The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-08-10
INDiANAAND ILLINOIS NEWS
The Daily Chronicle of Happenings Of
Various Kinds in the Two States.
The Conway Murder Trial Ends in O Ten Year
Systematically Hurt at a Crossing
Something for Which a Name Is Wanted.
INDIANA
The Conway Murder TrlaI-The Eyi 'ence


The Conway Murder Trial-The Eyf ence
Closed and a Verdict Reached.
Special to the INDIANAPOLIS JournaI.
MUNCIE. Aug. 9.--Tbe State continued its evil
dence, recalling George Melrose, who was upon
the stand in the morning. He testified further,
that in his controversy with George Adams he
had his knife In his band before Adams had
picked mp the rail with which to strike him. but
he did not strike Adams with his knife. Upon
cross examination he testified that he was ar
rested on Sunday. Nay 20. at 2 o'clock in the
afternoon, at Elwood. He gave his knife to bis
father before being taken to Anderson; has not
seen it since; did not know that 1t was hid, and
had not authorized bis father to hide ii.
The next witness called was A. J. Lawson.
He testified that Charles Conway had come to
his house at about dusk on Saturday evening,
the 10Th Of May. He told Lawson that he was
going away that night, and wanted to stay at
his house until the night train went through.
Conway went to bed. and between 2 and : o'clock
in the morning got up and took the train on the
Panhandle road, going towards New Castle.
Witness did not see Elmer Conway come to bis
house with Charles Conway. He is an uncle Of
Elmer Couways. Upon crossexamination wit
ness said that Charles Conway told him he was
going home that night
Adam Melrose, the father of George Melrose,
was next called, but the court ruled out the
evidence sought to be introduced. The State
then rested its case.
After the opening statement Of the defend
ants case bad been made to the jury by James
Brown. the defendants evidences was in
troduced. Mrs. Lizzie Conway, the stepmother
of the defendant. William Conway, his father.
and James Conway, his brother. testified that
the defendant had been subject, more or less,
to epileptic fitsi for the past eight years. or since
he was fourteen years OF age.
DR.. 9. W. II. Kemper testified, in answer TO
Hypothetical questions put. in regard to the
probable effect Of such a wound upon Adams,
and as TO the cause of his death. He also testi-
fed with regard to the effect OF epilepsy upon
the mental and physical organizations of q
person.
Charles Conway. the defendant, was then
placed upon the stand. He testified that hc. in
company with Elmer Conway, went to Elwood
on the 18th Of May, on q blackboard: stayed
there until about 2 o'clock in the afternoon. and
then started home; on the way they caught up
with a big wagon in which were four persons;
the witness. Elmer Conway and George Melrose,
were on the blackboard when they started from
town; Elmer afterwards went forward and rode
In big wagon; when they got about six miles
out of town Adams called to Ogle to
come out and Get some cabbage plants
which he tAdams) had brought from town for
ateNt OkfO koAA0 u - ~ ok 0kO IL XIV
his cabbage plants and had startei back in the
direction from whence he had come; the witness
aud Melrose just then drove up; the big wagon
was driving on; Melrose commenced cursing aud
swearing; witness said to him: George, keep
still; don't raise no fuss; l would rather not
have no fuss; It don't amount to anything; let
the fellow co." Melrose said the - = had
been deviling him q year or two, and he was GO
ing to whale him; witness drove up about FIVE
rods, and Melrose jerked out his knife
and jumped ont OF the blackboard and
ran back towards Ogle, and swore that he
would cut him into pieces; witness stayed In the
blackboard; Adams raised MP in the big wagon.
right ahead; Ogle was just standing and was
not making any motions; Adams called three
times for Ogle 70 come back, which Ogle did,
and Melrose met him and commenced striking
at Oele. but Oele being out of the way did not
get hit; Adams got out of the wagon aud ran
back towards them; Elmer Conway also got oct
or the wagon and ran back, past the blackboard
on which witness was sitting; Adams grabbed a
piece of fence-rail and ran around behind Ogle
and came up facing Meirose, and commenced
strike, and then jumped out OF
tho blackboard and ran back; Just
as Adams was drawing back to strike Melrose
with the rail again, the witness hit Adams on
the left breast; Adams then 'took" toward the
witness. who ran back up the road and jerked
out his revolver, and as he was taking il out OF
his pocket Adams knocked him down by striking
him on the back of the neck. a little TO one side,
and a second time on the forehead. Elmer Con-
way helped him I'D and told him TO put his re-
volver away, which he did. Mr.. Adams was
being led uD to Rybolts house. and the witness
got the horse and buck board and took il up to
where they had taken Mr.. Adams. The witness
stood around there in the road about a minute,
and then walked on north towards his uncle's.
Mr.. McGorman. or German, who worked for his
uncle, was going to Windfall that evening, and
after witness had eaten supper at
his uncle's he asked this man If be could ride
over to Windfall with him. He had intended to
go home that day. and had packed his valise
with that intention, but upon starting TO FL
wood that morning bad forgotten il, aud had
been com PEELED TO return to bis uncle's, instead
of taking the train Cor home. st Elwood. Gain
ing the consent Of German TO rioe oyer 10 Wind
fall, he did so. intending to take the train there
for home. Elmer Conway, his cousin, seeing a
chance TO ride, went along with him. The wit
ness went TO the house of Jack Lawson and
stayed until the train went through, between 2
and 3 o'clock the next morning. He
arrived at home about z o'clock that morning.
During the difficulty between Adams aud
Melrose, Melrose struck at Adams thrsel times
with his knife; Adams and Melrose were two and
half or three feet apart; did not see Melrose
strike Adams. but saw him strike at him.
State having no rebuttal testimony To offer,
and the defendant having rested. the evidence
was closed. The case was then argued, and
given to the jury, which at 1890 tonight re-
turned a verdict of guilty. and fixed the penalty
at ten years in the penitentiary. The prisoner
was given over to the sheriff.