The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1933-03-30
GUILTY OF CONSPIRACY
AND ATTEMPT TO DEFRAUD
Jury Renders Verdict On Sixth
Count Against Henry Menke;
Case Was Hard Fought
OTHER CASES TAKEN UP

With Chief Judge D. Lindley Sloan
presiding, the second week of the Cir
cult Court for Garrett county con-
vened Monday morning when the GRIM
inal docket was called and a number
of cases were disposed of before the
Court sitting as jury, while one or
two traversers demanded and were ac-
corded trial before jury.
The most important proceeding be-
fore the court was the jury trial of
Henry Menke, indicted along with
Noah Moon for arson. Arrigned, Moon
entered plea of guilty, while Menke
asked to be tried before a jury, the
case being called Tuesday morning.
To secure a jury more than thirty
talismen were summoned by Sheriff
Haenftling. In choosing the jury the
State challenged eight and the de-
tense challenged twenty talismen. The
jury was completed early in the after
noon of Tuesday with Floyd Utter
back, of Mountain Lake Park, fore
man.
Menke's indictment charges him
with having set fire to building for
the purpose of participating in di-
vision of the money paid by a fire
insurance company in settlement of
the loss sustained by the destruction
of the furniture in the building.
The chief prosecuting witness was
Moon.
1t was brought out during the trial
that at Cassville, West Va, Menke
owned row of houses, one of which
was burned one night. 1t was also
shown that after residence of eleven
days at a point in Pennsylvania all
of Menke's household effects were de-
stroyed in a fire which consumed the
dwelling occupied by him and for the
loss alleged to have been sustained by
the destruction of his furniture an
insurance company paid him $500.
Menke is under bond of $1,000
for his appearance in the Monongalia
county West Va.) Circuit Court on
an indictment charging arson.
The case was given to the jury yes
terday afternoon and this morning
about ten o'clock that body rendered
its verdict of guilty on the sixth
count of the indictment which was
set out as an attempt to defraud an
insurance company and conspiracy.
The verdict gives the court power to
impose a sentence of from one to five
years in the Penitentiary.
The case was hard fought by States
Attorney Walter W. Dawson and E.
Ray Jones, who appeared with the
States representative, for the prose-
cution, while the traverser was rep
resented by w. R. Offutt, A. T. Mat
thews and Shirley Taylor, the latter Of
Morgantown.
Other cases heard and determined
during the week are as follows:
Laura WEIGHT, Oh near OWdHIOIl, SAFE
of liquor; plea of guilty entered; $500
fine or six months in the House of
Correction. Sentence suspended for
one year in each of two cases.
James Hinebaugh, Deer Park, sale
of liquor; plea of guilty entered; fined
$500 or six months in the House of
Correction.
Charles Fickes, indicted for burg
larizing a house in the vicinity of
Swanton and stealing therefrom lot
of furniture belonging to a Mrs.
Friend, entered plea of guilty as
charged in the Indictment.
Mary Coulter, sale of liquor; second
offense; $3.50 or months on the pres
ent indictment and months for hav-
ing been convicted a second time.
Both sentences were suspended by the
Court.
Adam DeCost, manufacture of liq-
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