Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-02-05
THROUGH HIS POCKET.
Charles =. Vail shot and Killed His Wife.
Her Life .Iust Insured.

ST. Louis, February THE trial OF
Charles +. Vail, on the charge OF wife
murder, has begun here. Vail is said TO
have shot and killed his wife to obtain
large amount OF insurance money
which was placed on her life. He
claims the shooting was accidental.
The case Is one Of the most remark
able in criminal history, and has at
tracted great attention. Vail was n
book keeper In 4 well-known business
house In st. Louis. His wife
was one OF three daughters OF widow
named Slatterly, and at one time was In
the employ of street-car line in the
capacity of "Spotter." She was very
handsome woman, came Of good fam
| lily, and was well liked by all who knew
her Vail had her life heavily insured,
and the day of the tragedy, before join
ing her at Old Orchard, where she was
visiting relatives, he took out policy
which was to expire twenty-f0ur hours
from the time OF issue. On the day Of
his arrival at a little suburb he was as
ssting his wife into wagon in the
presence OF number Of persons, when
a revolver in his overcOat pocket was
discharged, the bullet lodging in the
woman's abdomen. She was carried
into the house and died soon afterward.
Vail claimed that the hammer OF the
revolver accidentally struck the
wheel of the wagon. The
body was inferred without an
inquest. This led TO an investigation,
the remains were eXhumed, and an au-
topsy and inquest held. The result
was that Vail was charged with mur-
dering his wife and was arrested. Many
subseQ sensational features in the
case developed, aud it was considered
second only to the famous Maxwell case
in point Of interest. The case against
Vail has twice been called and twice
postponed, but 1t is believed that it will
now be allowed TO proceed. Able legal
talent, the ableSt in the State. will APP
pear at the trial. The hearing pos
seSses peculiar fascination for the
public, rs it is expected startling devel-
opments and unexpected changes OF
front will occur during its progress.
1t is said that the story Of the killing
OF young Mrs Vail, with many OF the |
features preceding that tragic event |
and forming a chain Of circumstantial |
evidence, against which the defense |
will have 10 contend during the APP |
preaching trial, has its duplicate al !
ready in criminal annals, and that this |
strangely similar case, which finally |
ended in the innocence OF the |
husband accused OF wife murder being |
clearly established, will be used before |
the jury in the most effective manner
throughout the entire trial. The case
in question is described as being most |
marvelously like the Vail case In the 1
nature of the killing, the insurance |
features which caused suspicion to fall |
upon the husband, and also in minor |
details which will make its story, as
told in the Court room and contraSted |
step by step with that of the killing OF |
Mr.. Vail at Old Orchard by her hus- |
band, Il most dramatic episode OF the |
trial. Opening, as II is said TO open,
with the most threatening weight OF |
evidence against the hus-
band, continuing with the sweeping |
away Of that evidence by proven fact,
and closing with the aequittal OF the |
husband, the effect Of such a parallel |
case upon the minds OF the jurors before
Vail is TO be tried for his life could not
fail to be Of material benefit TO the priS-
ouer. But what the case is that the de-
fense is said to hold for this dramatic |
purpose is not known; and II either the |
defense or prosecution are aware OF |
such remarkable precedent in criminal
annals they have declined to discuss IL
on the eve Of the trial.