Waynesville, Feb. 11—Guilty of manslaughter was the verdict returned here Wednesday by the jury in the case of Melvin Messer, charged with the murder of his wife on January 17th. Immediately after the foreman of the jury had announced the verdict, Judge John M. Oglesby of Concord sentenced Messer to serve 18 years at hard labor at the State penitentiary. The jury had been out nearly 24 hours.
In sentencing Messer, Judge Oglesby stated that he would not give the defendant the full penalty allowed by law for manslaughter, but on account of the advanced age of the prisoner would sentence Jim to 18 years. The law fixes 25 years as a maximum.
Messer contended that his wife fell while in an intoxicated condition, returning from their son’s home late at night, striking her head against a sharp rock. The prosecution, however, attested that Mrs. Messer came to her death at the hands of her husband.
After the jury had been dismissed, Messer was taken back to Haywood County jail preparatory to the journey to Raleigh, to begin his sentence. His attorneys filed notice of appeal but later said they did not believe the appeal would be taken.
From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Feb. 12, 1926
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073201/1926-02-13/ed-1/seq-1/
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