The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1914-09-25
THE WEHMAN MURDER
TRIAL NOW IN PROGRESS
jury Sworn Monday. With Evidence
tuesday and Wednesday.


The case of the State versus Frank
DietzeI, charged with the murder Of
Geo. Wehman on the night OF July IL,
was called Monday morning at the
courthouse in Union City. The court
room was crowded, Herman Dietzel,
Sr., and Jr. appearing in the seat with
the defendant, the murdered mans wife
and daughter in another seat near the
Judges stand.
Rice A. Pierce, chief counsel for the
defense, entered motion IN plea Of
abatement and an affidavit for contin-
uance Of the case, but the court over
ruled all such motions, and after plea
Of not guilty was formally entered the
case was Immediately opened by the
examination OF venire Of two hum
dred talesmen summoned to appear and
court proceeded speedily. The main
difficulty in the examination Of venire-
men was that they had generally read an
account Of the coroner's inquest OF this
murder in the newspapers. Judge Jones
read an extract from Bill 24S enacted
BY the General Assembly Of Tennessee
in 1909, Immediately following the
Nightrider trials here, stating that not
withstanding a person presented as a
juror in criminal case may state that
he has formed and expressed an opinion
as to the guilt or innocence OF an ac-
cused based upon newspaper statements
still be may be competent. Newspaper
reporters here came in for some COM
ment.
The jury Of twelve men we're selected
after the attorneys for the defense had
exhausted their fifteen peremptory chal-
lenges. Major Hal Homes, Of Tren-
ton, examined the veniremen for the
State, his services having been secured
by General Caldwell as chief counsel
for the State, Mr.. Caldwell's health pre-
venting him from conducting the case.
Miss Wehman was represented by Lam
nom & Stanfeld.
Court opener at 8 o'clock, adjourned
an hour for lunch at noon and did not
adjourn in the afternoon until six
O'Clock. The court room was filed all
day, some standing in the aisles, The
twelve jurymen selected we're A. l..
Harper, ]. Matt Call, w. M. Roach,
j. Mckinney, Jesse johnson, s. T..
Blalock, ]. F. Ferguson, A. ]. Pr'lett,
w. Hart, w. A. Jones, Kirk Wells, D..
G. Mitcherson. All Of them are farm
ers living near town except Mr.. Pruett,
who is well contractor. Mr.. Jesse
johnson had new baby at home and
begged to be excused from being jury
man, but Judge Jones, after congratu-
lating the young father, thought that
he had best take his place in the jury
box.
At the close OF court for the day
Clerk Golden, Of the Obion County
Court, swore in the jurymen and they
went to supper under guard Of Deputies
w. A. Hutchens and @. B. Hawkins.
The Evidence.
On Tuesday morning the courtroom
was filed with spectators by the time
Sheriff Mathes cried the opening OF
court. Many ladies we're in the audi
ence, and interest was ntense-through-
out. A heavy rain fell about ten
o'clock and the closing OF the windows
made the air uncomfortably close. The
defendant appeared with his attorneys,
Pierce 4 Fry and ]. A. Whipple. Miss
Clara Wehman, daughter Of the MUIR
dered man, was also present, and among
the many witnesses sworn she qualified
also to give her evidence in the case.
Probably fifty or more witnesses were
sworn and ordered to retire, while the
evidence was being heard.
The charge Of murder in the first de-
gree was read to the jury by c. N.
Lannom, Of the firm Of Lannom &
Stanfield, counsel for Miss Wehman.
The testimony began with Ed Dunn
Oh the stand as follows: Dunn, who
keeps boarding house where Wehman
lived, is a miller and his residence is on
the east side Of the city near the Postma
greenhouses. BE testified that Wehman
came home late Saturday afternoon
from work on July IL. He had been
painting as usual and cleaned bis hands
and arms with scrub brush, which he
kept for that purpose at the hydrant.
He ate his supper and paid Mrs. Dunn
his weeks board. SIS nsiiver. after sup
Der at the table, putting back roll OF