The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-04-20

! New York. April i9.-The jury box in
| the WoIter case. on trial before Judge
/ Foster. was filed to-day. That means
quick work. because one Of the Jurors
/ selected yesterday was excused on ac-
count Of III health, and consequently
six men had 10 be examined and accepted
/ to-day.
In his opening address. Mr. Moss, as
sistant district attorney occupied only
half an hour. He said that much Of the
States evidence necessarily would be
circumstantial, and because OF that face
/ he urged the jurymen to be especially
alert, patient. and thoughtful In follow
/ ing all evidence, even II some OF il
/ should &c repellant or even greWsome.
lie then related the facts made I'd
miiar by accounts OF the crime-namely
that Ruth Wheeler. a girl OF fifteen.
/ living with her widowed mother and two
sisters in West 13+th street, having COM
| pleted a course in stenography. in a
commercial school, answered a postal
card request for a stenographer made 70
the school and signed by Wolter. This
quest for work took her 20 the rear
apartments on the fourth floor of the fur
nished room apartment house. POI East
! Seventy-ffth street, and she never came
back
Goes TO VOTERS Room.
Her absence from home prompted her
sister Pearl TO search Tor her. and in
her search she. too. went 20 the room
occupied by Wolter and the young
woman, Katy Muller. While she was
/ there. saws Moss. Wolter, In the pres
! ence OF the Muller woman, grossly IN
/ suited Pearl and so frightened her that
she attempted 10 leave the room. but
/ found the door locked She escaped only
/ by her ready wit in asserting that police
men were waiting for her In the hall
way. whereupon Katy Muller unlocked
| the door
| Mr.. Moss concluded by telling Of the
/ finding on, the fire escape outside the
/ window, Of the half burned and mutt
| lated parts Of a young woman's body,
which. he said. had been positively iden-
/ titled as that OF Ruth Wheeler.
| The first witness called was an archi-
/ tect. Walter VulkerinE. who identified a
drawing Of the rooms on the floor Of the
/ house Wolter had occupied Then the
Young attorney assisting in the defense
/ demanded that the state elect which OF
the two counts in me Indictment It
would try. but Mr.. Moss declined then
to elect.
The attorney for the defense then
moved 70 dismiss the Indictment because
II did not alIege that Ruth Wheeler was
human being Judge Foster declined
TO dismiss
Scene of Tragedy.
The second witness. a professional pho
tographer. II. L. Koh identified a num-
Der OF photographs ne had made OF the
scene Of the tragedy. These included pic
lures OF the fireplace in which the body
Of Ruth Wheeler. as the state alleges,
was partly consumed and a view or the
yard. taken from the window Of the Vol
ter room with the hre-escape included.
When these exhibits had been admitted
and examined by the jurors. Mr Moss
called Mrs. Emily Wheeler. mother OF
Ruth. She testified that Ruth was fifteen
two photographs Of the young girl taken
on her fifteenth birthday. Then the Wit
ness was asked 70 tell Of her last inter
view with Ruth. which was about S
o'clock on the morning Of March q
The girl. eager 20 find employment.
started 10 leave her home without an UNI
brella, but her mother, noting that It
was an overcast day. called her back and
handed her umbrella to her.
And do YOU recognize this as the UNI
brella Ruth took with her on that day?''
Many Objections Made.
This was a signal for two and half
hours Of almost uaceasing objection by
Mr. Scott. attorney for Voter
Finally the pale and sorrowfuI faced
mother was permitted to say that the
umbrella, afterward found in VOTERS
room. was hers and that she had given II
90 Ruth when Ruth set out In her hunt
for employment. Under the same circum-
stances the witness identified a necklace
Of beads and a little gold ring found
with the remains as having been orna-
ments worn by her dead child. Then an
| assistant passed to Mr. Moss from the
great bundle OF physical evidence. a little
box which the States attorney appeared
TO be reluctant TO open. But he did take
of the cover and holding it near the
witness. asked:
do you recognize that as Ruth's hair -
The tortured woman said that il was a
braid Of hair which looked like Ruth's
and was braided as Ruth braided hers.
There was-nO cross-eXamination.
John Mohl, who Is landlord OF both
the houses thus far brought into the
story. corroborated that OF the other Wit
nesses regarding the grewsOme bundles.
| lie also told OF the search on Friday,
| March =. Of the VOTERS apartment by
| three policemen. The three policemen
had searched as thoroughly as they knew
/ how for any signs or evidence which
would lead TO an explanation Of Ruth
/ Wheelers disappearance. and all the
while they searched. her mutilated and
half burned body lay on tho fire escape
within reach OF any Of their hands.
NEW PASTOR WELCOMED.