Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-05-24
MURDER WILL OUT
New Evidence Coming to Light in
the Lehman Case - Confederation
of Testimony of Flickinger and
LAYER = Box of Cartridges Found
Attorney Reveals ''Scenes Behind
the Curtain"
..Mnrder Will OutIn

the Curtain"
Murder Will Out!"
Two witnesses have come forward
since the Lehman trial and corrobor-
ated Flickinger and Laver as to Fred
Lehman's purchase of 22-calibre re-
volver in Delta a few weeks before
the murder. And yet the one in
stance or circumstance that the State
was unable to establish was an i'm
portant one, and with it the proof
would arise above beyond a reason
able doubt" and to absolute conclu-
sion of guilt. That was-What be-
came of the other cartridges in the
box of so purchased with the re-
volver? On the Lehman east porch
stood cactus plant. Friday, the
present housekeeper at the Lehman
home, was stirring the dirt in the pot
holding the plant, when a "22" cart
ridge came to view. The Mills, who
figured so prominently in the trial,
were called over. A search revealed
43 live cartridges-the box having
almost wholly rotted away. Six like
chamber was empty. A "test" cart
ridge had evidently been used and
thrown away. It is well to bear in
mind that in passing from the bed
room to the milk house, where the
revolver was found, one would pass
the cactus plant pot.
There are always, in tragedy like
this, certain "scenes behind the cur
tain"
In view of the fact that new trial
now would be suicidal, and of the
greatest public interest, l have con-
cluded it proper to raise the curtain"
As matter of fact, known to both
sides during the trial-for full state
ments of Mills were taken by both
State and Defense before the trial
Grace Lehman lay in bed with her
night dress up around her body, the
bedding pulled to the foot of the bed,
the night dress with no blood on it,
but two small blood spots (such as a
pin prick might make) on the pillows.
The night dress was that "best"
one that women usually have laid
away. 1t was kept upstairs. The
pillow cases were embroidered Il
think, m-stitched) and the sheets,
her best. These also were kept up
stairs for use in the guest room.
None of these were mussed.
A short-sleeved, dirty night dress
such as Grace usually wore = prob
ably taken off that Sunday morn
ing, was in the closet.
A bloody night dress, sheet, and
tick, were washed on Tuesday morn
ing on the east side of the orchard,
/! while the Halls were all absent. Near
by was the rug that usually was un-
der the kitchen table, where the
crumbs were found. The State could
not show whether this rug was
washed or not-but it was with the
other washed articles.
j None of this was developed at the
trial. The reason will be given later
in this statement.
In my opinion, Grace was killed at
the kitchen table while eating lunch,
, and then put in bed. Unfortunately,
the post mortem did not cover an ex-
animation of the stomach, and thus
doubtless throwing much light on this
l subject.) When the blood had ceased
!, ding was changed, and the night dress
! slipped over her head-she being held
1 up-but the fact that it did not cover
her limbs and that the bedding was
not over her was overlooked in tht
= darkness Mrs. Mills said the lamI
i i chimney was cold.
Any student who is familiar will
: the fetish or superstition among tn,
: Egyptians that called for the cleans
u ing and barbing of the body of ;
4 slain person by the culprit as al
atonement or precipitation for tn,
Il crime, and appreciates that in som,
: uncanny manner we find old fetisl
e practices and superstitions cropping
Il out today in types of low mentality
= will readily understand the nnotiv
e that moved the murderer on that darl
: night when the fires of hell wer
> ahame in his soul, after the deed wa
~ done.
q AS a matter Of fact the State di
e not show but that Grace's positio
u and surrounding was other than 0
ii one who had been shot while sleepin
and who had never made struggle
IT The defense made no attempt t
l. show otherwise, but added to tn
ID proof of the State the testimony @
IS the Lehman family that the windo'
n was up.
n A short time after the murder tn
y west side of the screen in this mort
I'd window was torn cut and an old bal
e. rel was found sunken somewhat int
the ground beneath the window. /.
man standing on that barrel an
shooting through the torn windo
screen would have made wound ju!
like the one that killed Grace-a Ii
tie down; little forward.
John Winn is both shrewd and hol
est. The Indifference of the State
the situation the defense was car
Ae fully developing aroused his susl
ys cion. Just before the Defense w:
We ready to open in answer, he learns
OF we had a photo of that window wi
=; Is; the screen in place and no barr.
= 1lu taken a few days after the murde
nc John Winn was too square a lay
p yer to attempt defense on su,
III lines, and Fred Lehman can thai
W John Winn for saving his life. HI
y that defense been offered it doubtle
would have meant the chair. No Ii
re- ing lawyer could have done MOI
y His judgment at a critical tiT
81 in the case stamped him as lawy
!g; L.7i sagacious and alert, even in defei
- u But in the dilemma and confusi
ne a. resulting, the defense overlooked. t
1e- fact that in developing the situati
above stated, without they went fl
ther and showed she was shot throu
the window, they had permitted
condition to appear that was ms
n damaging-they were sitting on {
@ @lee Mantle.
he. The State had intended to exple
are, are that in argument, but the jury anti
ut ii L. -