The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1908-12-17
EXTREMELY
SENSATIONAL
The Boyd Case Is Now Being
Tried In the Common Pleas
Court.

Probably the most sensational
case that has been tried in these
courts for many years is now on
the docket in the Common Pleas
court here, and is being clio sed as
we 90 to press. Before another
sun rises the Rev. Francis Boyd
will know whether a jury of twelve
men believe. his story or that of
thirteen year. old Pearl Summers,
who claims that the Reverend gen.
tleman was too intimate with her.
He will also know whether he is
to serve the state for q number of
years in the penitentiary at hard
labor.
The trial began on Thursday of
last week, and today, one week
having passed, the verdict is not
had. Judge Martin is presiding
in his usual careful and even tenn
pered manner. Prosecuting At
torney McBroom, assisted by
Judge o. w. H. Wright, repre-
sent the state, and Attorneys
+. d. Ricketts, and C. V. Wright
represent the defendent.
The jurors in the case are: John
Altman. Murray City; Nelson
Karshner, Salt Creek township;
Thomas Fitzpatrick, Murray City !;
George Hunsacker, Starr; George
Holl, Logan; George Bailey, Laur-
el; c. Hansley, Logan; Conrad
Pletch, Green; W. S. Harsh, Ben
ton; Loren Devol, Monday; Chae.
Aabell, Sand Run; Jacob Kane,
Perry. There has been about one
hundred and, sixty witnesses testi-
fed during the trial.
The Importance of the case is
manifest, at least in the opinion
OF the court, because among his
first orders was that the jury stay
together, and not separate during
the whole trial, and placed with
them Bailif Tom Collins, and the
fact that the jury on yesterday
went to the scene of the alleged
crime and visited the prem 'ses, is
evidence that the court attaches
much Importance to the case. In
fact, the case is one of almost life
and death to the defendent, be
cause to be doomed to the peni
tentlary in his condition Of health,
is to be doomed to death.
The case is based on dates
from June of-this year until Aug
ust II, when Rev. Boyd went
away, none knowing where he was
for fully two months. Mr.. Boyd
had been the United Brethren
preacher in Gore for more than
two years and had been very sue.
cessful as a revivalist. and his life
and ministry had been without
blemish or blame until this time,
when stories began to be circulat-
ed about he and thirteen.year. old
Pearl Summers, a young member
of his church, and companion of
the preachers daughter. The
father of the girl, Melvin Sum
mers, heard. the tales going the
rounds and the stories that the
preacher would meet the girl in
the cemetery or in the woods near
the cemetery, and on the menor-
able 5th day of August last, he
was ON his way to his work and
met Rev. Boyd going toward the
woods and towards Summers
home. 1t did not make it any
better for the feelings of Summers
when he had passed and was far
on his way, to see the preacher
look back after him, supposedly to
watch il he was going on to his
work in the mines a few miles
away. Summers went on to work
and in the evening took ms daugh'
ter to task about the preacher,
and with the aid of the step moth
or, extracted from the girl the
story that the preacher had beer
intimate with her on several oc
easions. The irate father admin
istsred very severe correction tt