Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-12-08
GEORGE BOWERS
A GIFTED LIAR.
&c Created a Great Sensation in Court,
Yesterday.


and Then Suddenly Turned Com
pletely Around and Swore That
All He Had Said Before Was
False, and That Neither He Nor
His Brother Knew Any thing
About the Death of Henry Kiel.
The Audience Rose to It's Feet and
Cheered Until the Court House
Rang-Nearly a Dozen Witnesses
Examined During the Day-Im-
mense Crowds Present at Both
Morning and Afternoon Sessions.
The Evidence So Far Adduced
Very Fully Reported-The State
Will Probably Rest To-Day.
The first day of evidence taking in
the case of State v. Wylie w. Bowers,
charged with the murder of Henry
SKiel, attracted an immense amount of
public attention, yesterday, if judg-
ment may be formed by the throngs
who sought admission to the room of
the Criminal Court. At both, the
morning and afternoon sessions the
room was crowded, and many who
sought admission were unable to OBJ
tain even standing room. The sensa-
George Bowers, the brother of the de-
PENDANT. His testimony was one of the
most remarkable things yet heard in
the Ohio county Court House. 1t is
given in full below.
The first witness called yesterday
morning was Mrs. John Treiber, who
testified to Mr.. Kiel leaving for town,
in his wagon, on the morning of No
vember 2, 1896, the day he was killed.
She was followed by Miss Lille KEEL,
daughter of the deceased, the main
point in whose testimony was the
statement that she heard a shot fired
between twelve and one o'clock. The
defense moved to exclude, which was
overruled.
Annie Schoenhals, who was employ
ed at Mr.. Kiel's home at the time Of
the shooting, was the third witness.
She stated she left the house about
ten o'clock on the morning Of the
shooting and came to this city. She
left the city on the twelve o'clock
Elm Grove motor, and on walking up
the road to the house found the body
lying in the road. She described the
position of the body infinitely, stating
that the feet were up the hill, towards
the home of deceased, and the head
down. She informed two men of the
discovery, and said they and others
removed the remains.
On cross examination, witness said
she had come to town to see DR.. Camp
bell concerning Mrs Kiel, who was i'll.
After some little pickering between
witness and counsel for the defense,
She was dismissed, and John E. Smith
was called by the State. He testified
that he was one of the men informed
Of the fact that Kiel was dead by Miss
Schoenhals, and assisted in the remov-
ri Of the remains. His examination
was interrupted to allow County En-
gineer Hazlett to introduce a survey Of
the roads at the point where the body
was found. The survey was tackled
upon blackboard where it could be
seen by the jury, and was then eX-
planned. 1t showed the main Stackyard
Hollow road, the branch private road
leading to Kiel's house, the point
where the body was found, the point
from which the defendant is alleged
to have fired the shot, the point where
his brother sat on the fence and wit
messed the murder, and other material
and pertinent matters.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Hazlett's
evidence Mr.. Smith was recalled, and
he was still upon ths stand when
Court adjourned for the noon recess.
Among other things, witness said he
saw Kiel, on the day OF his death, 60
Ing up Tue IOdu DclNtch olCfSu anu
twelve o'clock, and heard of his death
shortly after twelve. He was told by
lady who was staying at KiePs house.
Witness went to where the body was
lying. He described its position, and
said four or five dollars in money was
scattered about, silver dollar being
inside the vest. Deceased's knit jack
ct, vest and shirt, as we'll as other
clothing, was open. The clothing
worn by Kiel at the time of the shoot
Ing was shown witness, and he identi-
fed a portion of it. About half-past
twelve witness, Henry Hess. and
Messrs. Vincent, Beall and Lawrence
removed the body to the home of the
family. Witness described the wounds
upon the body, as he observed and
recol:ected them, and indicated their
position.
The defense then commenced long
cross-examination, which was still in
progress when Court adjourned.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
NL..~ntnrya<;c u ush In RI he Court Room