The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1886-12-09
ACQUITTED.
The Second Trial of VIM. Keys
For the killing Of the
Taylor Boys

ZOF INC Aul0B Oh the
Taylor Boys
Results In His Acquittal and Discharge
Account Of the Trial at Chill.
licothe Last Week.
The second trial of william Keys for
the murder OF John and Slant Taylor of
Buckskin township, on the night of
March 18th, 1883, begun in the Ross
County Common Pleas, on last Monday
a week. The circumstances OF the crime
one would suppose were familiar to
every man, woman and child in Ross
county, and yet there was but little
difficulty in obtaining jury, single
venire being unexhausted before a jury
satisfactory to State and defense, and
apparently as competent jury as ever
sat in the box, was secured; and strange
to say, u majority Of them professed, and
doubtless honestly, an utter ignorance
OF the case. One OF these men came
from Buckskin township, within few
miles Of where the double murder oc.
Cured, and yet he too had read little
about the case, and was free to express
an unbiased opinion! In the face of
facts like these it seems almost useless
task for half dozen calcium lights of
intelligence to send there civilizing rays
abroad the benighted country. At best
it must be confessed that it is very dis.
courageing.
For the State, there appeared the
county Prosecutor, M. G. Evans, ESQ.,,
and Hon. Arch Mayo, engaged as assist.
ant in the former trial. For the defense
appeared the eloquent and invincible
Uric Sloane, Of Hillsboro, and with him
Mr.. Morrow, of the firm of Newly 4
Morrow; w. H. Irwin, Esq, the present
Mayor of Greenfield and one of the lead.
ing lawyers of the place, and Judge A.
B. Cole, of Chillicothe, who took the
place Col. Entrekin relinquished.
Judge Higgins held the scales of justice.
By Tuesday noon the jury was secur.
ed and the State then began the examin.
alton Of its witnesses. BY Wednesday
evening, the State had concluded its
evidence in chief, and the court had
taken under advisement the question of
the dying declaration OF John Taylor.
In the morning Judge Higgins ruled
ooo; nat Sc oJ, ;uo;o,. o,J A.. Ca. A.
rested.
A very important matter-when the
item of expense is considered-was then
settled, the evidence as to character,
presented in the bill of exceptions, when
the case was carried to the Supreme
Court, being accepted by both sides.
This cut out at least a hundred witness.
es, and saved no small amount of both
valuable time and money to the county.
Some new character testimony was Of
fered and then, shortly after dinner, the
defendant, Keys, was placed upon the
stand, kept there all the afternoon and
his cross examination continued we'll
along in the morning of Friday. There
has been commendable disposition
manisfested on both sides to expedite
matters and curtail expenses as much as
possible.
There has been but little new evidence
adduced, and the trial has been devoid
of sensational features. It is surprising
what small interest has surrounded
the present hearing, the count being
almost as free from spectators as in the
trial Of an ordinary COW case. All this
is of course in the defendants favor, and
the astute Boanerges of the Hillsboro
bar has seemingly endeavored to cater
to the sentiment. During the entire
trial his whilom wrinkled front has re.
mained smoothed, and his voice has
been as tender and gentle as that OF u
cooling dove. He is evidently more
erieved than angered by this evident
determination to prosecute his client.
There has been no pyrotechnics on eth.
er side.-Leader.
ACQUITTED.
The case went to the jury late Satur-
day afternoon, and after remaining out
twenty.four hours they brought in ver-
dict OF not guilty, at 8 o'clock Sunday
afternoon. So ends the celebrated Keys
case.
Peppered with Shot.