The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1888-10-25
THE Sem MURDER CASE.
David Sem and Helena Boland Convicted
but Recommended to Mercy.
7Special to Augusta Chronicle.


SpARTANBURG, S. c., October IL
In Southern homicide cases the usual
query is: Was it murder or selt-de-
fence? more rarely: Was it murder
or a natural death:' and rarest of all:
Is the prisoner or another the murder
er?
The Senn-Boland case belongs to that
class in which the second question IS
asked, and is becoming exceedingly IN
teresting as the state weaves a closer
web of circunstantial evidence about
the prisoners.
Twenty-one witnesses testified dur
ing the first day, their evidence enl-
bracing $1,000 words. They narrated
the conduct ofthe prisoners immediate
lv after the death, their unwillingness
to have the body examined, their at
tempts to conceal the wounds, Sem 5
apparent lack of feeling, his threaten
ing with drawn pistol the wife of his
cousin, who had noticed the marks Of
violence. The route Of the party was
traced and proof offered Of Mrs. Senn's
health. Drs. Thompson, kibler and
Sem, of NeWberry, were examined as
the medical experts who made the post
ulortem. Discoloration, they stated,
had by that time etfaced the marks Of
violence, but dissection showed that
death was caused by strangulation or
suftocation, and revealed the absence
of any natural cause for death, the
condition of heart, lungs, etc, being
normal. Testimony was offered tend
ing to show that Dave Sem had i'll
treated his wife, that they had once
separated, that Miss Boland was the
disturbing element, that Sem was once
put under bond to keep peace with his
wife, and had at the time made ugly
threats; that he had once struck her
with stick as she lay in bed at night.
At about II o'clock yesterday morn
ing the state closed, and testimony was
heard on behalf of the prisoners. Affi-
davits containing admissions as to
what absent witnesses would swear
were read, showing that Mrs. Sem had
been treated at various times for rheu-
matism of the heart, consumption and
asthma; that an abSceSS in her throat
had been lanced, and that her husband
had treated her with invariable kind
ness. Several witnesses testified that
DR.. Thompson, when performing the
post mortem, was under the influence
of morphine, and contradicted the
states witnesses as to Dave Senn's con-
duct. DR.. w. G. Houseal of Newberry,
then said that he was present at the
second post nortem examination as
spectator, and heard the testimony
given, and saw no reason to belive that
death from natural causes was impossl-
BILE. DR.. Means, of SpaTtanburg, was
of the opinion that the most important
organ to he examined in such case
was the traches, and that without al
examination of it sure conclusion that
death resulted from strangulation could
not be reached. -
David y. Sem, the prisoner, told
with great minuteness the story of his
trip and his wife's sudden death, deny
ing many of the statements of the wit
nesses for the state, and explaining
others.
The Jury, after deliberating through
the entire night, found the following
verdict this Sabbath morning: "Guilty,
but strongly recommended to mercy"
The verdict is generally considered a
strange one, for the prisoners we're Ell
ther innocent or guilty Of the foulest
crime. It is currently reported that
seven jurors were for conviction and
five for acquittal, and that they finally
compromised on the verdict as rende-
red.
The recommendation to mercy may
stay the sentence, and will probably
cause communication by the governor;
otherwise both prisoners will be ham
ged. w. A. l..
SEM AND MISS BOLAND TO BE
HANGED TOGETHER.
Especial to Greenville News.