San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1894-02-21
"The Fair sAoUsefurnishers
WIN. EXON ON TRIAL FOR RAPE.
he Is CHARGED WITH RAVISHING
HIS STEP-DAUGHTER.
He Made Her Life Unhappy and
Threatened to Kill Her if She
Would Report the CONFERENCE.-THE
Gamblers Cases Postponed.

A case against William Exon,
charged with rape, was called at
four o'clock yesterday afternoon in
the Thirty-seVenth District court.
Exon is a German farmer, who
lives about four miles from San
Antonio. He is tall, slim, light
compleXiOned man, about thirty
three years Of age. He is accused
of ravishing Martha Helm, his
eleven-year old step daughter on
last May, and also at various times
thereafter, until last month, when
the girl left the ranch and came to
San Antonio to relate her horrible
experience.
The following jury was impan-
eled last evening at six o'clock for
the trial: NJ. Rouff, NJ. Stowe,
George Flamm, w. F. Wright. w.
w. Mullen, Won r. Van Raub, Sam
Townsend, w. |. GOforth, Fritz
Herpel, Bernard Redmond, John
Leasing and G.. Collins.
The defendants plea was "not
guilty." and the first witness called
was Martha Helm, the girl. She is
large for her age, and well devel-
oped, and is rather good
looking. In her testimony,
which was interpreted to the
court by Martin Stahl, as the girl
does not understand English, she
stated that Exon threatened to
kill her if she would ever say a
word about dit" The girls was a
terrible tale of outrageous treat
ment and placed Exon in no favor
able light by any means.
The testimony was resumed this
morning with Martha Helm on the
stand. The next witness called
was Max Helm, her brother, aged
fifteen years. He is also very
large for his age and in statue has
the appearance Of a full grown
man. George Manns and Mrs.
Metz were also placed on the stand
by the state.
From the evidence thus far adj
duced, it is learned that Exon was
most of the time with the girl, and
that tears could be seen in the
girls eyes whenever Exon spoke to
her. This information was OBJ
tanned from the witness, George
Manns, and he was asked the rea-
son he did not inquire, to ascertain
the cause Of the girls peculiar &C
tiOns. He said he could get
no satisfactory answer from the
girl, and he did not ask
Exon the reason of his constant
company with the girl to avert any
hard feeling from arising between
Exon and himself. Manns also
stated that when the girl left the
ranch Exon was uneasy and offered
reward of $40 for her return. He
said if he ever gets hold of her
again he will put her where no one
will ever be able to find her.
DR.. Menger, the city physician,
was placed on the stand and test.
fled that on examination he dis
covered that the girl had been mis-
used.
The evidence is strongly against
Exon, but If there is any chance OF
saving ExOn's life or saving him
from life sentence in the peniten.
tiary, his attorney, the Hon. j. r
Fleming, will not overlook it.
The case will not be completed
today and will have to be taken uI
again next Friday, tomorrow being
legal holiday and no court. A
batch of gambling cases were tt
have been called today, but wer,
postponed until the present case il
completed.
COURT NOTES.
Charles Bailey alias John Bailey
was given two years in the peni
Tertiary on 8 charge of assault t.