The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-11-30
SPECTATORS DELIGHTED
Sympathy Of Public Was With the
Prisoner. a .
"a - zE
MIR. MURPHY HAD A RECORD.
Irwas Aired by the Defendant's Attor-
neys--when the Mayors Decision
Was Announced There wasa ne o
Remarkable Display OF
Approval.

Ann. nj
William Wrenecke was discharged
Monday afternoon by the mayor.
Wernecke had been held on the
charge of shooting with intent to wound
George Murphy.
The decision of the mayor met with
the popular approval of the 200 people
in the court room.
Such a snout and such pent up pleas
ure shown by the spectators when the
mayor discharged the prisoner, never
was heard before in mayors court 1T
was something unusual to see the
spectators In the lobby arise with a
rush, some enthusiastically yelling
while others proceeded to applaud by a
clappinE of their. hands. It certainly
demonstrated one fact-that Wreneclke
has the sympathy of the public as
against a man whom the defendants
attorney denounced as a bully and in
terloper. The terms used may have
been strong. The fact that wernecke
was a free man was because the mayor
was convinced that he had shot MuI-
ply in self-defense. The mayor said
that there was moral obligation to
be filled by the young man, and that
his actions proved that he sought for
the protection of the young lady who
had accompanied him TO the dance last
Wednesday night He had not been
imprisoned during the interim of his ar
rest and trial; bank book which he
had In his possession showed a sum of
over $500 on deposit in one of the local
institutions and the mayor deemed
that sufficient security for his APP
pearance. s' -& '3
.When Wernecke stepped out of the
court room he was again given an
ovation by his friends, in the outside
hallway. There was a gleam of happi-
ness and pleasure in the countenance
of Wernecke's father and mother when
they saw the boys friends assembled
about him. F aNE3
The case was called at o'clock, Mon
day afternoon. Attorneys Welty e
Albaugh represented the defendant.
After making their opening statement,
Murphy was called to the witness stand
In his own behalf. He testified to the
manner In which the young lady ac-
companied him home from the dance.
He told just how he had been shot by
the defendant He alleged that the
young lady had consented that he ac-
company her home. -r
The cross-examination by Mr. Welty |
was thorough and extremely uncon-
Portable one for Murphy. Police court
records for many years back were pro.
duced, and half dozen or more cases
were read in court where Murphy has
been arrested on minor charges and in |
some of the cases assessed fine. Muir
ply twisted around uneasily in HIS
chair. In fact he became red in the |
face when his former record was read. |
His mother, who sat within a few feet |
Of her son, also disliked the thrusts of |
the attorneys: but the defendants at
terney succeeded in shattefng his |
testimony.
DR.. A. C. Brant testified that he had |
seen Murphy on the night of the shoot
ing, but did not assist in attending
him.
Mrs. Murphy was called to the stand
next. She told what she knew Of her
sons condition at the hospital In her
direct examination she pulled pocket
book from her pocket and produced
bullet which, 1t is alleged, had been
taken from Murphy's leg by the at
tending surgeon. officer zimmerman
was called to TESTIFY to the arrest OF
Wernecke' and Sergeant Wielandt
testihed 10 the caliber OF the bullet.
The revolver shells. including the bull
let, were then offered as an exhibit in
the case ana as evidence OF crime
havins eeen committed
Moh.Iora Moors aHo Seorge Hiner
were also caheo. lhese TWO young men
were w the eonlpa Y p Wefhecke on
.he n,gh' Oh lhe sheo.me' ana witnessed
he an,ay on tne puol'c SQUARE They
.esunea ,nat wernecke haa neeh an
serea oy lne '"llohs Q. Murphy IN She
aanc,ns ~ nan' - anu .hat WeInecke was