The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1898-06-07
BARBARA G. ENGLE
On Trial for Her Life in
Hocking's Common
Pleas Court.
JUDGE O. VIII WRIGHT
On the Bench and m Array Of Strong
Talent on Each Side.

the Court in Logan this week.
1t will be remembered that in
March of this year, J. S. Engle, a
prominent farmer living near Logan
was suddenly taken sick and died
in few hours, Doctors were called
and pronounced the death from
strycnine poisoning. The coffee of
which Mr.. Engle drank at breakfast
is alledged to have had a skum on it
so that he remarked of it's condition
and threw some of it out. Immedi-
ately after breakfast he took violent
ly sick and died in a few hours.
After the funeral on Sunday follow
ing Mrs. Engle was arrested for the
murder of her husband and acquitted
by the Squire's Court. The April
grand jury indicted her for murder
in the first degree and she has been
incarcerated in Jail ever since.
There was considerable stir around
the Court House Monday in antici-
patton of the important event in
court circles at hand. AT 10 O'Clock
the old bell rang out, either the toll
of sorrow or the clang of liberty to
Mrs. Engle. Judge Wright ascend
ed the judicial bench and the strong
est of Hocklng's council arrayed
themselves against each other. The
court announced the case and i'm
mediately laid down his ruling, de-
signated the tables for each council,
for the stenographers and newspap-
er men, and placed ex-Sheriff Ryan,
one of the best officers we ever had,
in charge of the inside rail, to assist
Sheriff Brandt.
The court room was crowded and
indeed a breathless picture. On the
one side of the contest was the strong
face of the veteran Col. S. Weldy,
one of the universally recognized
best jurists in Ohio; G. HI. Buerhaus,
with handsome face and keen Ger
man intelligence, with wide reputa-
tion as one of the best criminal law
yers in Ohio, and L. d. Vickers, a
lawyer of never relenting stick-to-
itiveness, and marked ability. On
the other side is the Prosecutor, E.
o. Petit, a star in the constellation
of legal intelligence in our county,
one of the most aggressive, thorough
and uncompromising prosecuting at
torneys in the county's history; G..
V. Wright, veritable book-worm,
recognized as one of the most thor
oughly posted lawyers in Ohio, a
keen observer, quick in application
and strong in character; and Judge
S. H. Bright, a veteran legal power
and able jurist, formerly strong
Judge upon the bench that he now
addresses,
Upon the bench, acting as the
balance. the medium, the scales of
justice, is seated Judge o. w. H..
Wright. Handsome, vigorous, in
telligent. A picture in himself of a
court of power and confidence.
Ready to do right and dare All as the
executive of the law. A typical
American, risen from the humble
walks of clay hauler, to the able
jurists and unsurpassed court that
he is. In the fore is the vast and
intelligent audience, proud of our
grand court and able council at the
bar; confident of truth and justice to
come from their efforts.
At the opening Of court the thirty
six special jury venire was called
and disposed of one at time as
follows:
Issac Whitcraft, expressed his
opinion as to guilt or innocence
which would require evidence strong
to remove. Excused.
Charles Dunlap, excused for cause
having formed opinions that would
take strong evidence to overcome.
A. b. Crawford, excused for cause
having formed opinion.
Frank Schlagetter, conscience ous
scruple against capital punishment
Excused.
Webster Dawley, formed opinion
from reading newspaper. Chaleng,
for cause, sustained and JUROR dis
missed.
J. G. Frantz, of Starr Tp., no chal
lenge, Juror sworn in, as the first.
J. G. Harris, Ward Tp., no chal
lenge, sworn in.
VIM. Lindsey, challenge for cause
excused for deafness and ill health
| j. S. Feather, of Benton Tp., op'
posed to death penalty. Excused.
A. l.. Blanchard, sick. Excused.
Harris Ferguson, against capita
punishment. Excused.
Charles Nunemaker, excused per
emterally.
Fred Krinn, excused for caus
formed opinion.
Joseph Smart, no challenge, sworl
in.
Ed. o. Sweeney, against capita
J punishment. Excused for cause.
, Allen Deval, no challenge, sworl
in.
Adam Polling, read papers an,
formed opinion. Excused.
George Hoch, no challenge, sworl
In.
Theodore Wiggins, no challenge
sworn in.
Joseph Walraven, challenged TO