The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-23
WOLTER MUST DIE
IN EXP|AT|ON OF
GRUESOME CRIME
Slayer of Pretty Ruth
Wheeler Sentenced
to Death.
TRIAL MARKED BY
MANY HORRORS
Prisoner Maintains His Stolid
Indifference to the Very End.
Refuses to Make Statement;
Wants Only to sleep-Will
Be Sentenced We'd
nesday.

new NOTK, ipT1I -s1---NiueTt MOltcTs
n degenerate youth OF nineteen years.
was "crnay'' about women, must die In
tile electric chnir for the murder OF
Ruth wheeler, II pretty fftcen-ycar-
old stenogrnpher.
After only one hour and fifty minutes
of deIibcrntiOn, n Jury in the Court OF
Special Sessions found him guilty OF
murder In the first degree nt 10:30
o'clock to-niglt, bringing to n close n
trial marked by it's swift movement
and Its testimony of horrors.
The boys counsel said with eloquence
this afternoon that Wolter was too
tender-hearted to harm cat, but
twelve men decided that he had stran-
| sied Ruth Wheeler and had thrust her
while yet alive in his fireplace, where,
| soaked with oil. her crumpled body
writhed and burned.
Asleep In Cell.
With the same waxed-faced indif-
ference that he had shown throughout
the trial Woiter evinced no emotion
when the verdict was announced.
With almost inhuman complacency. hr
had been asleep In his cell-and sleep
ing soundly-whiie the jury was de-
liberating on his fate. This was made
known by a court attendant who said
that he had to rouse the prisoner to
bring him into court. He will be
sentenced on Wednesday.
The jurymen themselves showed
emotion, while the boy who must die
showed none. As the jurors filed In.
the prisoner was led into the room and
took his seat facing the Judge His
face was the color of putty, but his
complexion Is naturally unwholesome.
land It's asfiness was accentuated by
the brilliant lights OF the court room.
When asked IL they had found Ser-
6i:t. William V. kuIp. foreman of the
Jury. answered in shaking voice. we
have" He then announced that he and
his associates had found Wolter guilty
OF murder in the first degree. All eyes
Immediately shifted toward the pr1s-
oner. tut he was as stolid as piece
OF stone. AS he was handcuffed to the
officers. preparatory to being taken to
the Jombs. vhe gazed about him uncon-
cernedly, then wob bled away with his
custodians.
Alone Among Strangers.
No relatives OF the murderer or or
his victim were in court to hear the
verdict. His aged parents were IN
court during the afternoon. but as he
heard the decision which means death.
lie was alone among strangers. Efforts
were made to get statement from
Wolter on his way to the Tombs but
he refused to talk. II don't want to
talk tonight. | am tired, and 7 want
to get little good sleep first
The last chapter in the fight to save
Wolter from the electric chair began
at 4.S0 o'clock this afternoon. when
Wallace d. Scott, his lawyer. began
summing up for the defense. Both
sides had rested at 1880 o'clock, after
the shortest defense ever made in
notable murder case in New York.
Wolter was the chief witness. He un-
derwent severe cross examination at
the hands Of Frank Moss, the assist
ant district attorney. When he had
finished. court was adjourned until
30 o'clock for the summing UP.
AS Mr. Scott began, VOTERS parents
appeared in the court room for the
first time since the trial began. The
mother burst into convulsive sobbing
as she saw her boy led into the room.
VOTERS Indifference during the
trial. his callous facing of the grue-
some exhibits. and his lack of emo
tion during the heartrending testi-
mony of Ruth Wheeler's DEATH tho
lawyer strove to emphasize as point
in his favor. This very ndiffer-
tive of the boys innocence; If guilty,
the ordeal with such composure,
Not "Grcnt Criminal."
The assistant district attorneys ar
raignment OF the prisoner was scath-
ing "He Is not n great criminal
said Mr. Moss. .'TIe is Il dangerous
perverted character and II
scourge to the community
"There is no unexplained circum-
stance here" he continued, There
was never a case in which every cir
was SO straight pointed,
That child was not dead when she was
nut into the hames, He put her In
the fire with her clothing on. we may
infer, and poured oil on her clothing.
In the hand was hair which was not
hers, She fought her assailant. She
angered him and he put her to deata.
He left no victim ro tell what he had
done in carrying out his original In
tent"
Judge Fostor. in his charge laid
upon the provisions OF tilc
court, that when a person is engaged
in committing criminal assault and
murder. he is punishable for
murder In the first degree,
"Ask yourselves" said tho court
"who killed Ruth wheeler. II you
answer the defendant ask yourselves.
Was she killed by him while he was
engaged in committing a felony upon
hero
III YOU answer In tho Affirmative.
then You must nnd the defendanr
guilty of murder In the first degrec" I"
circumstantial Case.
IT was exactly 7:lo o'clock when
Judge Foster ended his charge and tlse
Jurors filed out. Tho case In their
hands was circumstantial one, and