Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-01-28
A VERDICT OF GUILTY
Very Promptly Rendered at St. Glars
vile,
Yesterday, in the Case Of the state
Of Ohio VS.. John Richner-Ihe
Prisoner May Be Sent to the he
form School Instead Of the Penl-
Tertiary.

John Richner, indicted on the charge
Of burglary and larceny, was found
guilty yesterday morning in the Com
mon Pleas Court of Belmont county.
The case was given to the jury short
ly before the noon hour, and that BODY
rendered verdict of guilty after being
out about five minutes, and after but
Gbne ballot.
The trial was begun Wednesday af-
ternoon, and was not finished until
yesterday forenoon, when the remain
ing witnesses for the defense were ex-
amined, and the attorneys made their
arguments. For the prosecution Sle
arguments were brief, while Sheppard
for the defense, made the plea for MS
client, that lasted nearly two hours,
in which he poured volley of scath-
ing denunciations on the witnesses Tor
the prosecution. When court conven
ed at half-past eight yesterday morn
ing young Richner was again placed
on the stand, and being questioned by
the prosecution said he was under in
dictment for train wrecking. The prls-
oner also said he was under an indlct-
ment, charging him with grand lar
ceny, and also for the Fairpoint rob-
berry. He said he was once arrested
for train wrecking, but was acquitted
of the charge.
Mollie Richner, sister of the defend
ant was placed on the stand. She SAID
she told her brother in the Bridgeport
Jail that if he was guilty OF the FAR
point robbery to plead guilty. Witness
said she did not hear or see Marshal
Douds or his wife while she was hav-
ing the conversation with her brother.
She said she knew Feely. He had
been at the house a number OF times
to see her brother. Her brother would
sometimes stay away for two or three
| days with Feely. There was no cross
| examination.
Ed. Kellar was the next witness
l
seen the locks taken from the post
office at Wheeling Creek. Saw them
first in the possession of John Fisher,
| of Martins Ferry, and afterwards in
| the possession of Officer Thompson
He said he knew Howard Feely, and
| that he had staid at the Clifton House.
| He knew that they had sold beer at
the place. No cross-examinatlon.
George Richner brother of the de-
| PENDANT. was called next. He said he
was employed at the G., L. & W. round
house at Bridgeport. H said his broth
er was sixteen years old. He knew
| Howard Feely, and had seen him at his
home a number of times. He said
! Feelv worked at the Clifton House at
the time of the robbery at Wheeling
! Creek. He said the house had bad
! reputation. and that Feely had worked
| there.
This finished the taking of the tes-
timony on both sides, and the argu-
ments by the attorneys were begun.
The arguments were brief on both
sides of the case Following the argu-
ments of the lawyers Judge Holdings
worth charged the jury in very ex-
plicit manner and they retired to the
| iurv room, returning almost immedl-
atelv with a verdict of guilty. The
crime is a penitentiary offense, but
owing to the prisoners age, which ne
claims is sixteen, he may be sent to
the reform school. The other lndlct-
ments found by the grand jury Will
not be acted on for the present.