The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-03-22
MIDNIGHT FINDS NOLTE JURY
STILL At ITS DELIBERATIONS

agreed that the instructions should
be given the jury. with the under
standing that every instruction be
read.
Eve should also like little en-
lightenment about the penalties, the
foreman asked.
THE jury has nothing TO say re-
garding the penalties" Judge Robin
son answered, except as concerns the
first two forms OF verdict given YOU
Under the first form for first degree
murder The penalty is hanging. Under
the other form for murder in the first
ldegTee the prisoner would be confined
in the penitentiary for life. AS to the
penalty under The other forms. the
jury is not concerned"
With this information, the jury re.
! turned to its room and remained
there until the bell on the city hall
sounded the midnight hour.
Crowd Stays Till Midnight.
Undaunted by the tlrrSome wait, n
crowd that packet the court room to
its capacity waited all night for the
verdict that is expected to mean
either the punishment for life of the
slayer of Lee Ritz or his freedom be-
cause Of insanity. Counsel for both
sides in their arguments had urged
upon the jury that they could return
no compromise verdict,
During the long hours, Nolte waited
in the Jail, part of the time conversing
with his mother and sister, part OF
the time conversing with the turn
keys, jailers and deputy sheriffs in
the office where he was allowed 10
await the jury's return.
There is no mstaking the fact that
the ordeal Of ten days has told upon
Nolte, and he is far from Che un-
shaken healthy looking man that he
was when his trial began. He is still
apparently cheerful, however. and
canyerses on any topic that may be
under discussion in his presence as
as he talked in the court
room whe he was answering questions
or chatting with those about him dur
Ing recesses in the trial.
A Bitter Arraignnent-
Branding Jack Nolte as 4 ''damnable
bluck-heartcd, jealous murderer, who
sat apparently without shame on tina
witness stand and placed upon his aged.
Borrowing mother the responsibility for
his condition: who stood upon the grave
of his father and laid to him the blame
for his crime. and who even sought TO
hide behind God Almighty in his at.
tempt 10 excuse his crime" Prosecuting
Attorney y. 4. Mckee yesterday after
noon, in IN address consuming about
two hours. completed the task of sum-
Although he has suffered for a week
with hoarseEcSs and sore throat. the
Prosecuting Attorney spoke clearly and
inhinchingly. and his plea was one Of
the most blood-CurdlinE arraignments
of man accused or crime ever heard
in Ohio rOunty's criminal court.
The prosecutors picture OF the life
and deed Of Jack Noltc was far different
from that Of Attorney Frank A. O'Brien.
chief counsel for the defense. who the
night before had plcad for the accused
AS @ man afflicted with a curse from
God which rendered him irresponsible
Tor his decd
My picture as shall attempt to
show it To YOU. the prosecutor said, IS
a vastly different ono.
Pictures the Crime.
TT seems to me that about thrcc
Years ago while Lee Ritz was youth
in his teens. lust blooming into prom
Using manhood. with n bright career be-
fore him, that his satanic majesty swept
down through his Ohio valley. seeking
TO do some foi:l deed. Discovering this
camp al n point IN the rive: which Eor
have heard 50 much about. / would point
ont to you that he crnpt stca;thily in
there. and sought an ",nissary whom he
might commission To fast"n his fanEs
mon the youth who was destined to be-
como the hero: Of Wheeling High school.
and there he selected and gave :hat
commission to Jack Noltn. And bear in
mind. gentlemen. that Ire Rites lips
arc sealed in death and We shall mover
know from him the battle that Lee Ritz
made TO escape those awful fangs We
can never know from his mouth II the
story Of this foul assassin is true"
This decd Of Jack So1t"." the prose-
rutor declared. after reviewing portions
"f 'hr testimony, including Notes let
tcrs to Ritz. was nothing moro nor less
thum foul murder because Of Jealous
!os'c. This plea of insanity. which was
not introduced until after the Stale had
Ni;"wn clearly ali uf tn" facts winch are
clements o. murder after the defense
had declared that Nn!t" would show he
,rae MOI guilty is pr"dicat"d purely
uu"n ;hc elorr Of TIC defendant witness
VII" admit: that hr lind 10 III" states
str-r unnu which hn would have YOU
t,.,ii"v" him insane urtii hc was brought
tao" 10 fr"" with Justice ri The bar
uc This court"
Derorrccs Plea Of Defense.
l'"Hu,,nrint; ;hc plea that Noltc SUI
tered with ".clIr%" from God. Prosecutor
Mckee. '!rciaTcd:
.,;cntI"nicn. lcc r,r tell v"I with nh
III" sincerity thnt ! EuVn that h6llcT"
with all my heart that Almighty God
saved he life Of .IHrl. NOltr n TN"
Wheeling hospital .ont!"r that til" laws
iUv: 't"i :'rd i.nt ynU men l"' Giv"n nc
Opportunity - SAY lay y"ur verdict that
such :, lInsiurily decd aS this fnnl
ASSASSIN committed shall no; again he
u"rir'"t "atri within -" confines OF ONO
tn-Efi,-.'
Prosecutor Mckee. Xix" counsel for III"