The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1899-12-27
VERDICT AGAINST SHEETS.
Jury Find Him Guilty of Murder Of
the First Degree for the Death
of Augustus Glessuer.
MOTION FOR NEW TRIAL FILED.

Milton Sheets, one of the boys charged
with the murder of Augustus Glessner,
has been convicted of murder of the first
degree and his young life will be taken
| by the law AS forfeit for the life be de-
stroyed.
The Sheets case was given to the Jury
at four O'Clock Wednesday afternoon, and
notwithstanding the generally expressed
belief that the jury would arrive at YER
dict before eight o'clock that evening.
they did not bring their verdict into
court until eight o'clock Thursday
morning.
The prisoner at the bar was the least
affected person in the crowded court
room when the jury came in, and when
the jurors solemnly declared him guilty
of the highest crime known to the law,
smile played around the corners OF his
mouth IL Sheets realized the gravity of
his position and the direful consequences
in store for him be concealed his feelings
admirably.
The defendants father and mother sat
by his side throughout the trying days Of
the trial. Mrs. Sheets is very delicate
woman and fears were entertained that
if she went on the stand to testify it
might be at the cost of her life. But
when the thought occurred to her that
her evidence might be the means of saw
ing her boy from an ignominious death
she nerved herself for the struggle. She
was most pitiable object when she de-
clared that Milt was not as strong mind
ed as her other children, and many of the
spectators were moved 70 tears through
sympathy for her. The defendant ap-
peared entirely oblivious of the presence
of his parents and throughout the trial
exchanged only a few remarks with
them.
1t was owing perhaps to the fact that
Sheets had been a resident of Somerset
for six or eight months that so much To-
cal interest centered in his trial. the court
room being crowded at every session,
many ladies helping to swell the attend
ance.
There was much speculation as to why
the jury remained out for so long a time,
and when it failed to come in before
Wednesday midnight some OF Sheets
friends were led to believe that the jury
was unable TO agree upon verdict. One
of the jurymen, it is said. had declared
when called and examined a. to his
right TO sit in the Weller case. that he
would not like to return a verdict that
would hang a boy" and their hopes
doubtless rested upon his expected un-
willingness to agree 10 a verdict that
would mean that Sheets would have TO
suffer the death penalty. Their hopes
were also aroused through the fact that
the jury must have known when Weller
took the stand and testified against
Sheets that the former had been either
acquitted or permitted TO enter plea of
guilty of murder of the second degree,
and it was argued that they would not
convict Sheets of murder of the first de-
gree while his accomplice escaped. II is
reported, however, that the jury did not
take a vote until late hour Wednesday
night. when every vote cast favored a
verdict of guilty of murder of the first
degree.
Counsel for Sheets promptly filed a
motion for a new trial, which will be
argued at the next session of regular ar
gument court, pending which Weller
will not be sentenced.