The Indianapolis Journal

INDIANA AND ILLINOIS NEWS

Charles Smeltzer, One of the Alleged Ladd Murderers, Arraigned for Trial.

W. T. Pettit to Be Tried at Crawfordsville in October-Printer Charged with Forgery--Illinois Republican Convention.

INDIANA.

Proceedings in the Trial of Smeltzer, One of the Alleged Ladd Murderers.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Muncie, June 23.-Charles Smeltzer, the second of the men charged with the killing of Eli Ladd, colored, of Moreland, Henry county, was arraigned for trial in the Delaware Circuit Court this morning on a change of venue, with Judge Mark E. Forkner and Charles Hernley, of New Castle, Rollin Warner and Gregory Silverburg, of this city, as his counsel. Prosecutor George Cronner has for his assistants W. O. Barnard, of Henry county, and Ryan Thompson, of this city, who are looking after the State's interests. A venire of sixty men were present with the regular panel of twelve, and the day was spent in examining them with a view to securing a jury, but when court closed this evening all the men had been examined, and but eleven were left in the juror's box, with chances that a majority of these will be discharged before the required persons are found. Judge Lotz ordered Sheriff Swain to have another venire of sixty men in readiness at the opening of court to-morrow morning. Nearly every man examined had heard or read the particulars of the killing, or trial of Lake, the first one tried, at New Castle, and but few were in attendance who did not know the particulars. The prosecution seem positive of their case, saying the evidence against this prisoner is the strongest of all, he being, they say, the man who fired the fatal shot. The defense is equally positive that the innocence of Smeltzer will be made plain. The Rozell brothers and Smith, the other three men charged with the crime, are here as important witnesses. Smeltzer's young wife and his aged mother are at his side. The evidence in the case will not be commenced until some time Wednesday, if then, as some think it will require the examination of half the voters of the county to find twelve eligibles who will serve.