateRnd Mr.. Zeyely was defended
by ]. II. Good and Joe ]. Woods.
The forenoon was consumed In testimony
as to the details Of the fOrgerics. Shortly at-
ter the recess the State rested. The defense
then introduced a number of witnesses to
prove that the prisoner was not OF sound
mind, and so not responsible in the eyes OF
the law for his misdeeds, At the close OF the
testimony u recess was taken. At seven P, N,
Court reconvened and the argument was
made. All the speeches were exhaustive and
studied, and 1t was quite late before the case
was given to the jury.
As the Jury filed ont ZeVely and his wife
looked anxious and scanned the faces OF the
twelve men, apparently hoping 10 fld some
ray Of hope, but every man had u stolid LOOK,
and there was no telling what were the
thoughts hidden behind the mask each one
wore so well.
Fora few moments after the departure OF
the Jury all was hustle and confusion. For
three hours the large audience had listened
TO the exhaustive arguments Of the counsel,
and now that the strain was released, there
went uni sigh OF relief. The counsel for the
defendant gathered around him and his wife
aud engaged in an apparently pleasant con
versation. Some lady friends OF Mrs, Ieyely
who had been in court all day, talked 70.
gether and attended to the two children OF
the Zcyelys, who had hung about their par
cnts ull day.
Zeyely was nervous; ever and anon he
glanced at the clock and WIS engaged In con
stantly gripping one hand in the other. His
wife would occasionally whisper to him and
the counsel seemed to be feeling very conn
dent.
The lawyers not interested In the ease
gathered In knots and discussed the points
that had been advanced by both sides, The
general impression among them seemed TO be
that II the Jury was heard from inside OF hall
an hour the verdict would be guilty, other
wise there would be a disagreement and the
Jury would be discharged.
Tho audience after sitting for several
moments vents out stretching and yawning
and speCulating US to the probable length ol
time the Jury would be out, .
The clock had just finished striking II
when every one was startled by hearlnga rap
ming from the Jury room. Hevely suddenly
grew pale, the lawyers hurried to their seats,
the Sheriff and his deputies cleared the CORR
dors and everything became hUshcd, and the
Jury filed in. The wife OF the accused gazed
i)ntontly ut them, but not u sign one way OF
the other could be detected. The jury, hay,
ing signiticd that a foreman had been agreed
on and should speak tor 1t, it was ordered t.
look on the prisoner, who stood w, II wRt
deathly still'as Foreman Prince pronounced
the words, mot guilty"
It was n sight TO watch the different Gx'
prcssiOns Of COuntenances; from the rear o.
The room came II or two Kisses, and thu
crowd poured out expressing It's opinion iI
various manners Zevely and his wife SHOOK
hands with the jury and counsel and witt
Tint side Of the house there was general ~
jOioing,
ZcveIy Is still under bail, there being tvt
more lndictmentsof the same nature hanging
over him, which will, It Is supposed, insur'
more insanity, expert testimony, sympathetic
effects and eloquent speeches.