Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-10-11

YESTERDAY AFTERNOON BE-
FORE JUSTICE ROGERS.
HIS ACTION WAS JUSTIFIED.
Attorney Meyers Asked
That He be Acquitted of the
Charge-Defendant Was Repre-
scented by the Hon. John 0. PEN
dleton-TOuchlng Scene After the
Case Was Disposed OF.

Case Was Disposed OF.
The hearing of Thomas Workman,
on the charge of the murder of his SON
in-law, M. IF. Dryden, occurred at
O'Clock yesterday before Justice w. w
Rogers. Prosecuting Attorney w. c,
Meyer represented the State and the
Hon. John o. Pendleton the defendant,
The defendant sat with his counsel and
! aside from some little nervousness, he
was apparently unconcerned. In TACT
! himself, his wife and daughter, Mrs
| Dryden. all three bore up bravery IN
! til the Justic rendered his decision &C
quitting the defendant. The two ladies
wept convulsively Mr.. Workman Wept
| more quietly as silently, one by one
quite a plumber of friends, his neigh
bors, came forward to grasp his hand
Mr.. and Mrs. Workman and Mrs.
Dryden were all three dressed In deep
est mourning.
Mrs. Dryden was first put on by the
State. Her story of the killing was
the same as has been hitherto publish
ed. Her testimony covered a long per-
iod of mistreatment by her husband,
In speaking of what occurred
the day and night Of the
!, killing, she said Mr.. Dryden had
been drinking heavily for several days.
He had been threatening her all day.
He said he would kill her when the
right time came, and when it did come,
her death would result in the blinking
of an eye. Aside from this, the
dead man had applied the vilest OF
epithets to herself and mother and had
ION two occasions that day driven them
from the house.
That night Dryden came home about
10 o'clock and was admitted by the de-
ffendant. He went upstairs immediate
ly. A little later he complained of ill
ness, and after the family had pre-
scribed several household remedies
without effect, DR.. Etzler was sent for.
He remained until Mr.. Workman re-
turned with his medicine, so as to pro-
tect the ladies from Dryden, who had
only a few hours before that time
Threatened to kill them both.
Dryden was given the medicine, but
it seemed to have no effect on him, and
he soon arose and pulled on his trous-
erS He again threatened to do the two
laoies harm, and again applied vile cpl
thets to them. Mr.. Workman, Mrs.
Workman, Mrs. Dryden ana the latter's
little daughter went out on the front
porch to escape him. Dryden came
down stairs to the parlor and calling
the little girl inside talked to her for
some time He suddenly appeared in
the doorway, made a spring like wild
beast for his wife, the witness, who
| was seated upon the top step. She half
arose, endeavoring to escape, but he
caught her and threw her heavily to the
porch. The next instant a shot was
fired. She felt herself released, and
| with her mother, at the command OF
the defendant, she went to Mr.. Laupp's
home, just next to the Workman
| house.
did he always provide for you?"
asked Mr.. Meyer.
Yes
On cross examination by Mr.. Pen
dleton, witness said her father knew
her husband had threatened to kill
her. Witness said she did not think
her husband had been in his right mind
for long time. Her husband had con-
fessed that he was also addicted to the
use of a drug.
What makes you think he was
crazy?" asked Mr.. Pendleton.
HE has had a hallucination dating
back eleven years that was not true
Wife answered the witness.
I, Jo r.
against the entire family.
John Quigley was called and testified
to Dryden's boasts to witness that he
Dryden was a bad man. Witness also
told of Dryden's telling him he was 60
ing to kill Mr. Fred Parks on sight.
On the day before the murder he had
told witness that the community was
going to be shocked. Dryden had told
witness himself would be shocked.
Mr.. Stevenson, who lives opposite
| the Workman house, knew of conten-
ton among the family, and also that
Dryden caused it all. Witness did not
see tragedy.
Franz Laupp, who lives Just below
| and next to the Workman house, said
! he had known for a long time that
| Dryden had threatened to do bodily
| injury to different members of the fam
| lily. The women in the family had often
| taken refuge in his house.
DR.. Megrail, who conducted the post
| norton examination, testified that
| death resulted from a gunshot wound
| through the heart. The mans brain
| was discolored in spots, one Of the
| membranes had broken down, and it
| otherwise gave evidence of being in an
unhealthy condition. Witness couldn t
say positively whether the condition of
the brain had caused insanity, but it
was very probable.
DIR. Etzler also testified, corroborat-
ing DR.. McGrail's statements.
At this point the State rested.
Mrs. Workman was put on the stand
for the defense Her story corroborated
to every detail Mrs Dryden's testi-
mony. She was present when the shot
was fired. but did not know whence
1t came. Dryden had both threatened
| her and attaced her. He had, however
! only attacked her on two occasions
She was not afraid of him and always
interposed when he was mistreating her
daughter. As a result of her daugh-
ter's rough handling. just prior to tbs
killing, Mrs. Dryden sustained badly
| bruised hip and also one her ribs had