The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-21
JURY SAYS TERRELL
IS GUILTY OF MURDER
IN THE FIRST DEGREE
Court at Bluffton Notified Early
of the Finding, Which Was For
mally Presented at 8.47.
TERRELL WAS UNMOVED
Remarked as He Was Being Taken
Back to Jail that He Thought
1t Pretty Strong"
VERDICT is A SURPRISE
Light Sentence Was Expected
Motion Will Be Made for
New Trial.
TERRELL WAS UNMOVED
VERDICT is A SURPRISE
,cial 10 the Indianapolis journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
BLUFFTON, Ind, Dec. 20.-At a little
before O'Clock Sunday morning the jury in
the Terrell murder trial reported that it
had found verdict. Judge Smith and the
attorneys had retired at midnight, but
were summoned Immediately by the court
bailiff and at S:47 all were assembled and
Jury Foreman James NJ Settlemyer handed
the jurys finding TO the court. The YER
dict was as follows:
I'VE, the jury, find the defendent, John
w. Terrell. guilty of murder in the first
degree. charged in the indictment, and
that he be sentenced to Imprisonment in
the State prison for life"
The twelve men who decided Terrells fate
were: Floyd Redding. John Dean, John M.
Heckley, Frederick IIeiser, ]. M Jacobs.
Horace Ellingham, George Noble, William
Sowards. James n. Settlemyer, Theodore
Redding, Isaac Clouser and John s. Hyde.
1t required only one ballot of the jury to
find that Terrell was guilty. Three ballots
were then taken to decide what the pun
ishment should be. Eleven men voted for
life imprisonment from the first ballot, and
for lighter sentence.
surprise. Public opinion was that the sem
tence would not be more than two to twenty
one years and many looked for an acquttal.
The jurors retired at 9:12 o'clock Saturday
night. They reported just after returning
to their juryroom from breakfast this
morning. About fifty persons were in the
courtroom.
Terrell entered the courtroom wearing a
light overcOat buttoned up around his
throat. When instructed to stand and
hear the verdict he arose without a tremor,
after casting just one glance at the jury.
The only member of his family present be-
sides himself was his son Jacob. After hear
ing the verdict Terrell did not say word
till on the. way back to Jail with Sheriff
Johnson. Then, commenting on the verdict
he said. 1T is pretty strong
As he went to the jail he passed the resi-
dence of Deputy Sheriff Freeman Carlisle,
where his wife and children were staying.
They had already heard the verdict. and as
he passed his daughter Lucy met him.
Lucy" and passed on to the jail. Later his
wife and children visited him in the county
jail: His wife gave way to her grief and
broke down entirely and the two daughters
and son Jacob wept bitterly. Terrell re-
tanned his remarkable nerve and did not
shed a tear. but tried to comfort his family.
This afternoon Terrell was visited by the
Journal correspondent. He had been sleep
ing and said he was feeling we'll He was
in his shirt sleeves and accepted and
smoked a cigar Questioned about the ver-
dict, he said he was sorry ION account of
his family He said he could stand it him.
self; that he could stand anything.
TerrelPs attorneys will file motion for a
new trial Monday, but 1t is felt doubtful II
Judge Smith will grant it. Sentence has not
yet been passed. Terrelrs attorneys say
every legal step will be taken for him, and
If a new trial is refused the case will be ap-
pealed.
The crime for which Terrell was tried and
convicted was the shooting of his son-in-
law, Melvin Wolfe, on July IL last. Wolfe
had married his daughter Lucy two years
ago in November to settle paternity suit
but after a few months deserted her. 1t was
claimed he afterwards passed the Terrell
home with other women, taunting Terrell S
family. On the day of the tragedy he
passed twice with his stepsister, and the
him from the roadside he passed. One
load from shotgun tore off Wolfe's right
leg. the other severfng a driving rein. Ter
rell followed them in frenzy tC Petroleum
In his own buggy and blew out Wolfe
brains he lay DR.. Saunders's operat-
ing table. He then started to town to sur
render himself. The plea of the defense
was insanity.
Terrell slept soundly Saturday night, ex-
cept that he was bothered a little, said
Sheriff Johnson, by Frank Walburn, an in
sane man, who created much noise. Sheriff
Johnson had to arouse Terrell from sleep
this morning TO go TO court to hear the
verdict Many expressions of sympathy
have been heard to-day for Terrell. He is
fifty-One years Old