The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1911-04-06
MURDER IN I'd DEGREE

Is the Verdict in the Clarence Teale
: Case. Motion for New Trial
Filed but not Passed on yet.
The jury in the case of Clarence
Teale, charged with the murder OF
Mrs. Bertha Zornes at her home in
Long Creek township, on the night
of Dec 7, 1910, returned verdict OF
guilty of murder in the second de-
gree at 8 o'clock last Thursday even
ing, having been out since 1880 that
day. Word was quickly circulated
that the jury had agreed on verdict
and when the jury came into the
court the court room was packed, as
it had been all through the trial.
When the verdict was read the de-
fendant did not lose his composure'
evidently having been prepared for
the worst. His attorneys at once
gave notice that they would flle
motion to set aside the verdict and
for a new trial and Judge Maxwell
gave them until Monday to file the
imotion. The motion as filed, to-
,gether with the instructions of the
court to the jury, are published on
page six of this issue.
= At the time The Reporter went to
press last Wednesday, the attorneys
were engaged in making the argu-
ments in the Teale case. The first
argument was made by county at
torney E. H. Sharp, who presented
review of the evidence in clear and
concise manner. He was followed
by Marion Woodard for the defense,
who presented the defendants view
of the evidence and was followed by
C. w, Hoffman, of the defense, who
made a masterful plea for the defen-
dant, covering all of the evidence,
and the law, and 1t was the e1ort OF
his life. The arguments closed with
the plea of v. R. McGinnis for the
state. and he made one of the most
eloquent and convincing arguments
ever heard in the courts OF Decatur
county. Mr.. McGinnis was at MS
best, and throughout his argument
the court room was packed by an
audience who wanted to hear every
word he said.
Judge Maxwell adjourned court
Friday afternoon until Monday and
went to his home at Creston, but by
agreement a second adjournment was
taken until Wednesday morning on
account of the illness of Judge Max
well. When court convened tnls
morning the case of State VS.. Glenn
Leedom, indicted for rape, was taken
up. and the work of securing jury
was commenced, and Judge Maxwell
stated that he would not take up the
motion for a new trial in the Teale
case until the Leedom case is dis
Dosed of, and this will take couple
sof days, SO that ruling on the mo-
fion will not be made before Thurs
day evening or Friday, and IN case IL
Il oyerruled, sentence will be pro-
nounced at once.
n After the verdict of the jury in the
Clarence Teale case, the attorneys
for Hugh Teale, Ed and Roy Young
asked that they be admitted to bonds,
and Judge Maxwell granted the re-
nnest. fixing the bond of Hugh Teale
At $4,000, which was given Friday
with A. H. Teale, H. l.. Teale, }. "A.
jackson, T. c. Gorsuch, Perry Scout,
J, A. Woollums, l. N. Cox ana fred
Teale as sureties, and he was releas-
ed from Jail and went to his home IN
Kellerton the same evening. me
bonds of Ed and Roy Young were
fixed at $4,000 each, and they were
given Tuesday with w. A. Ramsey
and Walter Briner as sureties, and
both were released from Jail and went
to their home near Dekalb the same
afternoon. No effort was made TO
secure a bond for Tom Young, and
he will remain in Jail until his case
comes on for trial at the August term
of court.
There was much speculation as to
what the Jury in the Clarence Teale
case would do, in view OF the cOn1es-
sion of Tom Young that he was the
one who struck Mrs. Zornes outside
the house. the fear being expressed
that hung jury might result. But
the Jury as well as the general pubic
evidently took little stock in the story
3of Tom Young. 1t is said that on
the first ballot the jury were about
equally divided on the question OF
returning a verdict of first or second
degree murder, there being no doubt
in the minds of the jury, however, of
the defendants guilt the Jury
agreed among themselves to keep
their proceeding secret, but it is re-
ported that six or seven ballots were
taken before the verdict was agreed
mon, and the verdict was in the ma
ture Of a compromise on the degree.
The trial has attracted the greatest
attention and interest of any case
tried in Decatur county for many
years, and the verdict of the jury
seems to meet with popular approval.
Court News.
The case of Charles A. Luce VS..
Clarke county, which came here on
change of venue, was tried before
Jury Thursday and Friday. 1t was
4 case wherein the plaintiff claimed
4 uos hecanse the hoard of super-