Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1913-11-20
The wilson Trial in Charles Town.

In the Jefferson Circuit Court at Charles
Town on Tuesday the case of the State
against E. Graham Wilson was taken up,
with Judge ]. M. Woods on the bench.
Wilson, who is one of the most prominent
residents of this county, is charged with
having criminally assaulted Miss Kate
Turner. of Charles Town, while The latter
was visitor at his home near that place
on the 9th of last June. For the alleged
crime he was indicted at the present term
of court.
When the case was called Tuesday
morning there was large crowd OF per-
sons present in the court room and all
through the day every seat was occupied
by spectators, while scores of others stood
where they could see and hear the pro-
ceeding. The prisoner had four attorneys
to defend him: Capt. John L. Lee, q
famous criminal lawyer, OF Lynchburg,
Va; Hon. Marshall Mccormick, OF Berry,
vile; Clarence E. Martin, OF Martinsburg,
and Chas. N. Campbell, of Charles Town.
The State was represented by Prosecut-
ing Attorney George D. Moore and Col.
Forrest w. Brown.
There was little trouble in securing a
jury. The usual questions only were
asked as to whether or not the jurors
were related TO the defendant, if they had
scruples against capital punishment, it
they were preiudiced against the defend
ant, and so on. Only one man declared
himself against capital punishment, and
he was excused. From the regular panel
OF twenty jurors, twelve were found &C
ceptable TO both sides, only one man
being struck out by counsel. The Jury
as il was finally selected and sworn in
was composed of T. Lee Banks, J. 5.
Rightstine, Joseph l.. Walper, Roland M.
Hammond, Lee Markell, Jacob Coleman,
M. L. Engle, Garland Hefebower, c. w.
Snyder, Barthol Watson, H. H. Swimley,
and Thos J. West, Jr.
AT the afternoon session OF the court
the opening statement for the prosecu-
ton was made by Mr.. Moore, who clear
ly and conciseIy outlined the evidence as
it was TO be presented by the State, name
ly, that the assault had been committed
by Mr.. Wilson, as charged in the indict-
ment, on the morning OF June 9th last,
after having gone to distant part OF the
farm with Miss Turner. Captain Lee
presented the case for the prisoner, and
rather startled at least part OF those
who heard him by admitting certain al
legations of wrong doing, but declaring
that it was with the consent OF Miss Tur-
ner. His statement made the issue very
plain-tbat an offence had occurred, but
that the man was not more guilty than the
woman, and that she was not the victim
of violence.
Mr.. Wilson, the accused, preserved a
calm demeanor while he was in the
court room. He was pale for a time,
but afterward his face flushed as the al
legations were made against him by Mr..
Moore and as his own counsel made the
embarrassing confession as 10 his wrong
doing. He seldom looked at anyone in
the courtroom, but most of the time had
his eyes upon the floor or fixed upon the
attorneys. He was quite composed in his
manner, and showed little nervousness,
sitting almost motionleSS in his chair.
He seemed to fully appreciate the serious
ness OF his position. If he is found guilty
as charged in the indictment, the penalty
is death, unless the jury recommends i'm
prisonment, in which case the punish
ment is term of from seven to twenty
years in the State penitentiary. Wilson's
two brothers sat near him and listen
ed closely to the proceedings. Although
he has been in Jail since last June, he
looked well, and was carefully dressed
and we'll cared for.
When the opening statements had been
made, the attorneys for both sides agreed
that the jury should visit the scene Of
the alleged crime. Judge Woods &C
guessed, and the same afternoon the
jurymen, court officers and counsel for
prosecution and defense went TO tine Will
son farm, where they went over the route
taken by Nh. Wilson with Miss Turner
and inspected the surroundings that were
later TO be referred TO in the testimony.
Yesterday the entire day was taken up
with the testimony OF Miss Turner, the
accusing witness in the case. Her direct
examination was conducted by Prosecut-
ing Attorney Moore, who carefully elected
the facts as they had been stated by her
when the charges were first made. The
cross examination was by Mr.. McCor-
mick. Although If was searching one
and conducted with great professional
skill, Mr.. Mccormick was at all times
courteous and humane in his treatment OF
the witness, and made no attempt to en-
tangle her, even when he was most anx-
ious 10 bring out statements to weaken
the prosecution and favor his client.
His questions were at times necessarily
plain, but he was always considerate OF
Miss Turner. His attitude was favorably
commented upon by those who gave at
tention to the proceedings. The ordeal
was naturally most trying one for Miss
Turner, but she had evidently steeled
herself for the occasion and was firm in
her answers. With tour experienced
lawyers at least two OF them famous in
several States as experts in the handling
of witnesses, combined against her and
watching every utterance, her position
was one that called for great fortitude.
1t was the general opinion that she bore
herself bravely, and her story was not