The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-04-23
Jury Quickly Finds Nineteen
Year-0Id Albert WOlter
Guilty of Murder.
ASSAULTED YOUNG GIRL
AND BURNED THE BODY
Defendant Shows No Signs of
Feeling When Verdict Is
Announced.

NEW YORK, April 22.-Albert wolter
a youth of 10 years. who gloatcd over
lewd pictures and was "crazy" about wo-
men, must die in the electric chair for
the murder of Ruth Wheeler. a pretty
15-year- old stenographer.
After one hour and fifty minutes OF de-
liberation, a jury In the court of special
sessions found him guilty of murder in
the first degree at 1890 o'clock tonight,
bringing to a close trial marked by
it's swift movement and Its testimony OF
horror
The boys counsel said with eIoquence
that Wolter was too tender hearted to
harm a cat, but twelve men decided to-
night that he had stranged Ruth Wheeler
and thrust her. while yet alive. in his
fireplace, where. soaked with oil. her
crumpcd body writhed and burned.
Absolutely Indifferent.
With the same waxen-faced Indifference
he had shown throughout the trial, VOL
ter listened 10 the verdict With almost
lnhuman complacency he had been found
asleep in his cell while the jury was de-
llberating. He will be sentenced We'd
neSday.
The jurors themselves showed emotion.
while the boy who must die showed none.
w slSu uShcu IL lDSI lOuHu IL vel
dict. William V. Kulp, the foreman, an
swered in a shaking voice. 1--WE have
and announced they had found Wolter
guilty OF murder in the first degree. All
prisoner. He was stold as a piece OF
stone.
Wolter refused 10 talk. al don't want
to talk tonight, I'm tired and want to
The last chapter in the fight to, save
Wolter from the electric chair began
when Wallace ID. Scott, his lawyer. be-
gan summing up for the defense. Wolter
mained on the stand tlroc hours.
AS Mr.. Scott began VOTERS parents
appeared In the court room for tho ilrst
time. The mother burst into convulsive
sobbng as she saw the boy led Into the
room.
"Circumstantial evidence is very dan
serous evidence upon which 10 convict,
said Attorney Scott instances have
where men have been mistak
emily convicted. This boy has not nerve
enough TO kin a cat let alone human
being
''He is not great criminal" said AS
sistant District Attorney Moss: ''he Is
a dangerous criminal perverted char
acter and a scourage to the community.
Evidence Conclusive.
"There is no uneNplainable circum-
stance here. There never was q case in
which every circumstance was so
II was exactly 7s10 when Judge Fos-
ter ended his charge and the jury flled
out. The crowd today was the largest In
the criminal court building since Harry
Thaw was on trial for his life, Men and
women struggled for places. gowns were
torn and hets were crushed In the hight
for points OF vantage
When Wolter was led back to his cell
one young woman pressed forward and
attempted 10 hand him rose. y court
officer brushed her aside.
Robert l. Montgomery, lessee OF fiat
adjoining Woller's, today told Attorney
Foster privately he had received let
ter Offering him $100 If he would testify
in substantiation OF the evidence Of Kate
C;ills.
Ruth Wheeler was killed March "a
Failing To dispose OF her body In the
fireplace. Wolter cut it apart and left the
bust and head wrapped in burlap on a
FIRE escape. whence II was pushed into the
yard below, He was arrested March 26
and placed on trial Monday last He de-
MED knowing Ruth Wheeler, but testi-
mony showed she had been sent to his
rooms. expecting 10 obtain work as n