The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-02-27

Inc trlal yesterday was OF a very
short duration and owing 10 the i'm
portance OF the ase made IL very
surprising TO the large number OF
spectators who crowded the court
room 20 hear the evidence.
The following was the personnel Of
the jury:
The jury.
Mentor HetZer.
G. NJ. Hood.
A. W. Baumberger.
II. =. Drum
". r. Cook.
J W. DauEue.
] W. Hall.
VI. l. Campbell
B.. L. Hammond.
Geo. T. Hall.
Chester Riggs.
W. II. Johnson.
Justification and self defense was
the plea OF the defendant in the trial
of William McClelland, charged with
the murder of George Ernst. October
"a. 1913. as outlined by Attorney
Martin Brown. counsel for the de-
PENDANT. The State contended that
II was murder in the first degree
and was premeditated.
Prosecuting Attorney ]. ID. Parriott
for the State. opened his statements
by saying that he would show that
McClelland had not lived with his
wife for the past year or more. That
Ernst's daughter had asked Mrs. Nc
Clelland to come TO the Ernst home.
They would also show that McClel-
land made visits TO the Ernst home
and spent nights with Mrs. McClei-
land.
Martin Brown counsel for the defend
ant. in his opening statement stated
t tsst cb 5Rs plea sm P5 @Si Euilb5y i6di S1y Si
did what any other man under the cir
cumstances would have done. He also
stated that they would show that Nc
Clelland had gone to the Ernest home
and asked for his children earlier In
the evening Of the night OF the shoot.
ing. and that Ernest threatened TO knock
out his brains with a ball bat IL he did
not leave his home. That MCClelland
went to his homo and secured his shot,
sun and went To the Ernest home. with
the Intention of getting his children
When he went there Ernst threw oper
the door and started for him with a bal
bat. striking the gun and as Ernst drew
back he shot and fired the fatal shot.
First witness.
sally ltoe'rs"r the nrst witness stat
! ed D. lived i1 Henwod. At the home OF
her father. George Ernst OF the evening
OF the gath 81 october. 1913. Z went
I into the home she said about 7:3j
! O'Clock we heard screaming and wen
into the yard and round Mrs. McClel,
land lying on the GROUND and Mr.. Nc.
got up and came into the house. Ne
! Clelland said. George Ernest I'll ger
you before morning" In fifteen min
utes be came back and Ernest openet
the. door. The shot was then fred an,
nothing was said. Following ! said, Ot
billy. you have killed Pa. lie said
That's what / wanted to do MIR. Rog
ersou then ~telephoned for the police.
heard the report of the gun. When
came back from a telephone I fouut
officer I,udlwick going to the house
Ernst had nothing I'm his hands whet
the door opened the second time. Mrs
I McClelland stayed at our house about
: one year altogether. I don't remember
any trouble with Mr.. McClelland ant
I Mr.. Ernst before the shooting
In the cross examination by ATTORNEY
J Brown, she said. Il saw the furniuur,
OF McClellands' In my fathers stor,
/ house. At this point the court called
Mr.. Browns attention OF addressing the
, q Mr.. and Mrs. McCIciland',
furniture was stored in our house II
don know where my is Go
answer To- a question regarding her hus
band. II was s.-0 o'clock when I heard
7 Mrs. McClcllaud screaming McCIeIaut
] came through the kitchen door ollowiul
the shooting and went up stairs.
never saw him any more after that
land on his FIRST visit TO our home
| Father had q bail bat on McCleuand's
hrst visit as McClellsud had broker
Windows ana chairs In our home be.
[ fore. Father told MrCleIIaud To tax,
his wife and McClelisud replied. Il
dou Z want her She worked around
, the house and also 20 e. u~sighbors nous,
and paid her board
Dr. Gaydosh. Of Wheeling sthe next
] NAtlfNNH lfNllIfu as follow
= was called 60 see McDlelland. and
another man was with him. Roth mon
! seemed excited and McClellaud said D.,
had taken bichloridc Of mercury tab.
lets , used n stomaDh pump. but made
. NO analysis ~ he contents 7 visited
him AZ Glendale hospital and my 0rir.
Ion b. that he had taken poison. Five
days afterward 7 thought was going
10 lose the patient, but DO recovered
lie was not crosH-eyamined.
Charles luEstou the nest witness
said ne was With umau OFFICER shell
don Iosephs and az that time told Nc.
them 20 school - met NcCIounud. %,
said. AT n barber shop on Nurfh Mar.
shall street Benwood Jo-cphs aisle,
MC'iell1ud 90 take his wife and chill
dreu and Mc'lsll1rd replied. . con
want anything 90 d' with them.
iiuWare OFFICER sheldon Jos"phs. o.
Wheeling said Do was called soycfa
times 90 Investigate conditions ~ thi
Mc'Ielland home. and calling at fh.
Ernest home no found Mrs. Mcclellan,
and asked her 60 send the cnIidr.u @,
-cuuIl afterwards learned Do
said. that The father ~ The children
zoe him at barber shop ana asked HIr
Co E"f His children Hud De- replied tFaI
L. d..u.t want anything tn do uitf
Squire RsidsI called.
rIuif. Irul E"id'l wns called end H.
t.. fili'd that Ernst bed come rY Hia
office pud nased him foo send 900 ufu...
Goo i.ruH-fa homo foo r.f .lIII N.ti''.
.Tr. H1 from flsr. The sIuIr. l.k.
Nr'IsII8rd and i. aaiI ha vH. TH.
squire then eaIi. 90 uri sou make Dog
leave q uNI rHf ODD H thing" Iruaf HN.r
replied .lf you don take Him Ulf ..
mN house uiI kII Iim TN. .luIr.
Them unfd .NrI George. fHHfH 800 fH
.Iu Ns identified fIs shot eHn and
fNr dsl"r.. admitted f.Ff fH. rrr bro.
lur'd was ff' run with which fHr aHu.f-
irr was done.
Hraain EE"rfUu was put ur fHl stand
and ahe stated chat go ala r.f lr.a.
wien NrrleIland Hud iis wife HtI .sn1.
rated.
TO- BLAKE and Coroner WsHYmhH u4a
ffsr called anil told about fHl r4fl-. I'D
fha fatal wound and the Inquest held
over fnH body. 50 fn. point fHs stat.
rested
MANY Hauw God citizens wen. fr.r u.f
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