573 Sheet – American State Trials 1918 Volume X Leo Frank Document

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Here is the translated text as follows:

ORRIN DE WOLF, 541

June 10.

Today began the trial of Orrin De Wolf. The first count of the indictment charged the prisoner with committing a felonious assault on William Stiles at Worcester on the fourteenth of January last, and producing the death of said Stiles by strangling him with a silk handkerchief. The second and third counts alleged that the cause of his death was a large quantity of a noxious ingredient, called first-proof gin, administered by the said De Wolf to the said Stiles.

Mr. Wilkinson, District Attorney, stated that it would probably be shown that death was occasioned by strangling, and therefore, the government would rely wholly upon the first count. The prisoner, having previously pleaded not guilty, had his defense assigned by the Court to B. F. Thomas and A. H. Bullock.

The following composed the jury, which was sworn: Abraham...

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Wilkinson, Ezra (1805-1882)

Born in Attleboro, Mass.; received his early education at Day's Academy; graduated from Brown University (A.B., A.M.) in 1824. From 1824 to 1826, he was the principal of Monmouth College, Maine. He studied law with Peter Pratt in Providence, R.I., and with Josiah J. Fiske in Wrentham, Mass.; admitted to the Bar in Dedham, Mass., in 1828. After practicing for a short time in Freetown, Mass., and Seekonk, Mass., he removed to Dedham, where he remained until his death. From 1843 to 1855, he served as District Attorney of the Middle District. In 1843, the office of Attorney General was abolished and not renewed until 1849, during which interval Wilkinson conducted ten capital trials. He was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1848 to 1849, 1851 to 1852, and 1856 to 1857; a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1853; and one of the judges appointed to the bench of the Superior Court at its establishment in 1859, continuing on the bench until his death in Dedham, Mass. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. See Davis, William T., *Bench and Bar of Massachusetts*, 1895, Vol. 1; *Historical Catalogue of Brown University (1764-1914)*, 1914.

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Thomas, Benjamin Franklin (1813-1878)

Born in Boston; member of Congress from 1861 to 1863; Justice of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts from 1868 to 1878; author of many legal treatises; died in Salem, Mass.

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Bullock, Alexander Hamilton (1816-1882)

Born in Royalston, Mass.; member of the Massachusetts Legislature and Senate for several terms; Commissioner of Insolvency in 1853; Judge of Insolvency from 1855 to 1858; Mayor of Worcester in 1859; Governor of Massachusetts from 1866 to 1870; died in Worcester.

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