Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-05-02
Strauder DISCHARGED.

strsuder Discharged.
No little interest was created In the
city on Saturday by the receipt OF varl-
GUS dispatches from Parkersburg, an
nouncing that Taylor Strauder, the co..
ored wiie-murderer, had been discharged
by the United States District Court, and
walked out OF the court room free
man. The news was quite true. The
case came on on Saturday, and the court
rendered decision on the objection OF
the prosecution to the filing of two pleas
by the defense.
Some two months ago Captain b. b.
Dovener and Judge Loomis, acting Tor
Strauder, filed the pleas, and Attorney
General White and Assistant District
Attorney Caldwell, for the prosecution,
objected.
On Saturday Judge Jackson render
ed his decision, overruIing the obJec,,
tons urged by the State to the pleas and
allowed them to be filed. He stated
that the pleas did not come too late, as
urged by the State; that the prisoner
had fled his petition to have his cause
certified from the State TO the United
States Court before the plea OF not gull
ty was entered, and consequently all
proceeding had thereafter in the State
Court was cOram non JUDGE; that the
law under which the Grand Jury which
found the indictment was summoned
was in conflict with the fourteenth
amendment; there would he no doubt
i'm this; that it Disseminated against
colored people in the selection OF the
Jury. The State entered demurrer to
the pleas, which Was also overruled and
Judgment entered on the demurrer,
rhe State then moved the court TO re-
mand the prisoner 10 the custody oil the
State authorities, which was also over
ruled. Next, a motion was made by
General White to retain the cause Tor
indictment to be preferred by the
United States grand jury, which the
court overruled, and directed the dis
charge OF the prisoner.
SO widespread has the knowledge OF
this case become, and so much attention
has il attracted, that brief resume OF
the principal points is appended;
HISTORY Oh TIE CHIME
On Friday morning, April 10, 1872,
the information that a horrible and
brutal murder had been committed AT
the corner OF Market alley and Fourth
NOW Chapline) street was rapidly cir
culated through the city, and early in
the morning dense crowd gathered at
the spot named. Mrs. Annie Sirauder,
the wife OF Taylor, was found lying in a
chair, dead, with two terrible and fatal
gashes on the left side of her head. The
murderer, Strauder, had escaped, and
the only witness of the deed was his
step-laughter, Fannie Green, child OF
nine years OF age, who was found cover
ing under the bed. clothes. Her story
was that her mother had risen and gone
out OF the room, and upon re-
turning sat upon the chair and
began putting on her shoes. Strauder
had risen in the meantime, and golngto
her, said: Where are my shoesf" She
replied, "Where YOU left them last
night" Without further words, Strau-
der took Ratchet and struck her twice,
once on the LETT temple, and once behind
the left ear, either Of which was fatal.
The child attempted to cry out, but was
warned back by the murderer, and hid
her face beneath her bed coverings.
A coroner's jury decided that Annie
Strauder was murdered by her husband,
and letters and dispatches were sent fly.
ing about the country after the fugitive.
THE CAPTURE.
On April "a, 1872, Strauder was cap
tured at Minersville, near Pittsburgh,
by Detectives Long and Couples and
Officer Scott, OF the latter city. He
was caught while shingling the residence
OF a Mr.. Robert Arthurs. At the
mouths OF three revolvers, though with
out offering any resistance, he was taken
and Immediately sent to Wheeling.
Officer Junkins, then serving under Ser
geant Conah., went short distance up
the q. & P. road and met him.
Upon being brought to this city he
was taken through the streets and, the |
news Of his arrest having preceded him,
he was followed by immense crowds |
and subjected to rather rough treatment.
The colored women were especially vio- |
lent and could they have had their way |
his shrift would have been short. Shouts
of chang him." were heard and only the |
police guard prevented the laying on Of |
violent hands. He was, however, safely
lodged in Jail. A REGISTER reporter had
met him at Bridgeport and from him
obtained
CONFESSION OF HIS GUILT.
He said the cause was that he chad |
seen a white hand on the door" mean |
ing that he believed she was untrue to |
him.
The following day, Strauder was given
a hearing before Justices Gillespy and |
Launder, and he was committed to an |
swer the charge OF murder.
THE TRIAL.
The history OF the long course OF trials |
in the various courts is perhaps vet re-
membered, as the case has from time to |
time been revived in the publications OF |
the city. The next session OF the Grand |
Jury after the murder indicted Strauder, |
and at the fall term OF the Circuit Court /
he was tried and found guilty OF murder
in the first degree, and sentenced to be |
hanged. Hon. ]. II. Good MAS then
Prosecuting Attorney, and Messrs. Da.
venport and Dovener volunteered to de-
fend the prisoner, whs was absolutely
moneyless. Before the sentence OF
death was executed the defence obtained
a reversal OF the verdict from the Su-
preme Court on the ground that the
County Court should have been made
the examining tribunal.
Two years afterward q second trial
was had in the same court, Hon. + g.
Cracrait coming in rs Prosecuting At
torney. The same verdict was rendered
and for the second time suauder stood
up and was sentenced to die. The de-
tense then appealed sgain to the Su-
preme Court, on the grouns OF uncon-
stitutionality of the West Virginia jury
law, which Disseminated against the