Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1898-02-16
MCSWEENEY'S CASE
Has Its First Inning Tuesday Before
Mayor MelSenhelder.
The Court Room is the Scene of the
Trial and is Crowded to the Ut
most.--Postponed Until 1 z.
NJ. Wednesday.

Mayor Meisenhelder held Court in
the Court room Tuesday, the occasion
being the preliminary hearing of the
most important case, viewed from a
standpoint Of sensationalism, which
has been tried in this county In gen
Grafton.
The case was that of Morgan Nc
Sweeney, charged with taking the life
OF fellow man. w. E. Mason.
McSweeney was there promptly at
o'clock, coming in and passing before
the crowd with the air of yerita BILE
hero. He was clad in new suit of
clothes, and he looked generally as if
his life of confinement was agreeing
with him.
Prosecuting Attorney Brenan, to-
gether with Attorney A. d. Follett ap-
peared for the State; and the prisoner
was in the hands of his able attorneys,
L. w. Ellenwood and w. G. Way.
After the Mayor had called Court to
order the affidavit charging the ac-
cused with the murder was read, and
was as follows:
The State of Ohio, county of Wash
ington, before me, the undersigned,
Mayor Of the city of Marietta, in said
county, personally came j. ii. Dye,
who being duly sworn according to
law, deposes and says that on or a bout
the 21st day of January, A. d. 1898, at
4 L. nf@
one Morgan McSweeney did willfully,
premeditated malice. kill and murder
one VIM. E. Mason then and there be-
ing, by then and there stabbing said
VIM. E. Mason in and upon the breast
and belly of the said Wm E. Mason
with a certain knife, contrary to the
statute in such case made and pro-
vided. Signed,
j. Ii. DYE.
Sworn to and subscribed before me
this 22d day of January, A. d. 1898.
EDWARD MEIsENHELDER,
[sEAL Mayor.
To the awful accusation contained
within the above instrument the de-
fendant declared that he was Not
Guilty"
The self contained murderer then sat
down and the trial proceeded.
The only witnesses put upon the
stand Tuesday were those who had
seen the awful tragedy; and from them
the examining attorneys evolved moth
ing that was not already printed i'm
medately after the cutting. There
FL - la
moup given, everyone telling their
stories of the event in straightfor-
ward manner.
Those VINO were called to the wit
ness stand Tuesday were William Gill
pin, Danl Budgitt, Minnie Conner, Or.
K. B. Hart, Jr., Charles Harris and
Harry Lightfritz.
After the examination of the last
named witness the State rested, and
after a short consultation together the
attorneys for the defense asked his
Honor if he would postpone the re-
mander of the preliminary hearing
and adjourn Court until Wednesday
afternoon at o'clock. The States at
torneys made no objection, and his
Honor granted the request
Maggie and Mary McSweeney
daughters of the prisoner, were pres
ent at the hearing and were sworn,
but were not placed on the stand by
the attorneys for the State, to avoid
the unsavory testimony which they
are expected to give. The testimony
taken was more than sufficient to just
ify the Mayor in committing Nc
Sweeney without bail to await the
action of the next grand Jury.
The attorneys for the State have not
asked that any of the witnesses be
placed under bond for their appear.
ance when the case is tried.