Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-05-05
CONVICTED
OF
MURDE
IN THE
FIRSTDEGREE.
w. Josiah McMesn Poisons His
Wife. History of the Crime
His Arrest. The Jury. The
Evidence The Charge
The Verdict. Motion for
a Now Trial.

his wife by the means of a dose OF
strychnine, recommended to his wife
as medicine, en- the norningof the 9th
day of last March
1t was 8 o'clock on the merning of
the 9th of March, 1856, when the
neighbors beard Mrs. NeMeen cry
out, my Lord idy God heip me-
She was foRnd by neighbors, on her
back porch IN coIrvulsions. She died
within fifteen minutes A tin pie
plate, with two ia bic spoons. and a
tea spoon. and - pointed Barlow
knife, lay oa a table 10 the house,
there was Jelly and, wbitish powder
in the spoons and a paper with a
whitish powder on the table. These
things taken in connection with her
death, caused the people to say, she
was poisoned Her husband Was not
at home, he had gone away the day
before. prs- Shelly and Graham
pronounced the powder il paper and
spoons, strychaia.
Squire Stimnel summoned . jury,
consisting of VI T. McCulloch, 4. NJ.
Sterrett, J. z. johnson, S E. Ard.
p. NJ. kepner, Jacob Groninger, an
inquest was held, which revealed the
fact, that W j. HcMeen, husband of
the deceased, had bought strychnia
at ". ii Banks * Cos. drug store,
in Patterson, the day previous. On
the evening of the 9th, McMeen came
home from Harrisburg, where he had
spent the night OF the Sth of March
He discouraged post mortem exam
nation of his wife. He said, they
knew she had taken poison, from
what the doctors SAID, and there was
no use to mutilate her body. The
funeral took place oa the 11th OF
March Mrs McMeep was buried II
the Seeeder grave-y yard, in Walker
township. When McNeen returned
from the funeral. he ws5 arrested by
constable He'd on information given
before Justioe Joseph Stimmel, by
A. j. and George c. Funk, brothers
of the deceased wife, ana lodged in
jail, il this place, to answer for the
murder of his wife. He did not ask
for hearing, but remained in jail
till he was brought into Court on
Wednesday, April IS, 1886, TO an
swer the charge OF murder.
His appearance when he was
brought into court was not like
that OF a man who had suffered
by long confinement ir jail, where
he had been lodged on the l1th day
of March, on the information of his
brothers in-law. A. J. and George C.
Funk. He did not appear ike man
who had suffered by mental distress,
His appearance was good, and he was
neatly clad in a dark plaid suit of
clothes with a redish tinge. To the
charge Of murder as read to him by
District Attorney Doty he plead not
guilty
The lawyers for McMeen were Ly-
ons. Junkin and Jacobs. The law
yers for the Commonwealth were
Parker, Patterson and Doty.
AsE JDhA.
John Bowers was the first iuryman
called After good deal of argu-
ment by the lawyers as to the matter
of challenging jurymen it was decid
ed by the Court that the Common
wealth must first challenge. 4 jury
man could be challenged for cause.
He could be SET aside. He could be
perenptoriLy challenged.
The Commonwealth did not chal-
lenge Bowers, they passed him over
to the prisoners lawyers. Under
questions of Junkin, he stated that
be could render a verdict in accord
ance with the evidence that might be
produced before the Court. He was
accepted and stepped into the box
An other discussion took place as to
the method of challenge.
The Court could not think that the
Commonwealth could wait till the
panel is full and then challenge,
but when the Juror is on the stand
he was to be challenged.
David Shower was the second iur
or called, Commonwealth passed him
over to the Defendant, and under
their questions he stated that he
could form an opinion from the evi-
dence produced. He was accepted.
John i. Shively WAS the third iur-
or called, passed by Commonwealth
to Defendant and questioned. He
had formed no opinion, could render
a verdict in accordance with the evi-
dence, and was accepted.
Adolph Opple was the fourth juror
called d,-absent
A K. Markle was called and pass
ed by Commonwealth to Defendant
and questioned He had heard talk
about the case but had heard moth
ing that would prevent him from rem
dering verdict in accordance with
the law and evidence presented be
fore Court. He was accepted.
Noah Hertzler WAS the fifth Juror
called, but he was reported sick
John Shotsberger was called. The
Commonwealth asked that he be
sworn Parker asked him If he is
opposed to hanging. He said, Il sup
pose I would be, litter ran through
the audience He added, Every
body wants to live as long as he can.
The Commonwealth stood him aside.
Reuben Reynolds was the sixth
juror called, Commonwealth passed
him to Defendant. Questioned. He
had heard nothing that would pre-
vent him from rendering verdict in
accordance with the evidence. Per |
emptorily challenged.
Nicholas Sheriff was the seventh |