Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1845-06-26
THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION.


The New York Tribune Of The l4th inst. pub
fishes letter from Monroe, tMiehigsD, } giving
minute details Of the strange occurrence in thar
vicinity which has been mentioned in our CO.
lumns. Il is one Of the most singular nara
tives We ever readss-Bati. Pal,
HE peEpe,rator OF this murderons as
sault is George Wells. son OF Rev. N. NJ.
Wells. formerly pastor Of the Church IN
Detroit. He seems 10 have been alienat
ed 10 some measure from his father and
bro,hers--one OF the laiter being a vsprihy
piehs ~nan of misplace, hardware deal
er, andin his shop. George has worked as
tinman during the wiA,er. He was a
bosrder with Mr.. Hall at the Exchange.
and appsren,fy on the best terms. being
regarded as a pleasant. rather visionary
and inefficient young man. He has for
some time been telling MIR. Hsn thai he
wished 10 60 into the fishing business on
Lake Superior. and showed bin 4 letter
from bis uncle, purportine4o be permits
sion To- draw on him for $4,000 ON the
18th Of May last About two months
ago. Mr.. Hall lent him $40. and on The
30lh May $3.50 more, TO be paid oa.the re-
-ceipt OF his draft.
On Wednesday evening last Mr.. Hall
and friend bad passed an hour a. the
house Of DR.. Landon, on going out went
to an ice cream recess, and were ealing
cream when George Wells came and
asked Me- Hall 10 go TO the bank as be
wished 10 deposit some specie. having
all confidence in, him, and being 10 The.
habit,of accommodating the country mer-
chants at unreasonable hours 10 enable
them to take the cars ;or boats, he went
There were apparently Two kegs Of spe.
Gle 10 a wagon, which w. said she bad
brought from Detroit. having received the
Graft and got it discounted. aud received
81 600 in coin. He said, also. that two
miles out be had upset, aud had another
keg which he was unable 10 lift into the
wagon. and therefore, had rolled ii into
the bushes. Having deposited the two
kegs. be persuaded Mr.. Hall to go with
him to look for the other. Arriving at
the spot where he said twas, they 90, out,
and searched-in vain. OF course While
thus engaged, a pistol was fred, and on
being questioned about il, Wells said he
was afraid 10 be outwith SO much money
without arms. and that The pistol was ac-
cidenially discharged.
Mr.. Hall was satisfied that nothing
could be done without light. They,
therefore, after attempting to'light paper
from pistol, returnedsto town apd pro.
cured lantern, and again went 10 the
spot and renewed The search. After a
time, Wells suggested that they should
look farther in The woods. The light as
then suddenly exiinsuished. aud i'm.
nediately Wells shot Mr III. in the back,
about an inch andta bsif TO the left OF the
backbone. Strange as il may seem, he
did not yet susReerany yillany, bu. as he
rose lrem the ground hessaid to Wells,
}You have bit me-get Tie wagon"
taWells did so, aud, without offering any
assistance, gotsin and drpye toward The
city. Mr. Hall showed back the seat and
lay down ID the wagon. When near the
town. WSilstried 10 drive into tie river as
is supposed, to drown his vfctim,) but
Mr.. H., becoming aware Of this move
mept, asked what be was going there for.
Wslls said, "Oh, you are faint / want
to get you some waier'' H. told him
be did not want waller, and asked him
to drive home as sooG as possible. They
then drove into the city and when near
the.bridge across the river, Wells, under
pretence ef giving him more room, goi up
and passed behind the seat, and immedi-
a,ely shot H. again, apparently placing
the pistolsgainst bis head one inch behind
ihe~Ie ear. Both these balls are yet 10
him-one in his left lung. and one in bis
head somewhere back OF the mouth.
Mr.. Hall. though stunned, did not lose
bis consciousness. bat feigned death. for
fear Wells would finish him With another
shot. On approaching the bridge, W.,
who was now out Of the wagon aud tro.-
ting behind, stopped The HOSES when Mr..
H.. ordered bin TO go on TO the Exchange,
where they boarded. w. pretended the
harness wanted fxiag. H. charged him
with having done these deeds Of violence
on purpose. and demanded that as he had
but few minutes 70 live, be shouideo on
= Wells went on, but not Fasa requested
but took another street. As this was ne al
Halls sisters dwelling, H. waited till they
arrived atthe corner, near the house, when
,,he agaifaordered Wells to stop. He made
no reply, but urged the horses on, when
Mr.. H.. observing him 10 bold the reins
with the left hand and putting bis right
hand in his pocket supposed be was a.
gain drawing the pistol 10 complete the
work Of death. He. therefore, made a
desperate struggle and threw himself out
Of theswsgon on the right side, wells
vas walking on the left. and struggled
assbesl be could TO his sisters door, where
be burst in and fell welieribg on the floor.
In the darkness, Wells seems MOTTO have
seen H. get up.
Mr.. Keith, husband ofsrH's sister, i'm.
mediately AROSE and went for help, en-
countering the assassin. DO was apparent
~ looking for Mr.. Han, aud, seeing
Keith. asked If he was H. He was in
duced 10 go for one physician while Keith
went for another. The physician was so
struck BY bis manner that be refused 10
ride with him, sind saw him throw away
a pistol, which has since been found.
These are the principal facts, though
there are very many corrsboraiing. The
kegs we're filled with sand. aud brought
from Detroit in thai condition. Wells
bad cord and.a pair Of moccasins in the
wagon. evidently intending to XIII Mr.. H.
and conceal the body. take the bank key.
rob the bank, and leave the impression
that H. had committed The robbery and
absconded- AItis proved thai he lad three
charges 10 The pistol e revolver Of six