The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1899-12-20


The sensational feature in the case II
the Commonwealth vs.. Milton She, Is
charged with the murder Of Aug,stus
Glessner, occurred just before court ad-
joarned Monday afternoon. when Harry
Weller, who on Saturday night was per-
mitted by the Court to enter a plea OF
guilty OF murder OF the second degree.
was placed upon the stand to testify
against his accomplice.
Weller was perfectly calm and seIf-cop.
trolled and related the CHASTITY details OF
the tragedy in a manner that convinced
nearly all who heard him that he was
telling the truth.
The Commonwealth carefully paved
the way for the introduction of WeIler's
evidence, but the defense made strenuous
efforts 10 keep it from being given 10 the
jury, alleging that no evidence had been
submitted by the Commonwealth tending
TO show that Weller's statements would
be eorroborated. Judge Longeuecker in
timated that he would overruie the objec-
tions by the defense. but suggested to
the Commonwealth that they withdraw
Weller until after the admissibility of
Sheets alleged confessions had been
passed upon.
Here the defense was permitted to call
r. ). Scull and Sheriff asrIzsll. who tes-
'ified that Detective f sgan had promised
Sheets to befrisnd him and to exert his
best efforts TO save his (Sheets') life on
condition that he (Sheets) would tell
truthfully all he knew concerning the
murder of Glessner. The court promptly
ruled out the confession made by Sheets
10 Eagan in the presence of the witnesses
called, but overruled objections by de
Tense against the admission of subsequent
alleged statements or confessions made
by Sheets TO other parties.
J. A. Lambert was then called aud per
mitted TO read statement which was
printed at the time and which he testified
was voluntarily made by Sheets in the
presence of witness, Sheriff Hartzeil and
Deputy Sheriff Baker. In the statement
read, Sheets declared that Weller had
first suggested hitting Glessner and tax
ing his money; that together they had
gone to Ream's livery stable, where he
(Sheets) secured a whisky bottle. and
later to Swartzendruber's where Sheets
secured a stick of woOd thar Weller was
not more than % feet away when he
(Sheets) struck their victim, the blow
knocking Glessner only to his knees,
when Weller held one Of Glessner's arms
while be Sheets secured his pocket
book, containing 81, of which he gave
Weller s.
The above evidence was cOrroborated
by Sheriff Hartzell. when William Ana
walt, lad of sixten summers. was called
to the stand and testified that he had
overheard a conversation between Sheets
and Weller on the Sunday following the
murder, when the former said to the
latter, "Our man is dead"
Harry Weller, the aecOmplice, was
then called to the stand, he having been
previously sworn. with his right haud
uplifed, 70 tell the truth.
The variations in the testimony given
by Weller in court from his confession
made to Reade Marshall and others were
of little. if any, importance in fact.
Weller's confession and his evidence
sgree in every essential feature, and the
attorneys for the defense, after succeed
ing in getting contradiction of the evil
dence given by young Anawalt from him,
left him go.
Wellers testimony was substantially
as follows:
Il was born in Berlin and have lived
there all my life. Have known Milton
Sheets all my life. on the night OF the
GIessner murder I was in Diveley's
restaurant, where l ate some cheese ard
crackers. Sheets came in and took my
stool. Glessner was there eating raw
oysters. After Glessner had started for
home, Milton Sheets asked me to 60
along up the alley between the GrOh and
Ream buildings. After we reached
Ream's livery stable Sheets said TO me:
Go along and I'll take old Gusts money
de then reached into a shed Of the stable
and took out a round, heavy, whisky
bottle, and, carrying il with him, we
went across the tennis ground, out that
street TO the cemetery, and down the
-AErCA ~ AlAEE anu AA1AAA AA-CAN NAA NAN
road after Glessner. on the road
started to hang back and did not want TO
20, but Sheets wOnld grab hold of me
and say, Come on. you baby; I'm doing
Il. not you At Herman Bruhaker's
barn we came in sight of Glessner and
followed him from there 70 jacob Svertz-
endruber's, where I told Sheets that he
shouldn't bit Glessner with the bottle or
he would kill him. He then gave me
the bottle. and going TO woOdpile at
Swartzendruber's shop, picked up club,
saying, This is pretty light to soak him
with I then threw the bottle away and
We went on to the woods. I still hung
back. but Milt would say, IL amt you
that's doing it, After we had gone into
the woods short distance I stopped snd
would not 90 any further. Sheets then
went on and Glessnsr turned once and
looked back. Milt dropping down 80 as
not To be seen. Fro.n THAI time on did
not see them. Il a short time Sheets
came running back with purse in his
hand. He gave me s silver dollar and
trro halves. Sheets had two dollar note
and a ve-dollar note and sixty cents 10
change. He said be had the fiVe-doilar
bill and the change before Sheets put
his arm around my waist and sale. old
sport. Pun breaking you IN young We
ran up III . road towards town 10 The field
beyond Simon Miller's. There We
crossed the fence. and by a roundabout
course returned % town. We parted al
4. {. Floto's corner and went 70 our
homes
sunday afternoon Jacob Beach, who
was coming from Charley Milier's, told
me that Glessner was dead, and - l
passed Johuson's furniture store ! saw
them getting coffin Out then went
on up 10 the Mansion House, where l
told Sheets that GlessBer was dead.
sheets asked me IN 20 sloug back TO his
home until he got his supper. We start
ed back toward Sheets home. when !
said. 'Milt. don't see how yon can go
about holding up your head after what
you done last night Sheets said. The
old So Of b. ought 70 have been
dead long ago
Weller identified the club and bottle,
being quite positive about the club. be
also told Of having accompanied Reade
Marshall to the scene Of the tragedy aud
having pointed out 70 him where be had
thrown the bottle and the point where be
waited for the return OF Sheets.
All the time Weller was ON the stand
the defendant sat smiling az his counsei's