The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1918-02-21
VAIL MURDER CASE.
Trial 81 George vail for Mp1dsr Of
Wife, Begun MondsS.

SutAC 0oy MOuuoy was toNSu up WAsN
the examination of the sixty venire-
men from which the jury was select
ed, forty qualifying. The following
gentlemen were finally selected for
jurymen and the case proceeded to
trial Tuesday afternoon:
Glenn Gloyd, Geo.~J. Moore, Ben
Coates, Thomas Callahan, J. w. Dar-
BY, B. p. Powell. w. P. Miller, N. l..
/ Shockey, Matthew Evans, l. M. Kret-
singer, "A. M. McCracken, Charlie
Walker.
Prosecuting Attorney w. B. Daw-
son made the opening statement to
the jury, outlining the history of the
case and giving to the jury synopsis
of the facts which the state intends to
prove in order to secure the. convic-
ton of Vail upon the charge of first
degree murder. Mr.. Dawson was fol-
lowed byT. w. Silvers of council for
the defense.
The Testimony.
Frank Archer, the first witness for
the state testified that he was the
undertaken who had charge of the
remains of Mrs. Vail. He described
the condition of the body which was
nearly nude and described the
wounds in the head which consisted
of circular wound about one inch
in diameter at the back of the head
and larger, longer wound above and
behind the left ear. He also stated
that there was a wound at the edge
of the left ear that was semi-circular
in shape. The hair was matted with
blood. Said he saw nothing to indi-
cate skull was crushed in, although
the bone was shattered along channel
of wound. He was present at
the coroners inquest and saw a
probe passed into one wound and o''t
the other. The body was not en-
balmed
Lieut.. c. J. Allen, who as coroner
held the inquest, testified that he ex-
amined the wounds. wh;c.. ksJesf
cribed; stated the wounds were about
4 inches apart; that scalp was not
broken between wounds, although
skull was shattered between wounds
so that it was possible to follow
probe with knife without cutting
the bone. He said the probe passed
from one wound to the other without
obstruction. He said the wound
might have been caused by a for
eign body passing through the skull.
Said the skull was very hard.
Louis Kershner who was member
of the coroner's jury described the
wounds and told of conversation with
Vail regarding the verdict of the jury
that the wound was that of gun
shot. Said Vail replied that ut does
look like it but | am innocent; but if
they prove me guilty I'll have to
stand for it." Vail told him of some
loaded shells on the kitchen cabinet
which might have exploded and
caused the wound.
Geo. Pahlman, cashier of the Bank
of Amsterdam testified that he as
agent wrote the insurance on Wallis
household goods. Said Vail told him
he had a large quantity of flour and
sugar. Saw no evidence of burned
flour after fire except small quanti-
ty of substance that might have been
burned dough. He said Vail had
always born a good reputation.
Said something woke him the night
of the fire and he heard loud re-
port; heard John Braden cry Walls
house is on fire.; heard another loud
report; reports sounded like gun
shots; put on clothes and went to
Vail house where he saw Vail in the
front yard. Saw Jesse Thornbrough |
and John Braden bring body of Mrs
Vail out of house and saw clothing
burst into flame. Braden and Thorn
brough laid the body on the ground
Is or 90 feet from the house. Heard
Mrs. Vail murmer. Saw Vail with
the little girl at one time. Saw Pat
tee put blanket over body of Mrs.
Vail On being recalled tc the stand,
Mr.. Pahlman testified as to location
of house and where witnesses were at
the time.
c. w. Mills. of Tonkawa. Okla,
testified that in May, 1910 he was
ieweler at Dre&el and sold Me- Van
a diamond ring for $50. Vail paying
sac down. Did not remember who
paid other $Io, being sick at the time.
Did not recall conversation with Vail /
and did, not know who ring was for.
Engraved two letters on ring but did
not remember what the letters were
Recalled to the stand later, he testi- |
fed that he did not know vad was
married and thought he was buyias
m engagement ring and congratu- II
lated him. Did not remember what |
Vail said but thought he jollied about
{.
John II. Braden testified he lived
10 feet from Walls. north. on the
iaane side Of the road. Was at home
lixht Of fire and be and vile had |
inst bathed chiIdren and put thsm te
Aed. Heard report that soundea !
.tF "a