Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-12-22
TIE MORNINs SESSION.
The Last Fag Ends OF the Evidence Pre-
sented 20 the Jury.


ssnted to the Jury.
At the opening Of Court yesterday
morning the defendant was recalled 10
the stand and was enquired Of as to a
few non-essential matters. He again
maintained his entire innocence Of the
crime, and nothing new or important
was ELECTED.
Mrs. Reitz was recalled as to the
character Of the defendant She said,
in substance, that he was quarrelsome.
The next witness was Rev. n. b.
Johnson. He testified that the reputa-
tion OF defendant was that Of a drink
ing and brswling man. Col. Arnett
objected on the ground that the ques-
ton was whether the prisoner was
peaceful citizen. The Judge ruled that
his general reputation eau be inquired
into but 20 specific acts were 70 be
stated Col. Arnett asked the witness
il any one ever told him before the 18th
day o. October that Briesach's reputa-
zion was bad. Witness replied that he
had been told that Briessch kept his
family and the neighborhOOd 10 an up
roar by his drinking. Col. Arnett ask
ed Mr.. Johnson If Briessch had ever
been arrested, and Mr.. Howard object
ed on the ground that the Colonel
was going into specific acts. The
objection was Overruled. Mr.. john
son never heard Of the prisoner be-
ing arrested previous TO the murder.
Witness mad been spoken to by other
persons about Briesach'S bad habits but
he had never heard or him being a viO-
later Of the law except by being s dis
turber OF the community by mis- abusive
acts. Col. Arnett attempted 20 draw
out that Briesach only complained OF
his Wlie's actions Instead OF being mere
~ abusive, but did not get much salts
faction. On redirect examination the
witness said he heard that Briesach
threw a stone az member OF his fam
lily. Mr.. Howard asked the witness II
be ever called the police to enter the
Briesach house. Col ArneIt objected
and was sustained. Mr.. Howard then
asked the witness if be had ever con-
planned to the police Of Briesach's &C
tion. This was also objected to and
sustained.
Mrs. Barbara Sly was recalled as TO
the character Of the defendant but
nothing valuable was elected.
William Reitz had known the defend
ant for sixteen years. He said be was
auarrelsome when drinking, and that
mis- general reputation was bad. Wit
ness was asked by Mr.. Howard what be
knew as TO the defendant beating his
wife, but the defense objected, and was
sustained.
This ended the testimony
MR.. Posr's OPENING.
Mr.. Post, OF counsel for the State,
opened the argument for the prosecu-
tion at about eleven o'clock, and spoke
until the hour of the noon adjournment.
His review Of the evidence was careful,
exhaustive and analytic, be going over
The testimony infinitely, sitting and
comparing the statements made by the
various witnesses aud deducing from
the facts as they appeared TO the State
very strong case against the accused.
At the afternoon session Mr.. Post re-
sumed his address 10 the jury. The
audience present was by far the largest
Of the week, filing not only all the
seats. bnt the two main aisleS, while
numbers OF men were cOngregated
about the doors in the outer corridor
A number of ladies had seats within the
bar, and a number OF attorneys were
also present
Mr.. Post resumed his review OF the
evidence, and spoke untilI after three
o'clock His analysis Of the evidence
OF the defendant and the contrast he
drew between IL and the testimony OF
the witnesses for the State, taken singly
and as a whole, was a very effective
piece Of work, and was listened to by
all present with the greatest interest
His conclusion was that either Brie-
sachs statement was a welcomed but
not very ingenious lie, concocted for
the purpose OF saving his neck; or, that
ne had told the truth, while all the wit
uesses for the State-men and women,
children and adults. black and white,
officials and civilians, were alike in
volved in a great conspiracy 10 Sc
cure the conviction OF an innocent
man. Mr.. Post was very happy
in picking out the vulnerable
portions Of Brissach's story, an example
being that portion OF his evidence where
be insisted be woke up about nine
o'clock in the morning and found his
wife lying helplessly drunk on the
kitchen floor, with her head In the coal
box and her feet up the stairway; while
two or three witnesses for the State had
sworn they had seen and cOnversed
with Mrs. BrieSach az nine o'clock, that
she appeared In her usual health, was
not drunk, and showed no evidences Of
drink. The evidence uf Officer Snyder
that he found Briesach washing the big
club with = wet rag, when be reached
the house, was also eontrasted with
BrieSach's story that be had just gotten
out OF bed and had only caught sight
Of his wife dead on the floor when the
officer put his hand on his shoulder and
said: 81 want you" and ia this as in
several other like instances, the parallel
drawn was very unfavorabs 20 the de-
PENDANT The speaker dWelt upon the
fact that Briessch was found wash
ing the club, and that the Woman's
clothing and the kitchen floor were wet
aud dripping, and said il al pointed to
the inevitable conclusion that not only
did Brissach wash the club, Just as OH
Ger Snyder sGid he did, but that he also
washed the dead WomAn's face, and
breast, her clothing, sad perhaps the
floor IS well, befors the arrival Of the
officer, in an effort e remove, as far as
possible, traces Of the crime. No one
saw him at this work, but all the facts
polnted to such a conclusion.
Passing to the question Of prqnedita-
ton. Mr. Post made very STR 2 point
in quoting, from the sv - yof Bar
bara Sly, who heard Brie Az: "Pn
heaIN0n IS long as theE leath IN