The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-12-01
FRANK CHURCH'S TRIAL
For the Murder of Edward Neald
over a Year Ago Begun.
THE EVIDENCE is PARTLY HEARD.
Tho Story of the Homicide Recalled.
Witnesses of the Assault Examined,
and DR.. sprasg tells about Neald's
Condition when he was Summoned
to Attend him-..Doubt Suggested as
to the Cause of Death.

The trial OF Frank Church for the al.
legged murder of Edward Neald, October
"a, 1891, was begun yesterday in Part IL
of the circuit court, Judge PAUL presid-
ing. Prosecuting Attorney Howard was
unassisted in the conduct OF the case
for the state, while B. B. Dovener and
son and John ]. Conif appeared for the
defense.
The jury was secured without much
trouble, and sworn about 10 a. m. 1t is
composed OF John Dieringer, Edward
Wheat, W. II. Hornish, Charles F. Zim-
MGR. Henry Kell, John NJ. Clark, Jo-
seph w. Bier, Zach Springer, D. A.
Waddle, Louis Zoeckler, William G.
Gehring and John Britt.
In his opening remarks Mr.. Howard
defined the degrees of homicide, and
said the state would show that Church
was guilty of ~premeditated murder.
Captain Dovener, in presenting the
case for the defense, said tine defendant
would DO shown not guilty OF murder at
all. He reviewed the circumstances
surrounding the case, and intimated a
doubt as to whether Neald's death was
caused by the blow inflicted by Church.
The prisoner, who has been out under
bail, is accompanied in court by his
wife, an attractive looking blond, and a
bright little golden-haired child OF two
or three years.
Neald's relatives are none Of them
present. His wife wrote from Utica, N.
Y. to Hon. G. W. Atkinson, who was
her attorney while she was here, that
she had not the means to come on for
the trial.
The evidence was opened when court
reconvened in the afternoon, the first
witness called being DR.. Spragg, the
city health officer.
DR.. Spragg testified as to the condi-
ton OF Neald when he was brought to
police headquarters, where he remained
in the lookup keepers room for two
days, with poor accommodations, be-
fore he died. The examination by
Capt. Dovener was directed to showing
q possibility that death might be due
to an overdose OF medicine admins
lGEou1 VI " u I'LL Hull t44O SOb IA HLlAGl
the injured man lay.
Charles Stump, Messrs. Shallcross,
Voigt, elmer, Tappan and Officer Jack
West were examined. The officer told
about finding Neald after the assault
and taking him to the City hall, and the
other witnesses narrated portions OF the
story Of the affair.
In brief their testimony was that
Church wa on Eleventh street near
Main, when he saw Neald, and ran to
him and commenced striking him with
a club.
The story OF the homicide will be re-
called by most people. Neald wa agent
for bibles and albums. He sold a Bible
TO Mrs. Church and went back to their
house, 740 Market street, and tried to
sell an album. He went back several
times and offered insults to her in
Church's absence, and she became
afraid to remain in the house by her
self, as Neald had gone there in the
night and attempted to enter. How
ever, Neald told Church he was going to
leave town, aud when Church saw him
on the fatal day, going up Eleventh
street, he Immediately suspected Neald
was going back to his house, and Selling
a piece OF buggy spoke whichhe carried
in his wagon, he ran up and struck
Neald on the side OF the head, cutting
quite a bad cash. Neald was afterwards
taken to the lookup and no n sus-
pected he was fatally hurt, although it
afterwards TRANSFERRED that his skull was
fractured. In two hours he was uncon-
scious and remained in that state until
he died a day or SO later.