Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1829-09-09

and led him up the hill, at which pOlnt
young Hillary lost sight of them.
When the drove had proceeded about
three fourths of a mile, Swearingen over
took il. riding at a moderate gate, with his
child in his arms. He asked the droyer
his name and where he was from. Alter
which he told him his wife had been thrown
from her horse, thathe was afraid she was
dead. and wished him TO take his horse and
ride to Cresa2 Town and SEM Robert hIle
to him Immediately. Which the droYer
did.
When Kile came to the ground, he was
about passing the road leading to Swear
inpen's farm, when he heard whistle, and
looking in that direction, saw the accused
sitting by the dead body. She was lying
on the side ofthis by road about hundred
Yards from the main road and about a
quarter of a mile from the place where ac-
cordinq TO the statement Of the accused the
horse fell with her.
4 Coroner's inquest was held the next
day. which determined that she came to
her death by an act of Providence. The
death happened on Monday. fairgrounds
were explored on Wednesday, by severa
persons who commenced their examlna-
tons at the point where young HILLARY lost
sight of the accused.
At this place it was supposed he lett the
road. and the track of a horse was traced
by some persons through a laurel thicket,
over the hill, coming out into The road
where the corpse lay, about fifty yards
above the place. They discovered also a
place by the side ola log, where the leaves
had been pressed down, forming a hollow
in the leaves. On the log was 4 stone.
At little distance they discovered where
horse had been hilched, a little further
club APPARENTLY cut in hurry. The leaves
of the bushes in the direction of the track
were spotted, as some of the witnesses
thought, with blood. On this subject there
was some contrariety in the evidence
Some of the witnesses did not think they
we're the tracks of horse, and one thought
there were no tracks at all. There was a
difference also among the witnesses about
the appearances in the woods, some think
ing that all of them we're natural aPpearan-
ces to be found at all times in the woods.
The accounts given by the accused were
very contradictory. He said to all that
she was killed by her horse falling with her
in the main road, but TO some ne stated
that she was killed dead, to others that she
was killed BY falling from the horse after
he had put her on for the purpose oftaking
her to some place of safety. To some he
said she fell when the drove came in view,
to others that the last Of the drove was
lust getting out of sight when she fell.
/ A I'd inquest was assembled on Thurs
day night. The body was disnterred ard
examined by physicians, who at first tho't
that from the putrescent state Of the body,
it was impossible to assign the cause ofthe
death, aud gave such an opinion in writing
to the inquest. They afterwards came to
the conclusion that her death was occasion
ed by suffocation. There vas also differ
ence of opinion among the physicians OK
ahmed. One of them giving it as his de-
cided opinion that no judgment could be
formed as to whether she was killed by sui-
location or not, without an examination
of the lungs and brain, neither of which
we're seen by the examining physicians;
the others thinking that the swollen and
turgescent state of tho neck and face sufi-
cendy indicated a death Justification.
His flight was proved to have taken
place Immediately after the second inquest
was convened and summons was issued
for him by the Coroner.
1t wa, proved that the knees ofthe horse
were injured, and several witnesses swore
positively that the injuries were not coca
stoned by the horses falling, but we're cut
with knife or some sharp instrument.
The final sentence ofth law was pro-
nounced on Monday last, by the Hon.
JONI Buchanan, who accompanied 1t with
the following PREDATORY remarks, with a
copy of which we have been politely fur
nished, by particular request
Upon a full and minute Investigation
before a jury of your countryLcommensu-
rate with the character Of the offence with
which YOU stand charged, and the awful
consequences ofconYiction, you have been
found guilty Of the horrible crime of muir
der in the first degree; and it has become
my painful duty as the organ ofthis Court,
to pronounce the solemn aad appalling SEN
tence ofthe law
Ofyour guilt, not a shade OF rational
doubt Is perceived TO exist.
Three different Juries have pronounced
you the murderer Of your wife; the jury of
inquest, the grand Jury that found the in