The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-08-31
NnnECIsION REArHEn

NO DECtbt0S kEAChk1
IN the investigation Of the canse Of the
Death Of Maid BhepRFd-AR EXhnnS-
tive Examination with S0ule Curious
Testimony.
The inquest into the manner and means OF
he death Of Maud Shepard, instituted by
Squira Philips, was commenced shortly after
even O'clock last evening ut the office OF the
Justice named, ON Twelfth street A jury
vas impaneled consisting Of the following
lamed gentlemen, selected with special
liew to their reputation for intelligence and
honor;
ElwoOd Hughes, John CIator,
Frank Stanton, ThOs, &. Morris,
George Hlbberd, R J. smythe,
Vim. Graham, ST., William Hare,
Stephen Wilcox, Samuel Darrah,
James Wheat, Ed. Muhlemln.
A large crowd, too large indeed for comfort
in the small room on such u night, was
crowded from the ruling separating the jury |
box, 'Squire's bench and witness stand from
the spectators, clear To the street door. II
was evident that something Of unusual in.
each one elboWed his heighbors to push his
way into the choicest positions,
One by Gle the witnesses dropped In, the
women interested being stared ut with rude
curiosity Us they made their way through the
crowd with difficulty,
The Jury being sworn the justice instruct
ed them in their duty, He regretted the alb.
sencc Of the Prosecuting Attorney, but would
try to conduct the case Us best he could for
himself. II was at Prosecutor JOrtans own
request and motion that the inquest was
ordered, and the Squire considered his Rb-
sence on this occasion US inexplicable.
h The witnesses we're examined by the JUS
tice and afterwards an opportunity given the
members Of the jury to question each as to
any point concerning which he was DESTROYS
TO be informed, I.rEI.l
VIOLA DR. FORREST
was the first witness called, and after being
sworn she told the story OF the burning, sub
stantially as given In this paper the morning
after the occurrence. She said Maud was in
the room by herself, and she was positive
that no one could have been with her. She also
narrated the burned girls story CT the burn
ing which was that In reaching for powder
for her face, she upset the lamp, and the
burning oil poured over her dress; There
were four ladies in the house ut the time, the
in her own room on the first floor,
MAMIE NGGRATH
an inmate of Madame Dc Forests house.
was next questioned, She told the same story,
substantially, rs the landlady. The first she
heard Of the occurrence was MaudS voice
crying 20 Viola, the house Is aiireW Miss
Vfola smothered out the fire herself,
She WIS asked II she knew Frank Freds,
the colored man, and replied that she did,
and that she saw him that evening carrying
q burning dressing case drawer down stairs,
There were three gentlemen In the parIOr at
the time, but she was confident nobody was
In the rear of the house,
m. BYRON BAdULEY
was sworn and told Of being called to attend
the injured girl. He had heard the girls
own story, and 1t agreed with that OF Miss
Viola,
FRANK HREDs
in his testimony said that he reached the
house Just after the burning, having been in
thevieinity when 1t occurred, and being at.
traCted by the woman's screams. He told Of
helping to smother the flames on the girls
clothing, and Of extinguishing the flames up.
stairs afterwards. s
MISS EMMA GRAY,
the landlady Of similar house not far from
tho Dc Forrest establishment, told Of hearing
the girl scream, and Of seeing the girl lying
in the alley wrapped In flames, and persons
cndeavOring to extinguish them. She was
present when the burned girl died, but knew
nothing which threw any light upon the oc.
CurrcnCe. She was asked lfshe had told any
persons that she had seen some persons In the
room tossing the lamp back and forth. She
said she never had.
Frank Freds returned TO the stand volun.
tarily 10 explain that when he went to the
room In which the fire occurred, the shutters
were closed. -
miss susAN Nc'KiYIg 't
in taking the oath repeated with some EN-
phasis, 80. help INC God ~
This woman lives next door to Miss Vic.
las The nature OF her testimony was not
known to many, Of those present, but the
solemn air about her as she took the stand,
and tho rpS0lute expression Of her face, led
the lockers on to expect something new and
interesting, She told 81 hearing n noise as Of
house, followed by the cry ffre. She rushed
out taking C0verlet from bed, and at
tempted to smother the flames. A man was
standing in the shadow Of building near,
and lis snpgkiDg manner led her to remark
now XIII but S Il eoSth hTfR o nan tI eo@pioa
but calculated to the burning girl with sup.
pressed emphasis "Yop WIN, will your
She was confident That tho cOlOFed man,
Freds came out OF the house, thus contra.
dieting his statement that he was not In tho
house 1t the time of the accident. The man
when she addressed in the alley had OH a
diceE lut, and was broad shoullercd and
hcavy set. she could not see his face, She
ed much" FredS helped her extihgllsh tho
flames after they were nearly out.
MARY FRY
was sworn next, and to some eEtpntp0Trpbor-
atSd Mis- McKinsIeSStory, slo wRSin Tic
vicinity, and saw at the corner Of tho alley
two men, one wlthastiirha and broad Shout
dGrs, who said to the other, "Great God, why
did you do that2" and the other responded,
God, let us rum" She had looked the man
In the iACe, but did not get good enough
look TO recognize him again, IIe had on dark
clothes and dicGr hpt, and was broad.
shouldercd.
3t.. ..i. MARY Nn'KINTB,
who had been with Miss Fry AT Tho time re,
fGrred to In the latter's testimony, Corrobora.
ted the story'oi seeing the two men and
described one rs her friend DID, and the other
rs having on light cluthes--she knew little
about Tho occurrence, lhhving been too excited
TO note or remember what did occur ''
ANBROsE sIlAPVEH isfa
developed the most dramatic story OF tlle
trial. He said that he lived just below the
house in which the occurrence happened
lie had been sitting III the rear OF his house
and declared lie saw a man and n woman IN
the room lust before the explosion, and he
thought they wero wrestling. The lamp was
thrown backward and forward, and handled
very roughly. The window was up and the
blind ltp, but the shutters closed. The Stats
Of the shutters were OF stiCll m angle, and so
wide apart that he, his yard also being much
lower than the Windows could see ZIP into