Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-05-11
lib ! STANDS ACQUII,..
TEE JURY PRONOUNCED MRS LESLIE TO BE
INNOCENT
Or the Crime Of Shooting Her Husband Through tie
BSad--A Verdict Returned AAsr About an
Hours DslibsTahon--An Immense Crowd
9s the Court House Last Night
.sL MarY Leslle S a iree woman.

last hight : jury returned verdict
nd exhonorated her Of the crime Of
vnipv her husband, and she left the
CoYrt house free from all legal re-
straint
She had no home, no money and few
friends. and in that emergency she was
forced to accept the hospitality OF the
county jsil, where she has passed the
last month. To-day she will go else
where. bat where she will make her
home or what she will do for livelihood,
are as vet unsolyed problems.
The conclusion reached by the jury
coined 10 give considerable satisfaction
- Inc publicl last night. In the Court
-oo1, sDplsuse followed the announce
,rent of Foreman Brown, OF the jury;
bpt by far the larger portion OF the
audience made no outward demonStra-
ION and contented themselves with
nsssively viewing the Incidents OF the
evening. On the streets II was gener-
sIIv agreed that although the verdict
might not be defensiole from a legal
-oiDt of view, 10 was about right" and
wbi'e there was some surprise, there
was nothing IN the way of protest, and
little OF dissent,
THE MORNINGS SESSION.
The attendance OF spectators In Court
"A the opening was large, and all during
,be dav the room was FLIED, the average
bairy between two aud three hundred,
Ori,s q number of ladies were present,
socially during the afternoon
The first witness was the defendant,
vt5 was recalled to say that the knife,
pesed up ia the room in which the
ss5ttng took place, by Officer Wilkie,
rsssmbled one owned by her husband.
Qscar Seeley testified 20 the treqQ ut
oglrrels Of the couple, as did Mrs. VIII
IAN Carter. This last witness said she
h,d seen Leslie repeatedly strike his
VIE and had also heard him threaten
her life. he had abused her when she
was sick as well as when she was IA
health, and had torn her clothes up,
ere. The witnessed detailed one occa-
sion when Leslie produced two revolt
vers in the presence Of his wife and
throwing one on the floor, told her TO
ake it, and If she intended to use it TO
shoot quick, or he'd shoot her. Once,
when Mrs Leslie had taken refuge
IN the apartments OF witness, Leslie
broke the door open and removed her
by force, threatening at the same time
20 Kill her lie sometimes drove her
from her meals. and she would take
refuge In witness house. She often
did not have enough 20 eat. On cross
examination witness could not account
for the quarrels. She knew nothing Of
Mrs. Leslie being jealous Of the dis
reputable women who freQuented the
saloon.
Mrs. G. w. Sawyer testified TO Leslie's
abuse OF his wife. On one occasion
she heard Leslie threaten his wife.
William Carter testified to the same
effect, Darticularizing one occasion
Rhan Mrs. Leslie had taken refuge
from her husband 10 his house. Leslie
broke the door open and seized her,
using vile language and threatening to
kill her
Miss Mary Hoffman had been a dOmes-
tic 40 Carter's residence. She had seen
Leslie kick his wife, abuse her, tear up
her clothing, and once he threw a rock
ing chair az her.
Mrs. Mary Hanes had heard Leslie
use bad language towards his wife.
Once, ten days before the shooting, Mrs
Leslie came TO witnesses house, at two
o'clock iu the morning, with marks Of
blows upon her.
Miss Hoffman was recalled, and said
she had once seen Leslie take ks Wal
ton into the house, put his wife out and
lock her out. The State objected to
this, and moved 90 strike out. The
UJur, allowed 10 TO remain for the pres
cut.
Tn rebuttal the State called Gerttie
Williams, who was asked IL Mrs. Leslie
was not an inmate Of a diSreputable
house al East Liverpool. The defense
objected aud was sustained.
Frank Watson, bartender al Leslie's
saloon, was called and said he had seen
the two Quarrelling. Mrs. Leslie and
hcrsster came into the saloon and drank
beer. lie had never seen Leslie strike
his wife. The quarrel grew out of Mrs.
Leslie drinking beer at Carter'S.
This closed the evidence.
THE ARGUMENTS.
The Court limited the arguments OF
counsel % two hours on a side, aud Mr..
Howard began his address about IL
o'clock, Among other strong points
made by him was his assertion that the
jury could not take into consideration
abuse and Quarrels previous 70 the
shooting They had nothing In the
world 10 do with the case. All the jury
had properly before IL was what took
place 40 Ann Keim'S. He was also par
ucularly forceful on the defend
ants allegations Of Self-defense. The
pea was not tenable. He re-
viewed the whole Of the situation, from
We time the couple had first met down
70 the murder, and concluded that she
s1ot him because OF their constant
glarreiS, aud not from any fear OF
g00liy harm she had while at Ann
keim's.
Coi Arnett began to speak FOR the de-
Tense just before twelve o'clock, and
spOae thlrty-hve minutes, when he was
Interrupted by the noon adjournment
ne insisted that the story told on the
s.and by the defendant was strictly
Sle, aud maintained that her life had
zen an exemplary one, save when she
l4l been driven TO desperation by the
wrongs aud abuse and threats heaped
1pon her By her brutal husband.
mere was a very large audience pres
s-' al the afternoon session 70 hear the
argument Of Col. w. w. Arnett, for the
ee'ense, who had made but q brief
plelatory address before the noon ad-
.olfnment. The Colonel made q very
ss.'OnS address, based largely upon the
.leory OF Seli-defense. When he came
~ THIS phase Of the case, the speaker