The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-10-25
FARMER ACCUSED
OF STRIKING WOMAN

Accused Of striking Mrs. Leonora
Yost, wife of prominent Fairmont
Physician and seriously injurlng her,
Meade Ross, wealthy farmer OF Win.
field district. is OH trial today OIL u
charge OF assault and battery before
Judge George a. Vincent in interme.
diate Court. 1t is tile first criminal
case to be tried this term Of court.
According to The evidence as out.
lined by Prosecuting Attorney Tusca
Morris, Meade struck Mrs. Yost in a
fit Of anger caused when u herd Of
prize winning cattle was frightened
by DIR. Yosrs automobile near the
fair ground entrance in June, 1914.
In outlining The evidence for the de.
Tense Attorney john W. Mason, Sr..
former judge of the Gircnits Court OF.
Marion county; denied that his client
struck Mrs. 'Yost, declaring that il she
sustained any injuries 1t must have
been in some other way. John w.
Mason. Jr., is assisting his father Ia
the case.
Although denying that Meade
struck the woman, the specific charge
In the indictment, Attorney Mason in
his outline OF the evidence admitted,
that Meade had become violently an.
CRY when his COWS were frightened
by the automobile and that he followed
the car for half mile. attacking DR..
Yost. Mr.. Mason said that 1t was
dark when the alleged assault occurr.
ed and that It would be difficult to tell
who actually struck the blows which
injured Mrs. Yost. He said that a
man named Leslie, alias Johnston.
employed by the defendant. to lead a
bull, and about the only witness he
had 10 corroborate his denial of
striking the woman was In an insane
asylum suffering from mental derange.
ment and therefore incompetent 10
testify.
Prosecuting Attorney Tusca Morris
declared that Mrs. Yost Is permanent
ly injured as result of the blows al
legged to have been struck by Meade,
who is strong muscular farmer. 1t
is alleged that Mrs. Yost was serious.
ly III for six weeks as result Of the
injuries she sustained. A lump is said
to lave formed where the blow was
struck which. according 10 physicians,
will remain permanently. A number.
Of witnesses were summoned, includ.
ing physicians and others. TO cor.
roborate the contention of the state.
DR.. Yost, husband OF the woman in.
iured. was the first witness called by
the state.
Meade had driven his herd compos.
ed of AZ thorough bred cattle, includ-
ing cows and bulls, from the fair
grounds into the road leading towards
his farm, when DR.. Yost drove up be.
hind the herd in his automobile OF his
way to see patient. In the automo.
bile with DR.. Yost was his wife and his
son, Joseph Yost, now student In a
medical school.
According to the. testimony of DIR.
Yost he followed slowly. in his. car be.
hind the herd until he reached the
home Of his patient. a half mile down
the road. While he was in the house
attending the patient DR.. Yost says
that Meade came, up and started anal:
tercation with his wife and son who
had remained in the car. DR.. Yost
came out OF the house, he said, and
was knocked down by the angry far.
mer, who also knocked, down Mrs. Yost
with his fist and struck Joseph Yost,
the son.
Meade, according 10 his attorney,
was angry because several of his. cat-
tie had taken fright at the automobile
and run up a hillside. ,....,,'..
The jury hearing the. case. includes
William S. Miller, l.. F. Jones. Charles
Heller, John n. Koon, G.. n. Hale. T.
J. Simon, n. F. Conway. S. ]. .Sturm.
L. NJ Jones, J. NJ. Short F. NJ. Ten:
nant and Frank Baker.