Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-01-11
VERDICT OF THE JURY
Jury Returns a Verdict of Guilty
Against Fred Lehman, Charged
With Murder of His Wife, After
Two Nights and One Day DELHI
Grafton - Motion for New Trial
Filed.

After one day and two nights of
deliberation the sIry in the case OF
the State of Ohio VS.. Fred Lehman,
charged with the murder of his wife,
Grace, returned to the Court a YER
dict of guilty of murder in the first
degree, as charged" with recommen-
dation of mercy, last Friday morning
The case was placed in the hands of
the jury of IL men Wednesday after
noon, Jan. 2, at 4:15, at the con-
clusion of Judge VOLTS charge. The
jury Immediately went into executive
session and arrangements were made
for lodging and boarding them in the
court house. The Red Cross ladies,
who were in charge of the cafeteria,
conducted in the basement of the court
house, consented to furnish meals for
the jurors during the time they were
in session, and cots for them to occu-
py at night were placed in the court
room.
The Court waited patiently through
the day Thursday and there seemed to
be feeling Thursday evening that the
jury might report at any moment. At
torneys and press reporters fingered
about the court house corridors and
in the offices all day, but no word was
received from the jury. At S:15 Fri
day morning Deputy Sheriff McQuil-
lin, who, with Bailiff Poorman, acted
as outside guards and attendants, was
notified that the jury was ready to
report, and the Court was convened
to receive the report. Sheriff Boone
brought Lehman into the court room
and seated him between the attorneys
who have waged the legal battle for
his defense through the five long
weeks of the trial. Lehman's bear
ing and face gave no indication of
any mental strain; to a casual obser-
yer he bore the air of a person who
had no particular burden on his mind
and nothing to worry about. His
brother-in-law, Henry Griesinger,
came into the court room, went to
Lehman, shook hands with him. and
took a seat near him. His sister, Mrs.
Henry Griesinger, remained in the
clerks office; no other members of
Lehman's family were present.
At about 8 by the court room clock
the jurymen filed in the jury box.
Judge Wolf called the courS to order
and asked the jury if they had agreed
upon a verdict. Ira Fraker, foreman
of the jury, rose and answered in the
affirmative. Mr.. Fraker handed the
verdict to Clerk Davis B. Johnson
who handed it to the Judge. Judge
Wolf read the document through, then
handed it back to Clerk Johnson with
the direction to read it. A pin droI
might have been heard in the court
room as the clerk read the verdict
"Guilty of murder in the first degree
as charged, and we recommend mer
cy."
The Judge directed the clerk to cal
the names of the jurymen, and eacl
as his name was called, in answer tt
the question as to whether the verdict
as read was his individual verdict
answered, "Yes."
The jurymen all showed signs Of
WEAKNESS and mental strain. Judg'
Wolf in discharging them, thankeC
them for the close and careful atten
ton they have given during the prog
ress of the trial, complimente& then
upon their strict observance of tn
instructions of the Court, and assure,
them that their long deliberation be
fore returning their verdict indicate,
that they had given the case thei
most careful thought and judgment
Lehman bowed his head as the yer
dict was read, but other than a les
assured air as Sheriff Boone con
Quoted him back to the jail, there wa
no display Of emotion.
Friday afternoon, Lehman was Wis
tied by his family at the Jail and Sat
urday morning his attorney, F. E
Fowler, filed a motion for a new tria
giving II reasons why a new tris
should be granted.
Monday, the Court set Tuesda!
January 10, at o'clock a. M, as tn
time for hearing on the motion.
Owing to the present unsettled cor
dition of the case it has been impo.
sible for the clerk to compute the cos
of this trial Up to date the figur
is $3,0S8.2S, apportioned as follows
Jury ss......... 20 SoS.lO
Witnesses ........... 898.6O
Stenographer ........... 10000