Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-10-01
From the American Times.
Trial of Robert swann..
HAoEnsFowN, Sept. 26, 1883.

was Quick 10 resent an Insult; never heard of his
being dangerous man, or that he carried wean-I
ons never heard his character fortruthS question.
ed: knows DR., Moore, "a witness whose tsstno-
nv in behalf of tile State was put at iSsue;) new
CT heard his yeracity doubted; witness had seen
Swami shortly alter being sent TO Jail; Swami said
he had killed Sprigg, amt deliberately; and that
SO ittwns to- be gone. through with agains he would
not hesitate 10 do toYer; said thnt the gun used
had been loaded 10 meet Sprigg on the meadow;
he seemed quite excited; be talked rational; said
it was the result of something contained IN let
ter by Dr. Scolley, (the last paragrapl;) witness
from his pro lessiona knowledge, did MT consider
Swami insane when llewas linking to him; tegatd-
ed the excitement -ewas under us natural re- /
sult,ofthe killing. re ga IS
BY Defence-Swann said the gun had been
loaded by Capt. Thomas, with cartridges, brought
by him for the purpose. of fighting Sprigg, whom
he had challenged. Sprigg was quick in quar-
rel, and prompt TO resent an insult. Witness ney=
er entertained particle offeeing against swami
had, and now felt deep sympathy ior mn; haa
said that violated law shouldbe vindicated; would
feel sorry at Swann's beng executed; was absent
at the time of the killing, attending the Leglsla-
ture. .arsa
Orlando D. Robbins called-About week af- |
ter Swann's being in prison, visited him; told him
ii was reported that he.was either crazy or drunk
when he committed the deed; to which Swami
replied, that he was neither. -'
VIM. Weber called--Knew Sprgg; his charac-
ter was that of being easily excited, andWhen so
he might be CalleQ q YlOl6uL LlHHS " get 1ulO
quarrel with him would most likely lead to fight,
as ne would strike quick; he'd strike and readily
make up; of forgiying disposition; never heard
his veracity questioned, knows DR.. Moore, his
character for truth is good. aaoas..ar
James W. Jones called-Saw two persons onthe
Mineral Bank Steps on Sunday night; supposed II
was Sprigg aud Swami the night was very dark
about 9 o'clock; had never said positively it was
them; judged oEthemfrom their size.
BY Defence-It was SO dark could mt tell whelh-
exuhita nr black .-hau told Mr.
jordan, next morning OF having seen these two
persons, whomI supposed TO have been ASprlgg
| and Swami. 7At-5aetJ
John Kingo called-Knews prgg; he was quick
to resent insult; never heard his character for
ver.Icity doubted, but aman who would doubt his
word had better be getting out of the w"y.-
] Knows DR.. Moore, never heard his character tor
/ yeracity doubted. ss.-s- a..
DR.. Dougherty called-.Was at the ball on22d
JanuSIy; did not see any difficulty between Sprlgg
and Swami; saw Sprigg next Saturday; lie said he
| had cotton himself into scnpe; asked meto act
/ as his friend; SAID he had spit IN Swanns lace
i aud some friend had told him Swami had arms
! hinselfto shoot him., said tyOu know | never car
ny arms, not even penknite, and | wish you 10
get me double barreled pistol;' told him would
do so; took him into my otiicej, then locked the
front door and went out the backdoor. SpEgs told
me If l saw Henry Atkinson, 10 send him 10 him;
l.whiIsto out saw Swami going up the street; wit
ness watched him, saw him go into a barbers
shon under Barnum's hotel, (kePt by Hetelhnger)
got a single barreled pistol from Mr.. Kennedy;
showed it 10 Sprigg, who said 1t wouldn't do;
went out to get revolver, went TO IrloeEts
store, who SAID Swami had been Their, and bor-
rowed one; wentto LEY ermams store, and got
one Of Alen's revolvers; got buck shot at Norman
Bruce's store; told Kennedy he'd procured II re-
yolyer, who said could fndp ow der at his Office;
loaded Sthe pistol at Kennedy'S, III presence oil
Sprgg. and gave 1t to him, telling hlmt was mere
~ for defence.
