The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-12-14
A DRAMATIC SCENE
IN THE RECENT PAUL MURDER CASE
At NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Of the Accused ia
Pleading GuiItJ to Murder In the SECOND
Dssrss-HS Breaks Dawn Rnd Gives Way
to Tears In Reading His Confession.

In the Paul. Marquis murder trial which
was brought 10 such sudden termination
in Parkersburg last Tuesday by Joseph Paul,
the accused, pleading guilty to murder in
the second degree and making confession,
the scenes and incidents were quite dramatic.
Hon. John A. Hutchinson had tirIt asked
for continuance, owing 10 the absence OF
material witnesses This was overruled, ana
0 change otyenue asked for. Monday alter
noon and Tuesday morning was taken up In
preparing TO have this motion sustained. A!
the opening OF Tuesday afternoons session.
the SGte Journal says, Mr.. Hutchinson asked
permission fora few moments private CONVEX
Iaton with his client, which was granted by
tn, Court, snd he in company with
Judge LOOMS and the prisoner, retired
to the Clerks otll1e and were closet
ed for over an hour. Upon their
return 10 the Court room His Honor
asked the gentlemen II they had their atti'
davits prepared. They replied 10 the mega
tive, and any one familiar with Mr.. Hutch
iuson would have nUticed there was some
thing else on his mind. After further con.
snltation among themselves this distinguished
barrister ARISE and stated that the prisoner
had concluded to enter the plea OF murder
In the second degree, and also had comics
sion to make. The prisoner stood up and
addressing the Court, commenced TO read hit
confession from manuscript. He read but
plelely, and, crying like child, was COM
PEELED to sit down. The Court then request
ed Mr.. HutchinEon TO read the statement fol
the prisoner. Silence in the room reigued
supreme, and all bent with eager ears Il
catch each word as it fell from the lawyers
lips, the prisoner in the meantime leaning
his head upon the table and weeping tears OIL
sorrow or remorse, as II his heart would
break. II was truly an affecting scene. The
| following is Paul's confession
To The Hon. Jas. Dr. Jackson, Judge cfhe Cir
c'ia Court Of H0Od County:
After full and mature elaboration. de.
sire 10 make this statement 10 the Honor.
able Court.
KILLED Reuben Marquis. He had seduced
my wife. caught them 10 the act OF sdul.
terry. He begged for his life. He promised
he came to Parkersburg and met my wife
here.
Ioame to ParkersbuIg 10 get ticket to &
10 Washington asa witne's for the Govern
ment. reached here on tho evening train.
Without expsclingit suddenly saw Nal
quis standing on the corner as got off The
train. He had pistol aad made threaten
inggesture. At this sight became perfectly
overcome with freely, drew my pistol and
under impulses could not control, killed
him. did not kill him because hated
him or had any malice toward him, for We
always had been the best Of friends.
Nothing could have led me to do what
did, but that act Of MaTQuis's, which ruined
my family and deprived my children OF the!l
mother.
Task leave to Withdraw my plea OF mot
guilty" 10 the indictment, and confess my
guilt as to murder in the sscond degree, but
lasst on my plea as to murder in the hrsi
eucy oil this honorable Court"
TRe State Attorney stated that he vas
ready 10 proceed with the trial, and would
agree TO nothing coming from the defense
but would submit 10 tho Courts decision
aud would leave 10 1t the responsibility oil
accepting or rejecting the plea Of the
prisoner. Judge Jackson stated that he was
willing to assume all responsibility, and said
to Paul that had the plea been offered before
the former trial he could not have accepted
II, but that he was familiar with the evidence
offered and Ind given the case his particular
attention. That although human lie had
| been taken, tue provocati0n which prompted
the act was grave one. He stated thai
II there was any Justification In
taking the life OF fellow bsing II
was in taking the lie OF the seducer,
and had the murder been committed Of
tie time they we're caught in the act OF adul'
terry, In his opinion the re1ult OF the former
trial would hsvG been different. But had
the vsrdict been sustained 1t would have
| bAan hiq nAiufu, dntV 70 nag the Santence OF
death. He would at this time, however,
knowing the circumstances as well as he
did, accept the plea oil murder IN tho second
degree. The penalty for such crime was
imprisonment in the ponitentlary for not
lets than Ave years aud not mora than
eighteen, and that before passing sentence
he would give the matter careful study.
A jury was then impanellsd and without
leaving the tox found verdict Of murder In
the second degree. In the fist trial the iary
| failed 10 agree.