Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-02-22
TEATERS' TRIAL.
TIE TESTIMONY ADDUCED BY TIE DEFEND-
ANTS WITNESSES.
The Accused Goes On the Stand and Denies Any
Participation in the Crime WhatsvG-Cass
Gees to the Jlry-A Juror Paints srd
Court Adjourns Until Tomorrow.
speetaL 7sIeqram % Ae snday Regtster.

Special Telegram 10 the Sunday Register.
WASHINGTON. PA, February 2l.-The
defense in the Sanders murder trial opened
its case when court convened this morning
J. NJ. Braden, Esq, briefly addressed the
jury before the taking Of testimony was
commenced.
The first witness called was Columbus
Shirk. Witness had been in Jail for some
time past, and during his confinement was
associated with the Durr brothers on one
occasion witness was talking with the
Durrs, Ed. Durr said TO him that the de-
fendant, George Teaters, had nothing 20 10
with the murder Of Mrs. Sanders, and that
ne knew nothing about the murder until he
was arrested for the crime. No ore else
was in the corridor at the time TO hear the
conversation. Witness admitted that be
was under sentence for receiving stolen
goods.
Charles King, who was IN iail with the
Durrs, testified to hearing Ed. Durr say
that Teaters was innocent. Several other
persons, who were inmates OF the jal in
October, were examined, and testified 20
hearing young Durr declare Teater's .nuo-
cence.
Albert Chambers was next called. Ed.
! Durr had told witness that District AttOr.
ney Parker had put him up 70 swear
against Teaters; said that the District At
torney had told him that N this way he
could clear himself
Samuel Boyce, a lawyer of Wheeling,
was called to testify as 10 Teaters' good
character. His personal acc qDaintance With
Teaters was limited. as the witness nyed
in Wheeling proper and Teaters on the
Island; had heard the defendant highly
| spoken Of by people VINO knew him.
c. Stifel, calico printer of Wheeling
Lad known Teaters for ten years. mad em-
ployed him FOR six years, defendants rep
utati0n was good.
George Z. House, furniture dealer cor
ner of Thirteenth and Main streets,
Wheeling, had employed Teaters for abont
year; witness boarded at Mcclure House
and Teaters lived about a mile away at
first Teaters an was all around man a. the
store but was afterwards advanced 70 The
place OF collector. the business being con-
ducted on the assessment plan; after Tea
ters left witness employ be had worked in
Wheeling as a conductor on the street rail-
way during a strike. His generai repsta-
ton IL Wheeling was good.
Bush Durr was here recalled, said he
had talked with Teaters mother 10 Tie jail.
She had said 10 him RUBY did you 90
back on George Witness replied That
he guessed he had not given him away.
George Ames was next placed o. the
stand Witness had asked Ed. DUR wny
boy had replied that il was dew 81 a
good chance TO escape. Witness haG Ht a
letter 70 Bush Durr, in which was ". ton:
'You know we didn't 90 up the rOa id,t
night" signing it George, so that ash
would think the letter came from Tea crs
The reply he got was: ~ know we GiLn't
60 up the road that night" but Ed. has
tod d lot of lies: he is the daunndest liar
that ever walked
Quite a stir was created in the court
room wnen the name of George T,4iers,
the defendant, was called. Teaters gave
his testimony in a firm. distinct voice In
effect his testimony wa5 as follows. My
home is in Wheeling. ! worked last regn-
larly al Lukeus livery stable ON Wheeling
Island. quit WORK az the livery stable
iast September and worked for few days
on the electric railway in Wheeling Bush
Durr and left Wheeling and went 10
Cassyille, w Va, went from Cassvile 10
Fairmont, and then down 10 Cameron We
mex; went 20 Waynesburg. Pa, and came
on through out the plank road and
on October 10 passed the Toledo toll gate.
We stopped al some haystacks short dis
lance down the road from the toll gate 20
Keep out Of the rain. Ia about an hour we
came on 70 the outskirts OF Washington.
We ;nen went on towards CanOnsburg as
cd Durr was 10 stop there. Bush Durr
asked woman for something 10 eat Sne
told him woman mad Oecn killed The night
before. Ed. Durr left rs q short tine az
forwards and went on 70 CanOnsOurg
When he left us Ed told rs we had better
not 20 10 TaylorstOwn, for they would ar
rest Us. Mr. Bride, the detective. arrest
ed US when we got 10 Taylorstown bat re-
fused 10 tel! Us what we were arrested
for. We were next taken 10 the
oil tl.. Lgc
and knew nothing about them until ] read
about them in a newspaper in jail. I did
not say 20 Mcbride, Is the woman dead
] oid not say anything 10 Bush Durr about
going back TO the toll house. / did not say
anything TO Bush about shooting any wo-
man, for had nothing TO do with Mrs
Sanders and know nothing whatever about
IT, Did not say to Bush Durr that the toll
house would be good place 10 get money
did not say anything 10 Bush Durr about
going 10 the toll house or be shot down
Mrs. Teaters, the defendants mother.
was called. She stated that she bad talked
with Bush Durr in Jail, and bad asked
him why be had told the story OF George
being implicated in the murder OF Mrs.
Sanders. He replied that he had told
nothing, that he knew nothing 10 tell, and
said II was his brother Ed who was doing
the talking. Lewis Suttin, of Cass
WIG. w. va. ttoLlntN ludb ut
seen Teaters and Bush Durr in Cassville,
". Va, last September, and that while
IN Cassville Teaters had gone by the name
OF Andrews. Witness did not known any
thing about Teaters' reputation. VIM. Call,
OF Cassville, also testified TO having seen
Teaters in Cassville, and 10 his giving the
name OF Andrews while there. a number
OF other witnesses were called but no fur
ther important evidence was ELECTED. At
the opening Of Court in the evening the
crowd in the court room was so great that
the doors were locked 70 prevent iurther
admittance. BY agreement the addresses
10 the jury were 10 last but two hours
About seven O'Clock Col Arnett com
menced TO speak His address was an
eloquent and forcible plea for justice on
behalf OF the prisoner. As he was closing
his speech one Of the jurors, Lewis Porter,
of West Alexander, was suddenly taken
i'll, and tainted as he was leaving the jury
box. Whenit was learned he was too i'll TO
appear in court again Judge McIlyaine
ordered an adjournment until Mon
day morning, when Col Arnet. Will
conclude his address. Bad as
the case seems 70 be against him Teaters
maintains a perfectly cool dcmeanor and
seems 70 have no fear as 70 the result Of the
trial. Great sympathy is expressed for
the prisoners mother and sister. They
have been with him constantly since the
trial began and look haggard and worn OIL,
from the severe mental strain they have
undergone There is considerable specula-
ton 10. night as TO what will DE the larys
verdict The general opinion is that Teat-
ers viii be convicted.