Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1912-05-31
COMMONWEALTH VS.. JOSEPH
N. SHEETz

i
mary trial all day last Monday a
Woodstock attracted considerable
interest in view particularly of thu
publication by certain daily news
papers outside OF the county thai
Miss Getz had been seduced by the
defendant. 1t is but proper to say
that the Commonwealth protested that
1t was not commended by them that
the girl had been seduced, and no
evidence was introduced for the pur
pose of showing seduction.
| The charge contained in the war;
rant was that the defendant had
Illegally and feloniously taken, seiz-
ed and secreted Miss Getz an infant
under the age Ollie years, from the
custody of her father Mr.. Getz, the
father as witness gave an account
of his daughters visit to the home of
Mr.. and Mrs. Sheetz's for several
years, that he had permitted them to
60 to the home of Joseph NJ Sheetz
and wife until sometime last sum
mer when he forbade the children
from visiting there any more. In the
fall of the year the day of the
Manor's Switch Picnic, his two
daughters were permitted by his fam
lily to go over and do the milking for
MIR. and Mrs. Sheetz, and the girls
returning. as he thought late, he
whipped Miss DOME severely. The
girl stated upon the stand that she
was whipped by him with cowhide
until the blood ran. and that later
short time before she left her home,
her mother had whipped her, her
father holding and choking her, and
pulling her hair. The father and girl
both testified the father had threat
ened to send her to the House of Cor
rection, the father stating that he in
quired of attorneys whether such |
could be done. The father also testi-
fed that his daughter told him that
she intended to leave home. On the
I'd of May, the father states his
daughter left early in the morning,
and thereafter he did not see her I'M
til bout the time the warrant was
sworn out. The girl was found at
in Augusta county where
she was employed in a respectable
family.
The girl claims she ran off from her
home, and when she left she did not
intend to return. She went, she said.
because she believed and feared her
father intended TO send her to house
Of correction. She denied on cross
examination that anything improper
occurred between her and Mr.. Sheetz.
She said Mr.. and Mrs. Sheetz urged
ler to return to her fathers home,
out that she declined to co SO. The
homes of Sheet and Getz were in
sight of each other and the families
lad been very friendly until about a
year ago.
A number of witnesses were intro II
iuced showing the good character of
Mr.. Sheetz. Witnesses were offered
showing that Sheetz had taken the girl
o Augusta, the girl stating that he
ook her there at her instance, and
hat she was determined not to return
o her home for fear of bel ng sent to /
he house of correction.
The contention of the defendant is
hat nothing illegal was intended, but
hat the cries and appeals of the child
hat had been almost as one of their {
'wn family, led them to try to save
Ter from extreme cruelty, and the
House of Correction and to prevent ;
Ter from finding an improper home.
Counsel for defendant asked the
Justice to permit them to have con-
'ultation with the girl, to which objec- Ii
ion was made by the prosecution.
The Justice granted the request. pro-
vided the girl desired to talk with |:
hem. Upon question being asked. she
said, whatever my father says"
and the father promptly said, 81
object'
The Justice thought under the cir
the case was worthy of |
further investigation, and sent it to
the grand jury.
Messrs. Williamson and Walton
for the prosecution, and |
Messrs. Tavenner, Bauserlnan and |
Brumback for defendant.