Sprigg said he had heard of Swann's intention,
and had 'no idea of being shot downlike dogj he
said he had insulted Swami, aud he wanted h,mto
challvnge him, and they'd fight it out i'll the uslI-
al way Went up the street before Sprigg TO see
i Swami, and tell him Sprgg was armed; Sprigg said
! could do SO; saw Spngg opposite my Office as
went to it; crossed over to MN, and we walked 10
:he hotel together. A sleigh drove up, Sprigghay-
lug promised to take some ladies out but he sent
it off, saying lie didn' twant to leave town until he
heard from Swami; that il he challenged he want
ed 10 he there to receive 1T when seen again,
said some person had told him that Swami had put
the matter in the hands of Mr.. Roman foe settle
Iment. Witness afterwards got Sleigh, anu 5. Tlsg
Is got in; Sprlgg said he had seen Swami, aud the
thin was likely to turn out rdiculouSlyj 1t was
before sun down; said he would tell all about II
after returning; and when back, he said he had met
Swami, and seeing him coming up, Sprlgg drew his
pistol, and Swami said, tNiy God, Will, don't you
shoot-I came to if this thing couldn't be set
tled;' that he put up his pistol and went up stairs
with him, when Swami askedIf should say he did
not intend TO insult him at The bail what he'd do
10 which SprIgg replied, Il will do anything any
gentleman will say was right;' thinks he said they
went and drank together. Did not see him again
until Monday night, and then met him on the cor
ner of Centre and Baltimore streets; Sprigg was
alone, it was about 9 o'clock; going TO my Of
i fee; DR.. Scolley came in about half hour af-
ter, Sprgg was not there; DR. Scolley enquired for
ISprigg; told him likely find him atNorman Bruce IS
Tor DIR. Perry's; wefolnd him at Perry's arranged
| to have an interview with him at my Office, told
i him for what we came, said he'd go up stairs 10
lexcuse himself TO the ladies, TO preventaarm; he
met us at my Office, and expressed regret at having
spit in SWann'S face; said he'd he satisfied with
whatever we would do, butif mt agreeing 10 the
terms, we might call on Mr.. McKaig, Mr. Srmmes,
and Mr.. Thurston, and TO prepare some plan OF adj
Ejustment, reSeryingto himself the right To- accept
Or reject whatever might be proposed, DIR. 3ScolIey
said he reserved similar right for Swami; 1t was
understood thattheSe reservations wererght; there
was an understanding as to tile mode OF giving
/ apologies, us to which should make the rst Sprgg
said the last insult must be first apologiSed for
/ Witness drew an apology; saw Swami, told him
he had seen Sprigg; Swami flung the draft Of apol
ogy aside wrote ole himself, part of whcllwasi in
the original; Swami directed that Sprigg should be
told that he had written it, SO as oreeve Scolley
of the responsibility; went TO hotel found Sprigg
| was not there. Next morning told them had not
seen Sprigg; this was Tuesday morning, and after
breakfast found Spngg with his cousin at my Of
fee; he refused to sign, aud suggested referring it
| to the three gentlemen Above named; showed him
an apology had drawn, and he said he would sign
that without hesitation, and requested me to tell
Swami if he did not settle it promptly, as between
the friends then acting, he would not receive an
other friend; said he was sorryfur the insult, and
that he wondered he didn't strike himat the insult;
went to Scoiley's office. where Swami was walk
ing the floor; told him that Spngg would not sign
| it, and Swami said docs he want me to commit
murder;' he; Spngg, objected to that portion of it,
in which Swami claimed the right to do lie pleas
ed with it; that he expected Swami to give him al
written statement as TO the ballroom affair; after
dinner, met Scolley, who showed an apology alter
ed by Mr.. Semmes; the Objectionable part was still
there but said should take it to Sprigg, did SO,
and Sprigg said he would not sign 1t whilst it was
there, though SAID twas gross insult he'd given
saw Swami again at Scolleys Office, and Swami
said will must sign it, for 'll take no other from
him.