Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-05-09
sp.ciai 7.l.eram 70 q. Rsglss-.

spsciai 7,l.oram 10 re Rsgf'ts-.
BERKELEY SPRINGS, w. VA, May 8.
After six days spent in hearing thirty
eight witnesses for the State aud TWEEN
two for the defendant, the argument in
the case OF the State VS.. Rudolph Zeig-
Ter, for the murder OF John Sauters near
Cherry Run, this county, on February
13 last. was commenced befors Judge
Faulkner and court room packed TO
suffocation at s o'clock last night by er-
States Attorney t. w. B. Ducemal for
the defense.
After referring TO the legal status
bearing on the case and Judge Faulk-
ner's impartial rulings, he spoke OF the
persecution OF the prisoner, extending
over period OF four years, during
which time his property had been de-
stroyed. his life Threatened and an at
tempt made TO drive him from his homo
and the nsighbof hood by an armed mob.
His speech was ably filled with touch
ing incidents OF a happy homo life and
the many evidences Of an Industrious
effort by which he had accumulated a
competency.
j. Nelson WiSner, for the State, fol-
lowed with an able plea Tor conviction,
and many feeling and pathetic refer
ences To a home, made des0late by the
murderer's fatal bullets, closing la for
chile and weil-worded remarks OF SYM
pathy for the widow and terrible de-
nuncation OF the prisoner.
He was followed by cx-State Supreme
Court Judge Daniel Il. Lucas for tho
defense. who eclIpsed all the attorneys
by his gentlemanly reference TO both
sides OF the case, and more scholarly,
yet strong, able and impartial speech,
has never been delivered In this court
| house.
States Attorney, Forrest w. Brown,
| Of jefferson county, closed the case for
the State with speech which has bad
Few equals In this court. lie spoke for
two hours, drawing vivid pictures OF
the murdered mans married life, COW
ering twenty-five years, for twoaLy
years OF which he and the prisoner
had been intimate friends, and the
terrible consequences resulting
from a moments rashness by which the
widowed wife with no children had
been deprived OF loving and devoted
husband. homo and support. Ho
showed the impossibllIty OF Saulters
having been tho BRgress0r or having
struck Zeigler with ths gun, OF how
after being mortaily wounded he had
fallen ia the snow aud while 10 the
last agonies OF death he raised
his head from the frozen ground
and gave one last longing look In the
direction OF homo and wife, finally cast
ing his eyes plesdingly toward heaven
and God. or how the murderer has
ran from the scene 20 bis home, reloaded
his pistol, eaten his dlnper and fed 10
this place aud given himself up for pro-
lection, closing with an appeal 10 the
Jury's manhood for tho preservation Of
| our homes and our laws
Many ladies' as well as men shed tears
at the closing remarks. Judge Faux
ner sent the Jury Immediately TO tho
| Jury room, refusing them any guns.
pistols or other evidence produced Ia
the case unless special reasons were as
signed for thom. He conhned bis In
structions 10 nine points and immediate
ly called up civil case and decided it
/ In seven minutes.
This Is tho fifteenth murder case
Judge Faulkner has tried and he has
never had a jury 70 disagree. Ths
amount Of worthless evidence he threw
out and the rapidlty with which he
disposed o! the courts business vita
his wise and impartial rulings elicIted
| much favorable comment
At4 o'clock this evening the case was
given to the jury. and up 70 10 o'clock
| no verdict was reached.