The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-12-11

monwealth is represented by District At
torney O'Connor and +. \. Shoemaker,
Esq. while the prisoners interests are
looked after by Thomas NJ. Marshall, Jr.,
of Pittsburg, and Alvin Evans, Esq. The
arraignment of the prisoner and the work
of empaneling a jury occupied about two
hours, the jurors all being taken from the
regular panel. The following named gen.
tlemen are impanelled and sworn. and have
the fate of Elmer Bruner in their hands:
Theodore Cover. Conemaugh; Stewart
Rracken. Johnstown; Robert w. Gillian,
Conemaugh: William Gallagher. Allegheny
township; John Messenger, Johnstown:
John \. Kidd. JOhnstown; James Bechtel,
TunnelhilI: James G.. Ellis, Johnstown;
Daniel Siebert SouthFork: Charles Lef-
fer. Johnstown: William Arentrue, Lower
Yoder towns hip. and W. III. Zimmerman,
Johnstown.
The story of the murder has already been
detailed in the FREEMAN and is as follows:
On the evening of the 18th of August last,
Samuel Reese. who lived in Cambria town
shin. on the outskirts of Ebensburg, after
working all day for neighbOr in the har-
vest field. returned TO his home shortly after
six O'Clock. He occupied the house alone.
having recently moved to the place and on
account of the sickness of his wife, who
has since died. she had never came to the
premises.
On Reese's return he found his door bro
ken open and Bruner in the act of leaving.
What occurred no one but Bruner could
give a correct account, but shot was
fired and the neighbors and some boys who
hurried To the scene found Reese in the
agonies of death from pistol wonnd, the
ball entering at the mouth passing into the
neck and severing the jugular VEIN lie
died in a few minutes. Bruner who had
arrived in town on that day travelling with
a horse and buggy. in company with wo-
man and boy. was seen to leave the Reese
premises after the shooting. The horse
and buggy and the woman ana BOY, were
in front of the Reese premises, on the turn
nike when the shooting occurred After
the shooting they disappeared but were
followed. the boy being arrested at Latrooe,
and the woman and Bruner, arrested In
Pittsburr. Bruner does notdeny the shoot
ing nor being at Reese's for the purpose OF
robbery but the defense is made that ne
is mentally unsound and was not capable
Of wilful. premeditated murder Inc
counsel for the defense also claim that If
whom Rruner was leaving, Reese attempt
ed to shoot him with his gun which was
found leaning against a chair outside OF
the house, then the shooting of Reese by
Rruner would be murder in the second
degree.
Thomas NJ Marshall Jr., for the defense
addressed the jury for an hour and fifteen
minutes and was followed by District At
torney O,Connor. who spoke for fifty min
ates on the part of the commonwealth
closing his argument at quarter past
four O'Clock when Judge Barker com
menced his charge to the jury which lasted
until five O'Clock. when the jury retired
They are still out as we go TO press
In the case of the commonwealth vs.
Charles Bruner, the defendant on being
arraigned for the murder of Samuel Beese
plead guilty and the court fixed the grade
of the crime as that of murder in the sec
ond degree. He has not vet been senten-
ced.
In the case of the commonwealth VS.
Annie Bruner, the defendant on being ar
raigned for the murder OF Samuel Reese
plead not guilty. BY agreement OF coun-
sci and with the consent of the court
Jury was called and under the instructions
of the court rendered a verdict OF not
guilty.