The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-01-28

William Thomas, negro. must answ-
er for the murder OF his wife. Freda
Thomas. with his life. unless the de
cision rendered by the jury yesterday
in criminal court. Is set aside, or sent
ence Is committed. Forty minutes
were required in which to and a YER
diet OF murder a. charged In the in
dictment without recommendation.
Thomas set stolidly. with ne'er a move
of a muscle. as Deputy Clerk Harry
Clouse read the verdict and polled
the jury.
Deputy Sheriff Henry Frohme SAT-
next the prisoner and as the verdict
was read. said, Il thought IL would
be easier on you nan that" Thomas
answered In the same International
dry tone. so did l." He was taken in
charge by Deputy Sheriff Tom Smith,
across the bridge OF signs into the
jail where he VIII await action on the
motion for a new trial TO be argued
February 13. al the Jail. yesterday at.
t%ernoon. he broke entirely down and
for a time Il looked as II he would
suffer n nervous collapse. Reporters
were not allowed to speak to the
prisoner. Rev. w. II. Fields and Or.
J. 4. McCuaig wished to offer him
spiritual aid but were refused by he
sheriff owing TO the nervous condition
of the prisoner.
First In Fifteen Years.
Tho jurors received the case as che
hands OF the town clock pointed 20
the noon hour. after four m~asterful
speeches by the attorneys in the trial.
At 1880 o'clock. Deputy Sheriff
Thomas Smith entered the jury room.
and was informed that the jury would
like five minutes more time. Judge
Robinson granted the request. Nerv.
GUS eyes watched tie jury room door
as this 1--WE minutes rolled by. A rap
on the door announced TO those in the
court room. that the jury had finished
Its deliberations. aud VAS ready to re-
port. At 1885 o'clock. the jury filed
into the room and showed by their
countenance that another murderer
had been found guilty. the first FIRST
degree verdict rendered since the trial
of John Mooney and Frank Friday.
Tor the murder of Jim Hervey. OF Elm
Grove. several years ago.
One unusual thing concerning the
verdict was that instead Of the verdict
OF the court being signed. the verdict
was copied onto the Indictment and
signed by the foreman. A stiffness as
OF death. prevailed the court room "a
the large crowd waited a~nXiously for
the clerk 10 ind the verdict and an
u the finding. Many realized
that the death penalty had been de.
cided upon by the expression on the
faces Of the Jurors.
a conference Of the attorneys was
held and Il was decided TO argue the
motion OF Attorney Sheridan Moore
for a new trial. February 13. Prose
cutting Attorney n. NJ. Addleman r.
confident the verdict will stand. and
does not believe that the defense can
show any reason. whatsoever. why
the condemned negro should not an.
Fwer for his brutal crime with his
life.
Forms for Verdict.
Six forms weer submitted to the
jury for its consideration. anyone OF
which could be brought In. The nrst
was murder in the first degree a.
charged I'm the Indictment. without
recommendation for clemenrv. the
second "a murder I'm the FIRST degree
with a recommendation for cIemenc@
the third was second degree murder.
the fourth was voluntary mansIaupht.
or; the fifth was involuntary man.
slaughter. the sixth not guilty. The
FIRST form 81 verdict was agreed upon.
judge Robinson Instructed tho jury
IN a legthy sweeping manner. cover.