Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-09-30

witness as coach agent; didn't Know TINT he as
sumed ;betteI behavior when witness was
about than when he was ABSENT heafd no COM
plants about hun, exc pt " nat grew out Of his ne
galty IN business; neyer ha better agent; claims
no relationship.
I DR.. Howard Kennedy called knew Sprigg for
eight OF nine yeass; never ultimately he Wss agent
for business in which witness was Interested;
never heard of hin as desperate, or his charac-
ter for veracity doubted.
BY Defence-Never heard him speak an unkind
VOID of Swami as gentleman. st,.s'as
David eallan recall ed-Sprig was regnrded.as
a peaceable mau, knew him about eight or ten
yeaFsJ he wouidyslEike quick, s7R
Pending further interrogations and answers
debate arose, growing out OF an effort 10 ascertain
whether witness spoke from personal knowledge OF
from local Tor general knowledge Upon the conclu-
sion of which the court adjourned.
EIaHTEENTII DAY-The Court met The judge
delivered an opinion integarda 10 the matter pre-
viously under discussion. 50
g. Mr.. Callan was then again called to the stang;
Sprigg's general character was that OF kih9
hearted man; quiet, impulsiye, generous; had
heard more against him in Court, than ever oelorej
had lived in and about Cumberland for hVe OF SIX
years. as Clerk in store and bar per- had new
er been before magistrate or Gout DesoLei
Sprigg had come into bar-room the morning OF the
shooting, and after starting the coaches lald nus
oyeI-coGt on a table, and witness hung IT up over
a place where he slept, and thinks II renamed
there until taken down by Mt. Wins. on next
morning; knew Of no arms about the coal, Knew
Dr. Moore, had never heard his word for truthiul-
ness questioned.zE3g tNfac5
BY sDefence-There were papers in, the over
coat, breast pocket; small iron rod, SAID to be q
pis :oI ram-Tod, was shown; can't say whether It
came out of the over-coat or fodnl ON the person
of the deceased; SPrigg was little heavier than
the prisoner. Some questions were put 10 witness.
by the defence, causing perplexlty' anu When
told to retire, he teniarked, in answer to former
eafa "A e10 CHI
as far in the ground as you thought you'd force
me-" Gov. Thomas made some reply, which was
lest amid tokens Of lnirth. sSil.s.'H
Geo. Cromwell, recalled-Swann, after the
shooting said if anybody wanted him, they could
find him at his Office, aud said that after tsclIarg-
ing his gun he pulled out revolver; did mt think
him crazy man; considering the oct he had done,
didn't think him much excited; had no personal
acquaintance with either of them, but knew
them. - it.--.sr-s 4,
Col Thos. I NIcKaig, calIed-Knew deceased
well; he was impnlslve, irrnsible, quick TO light,
and soon to forgive; not desperate, or dan9ee-
Gus, of COOL heart; not more disposed 10 snea
blood than other persons; Of very sensitive nature,
resent real or supposed insult; never heard his
varaciy questionetl NETS prigg and Semmes in the
street; SeInmes asked my opinion as TO the apollo
gy told them that the ball affair was not sufficient
provocation forthe insult given, and that Sprlgg
ought TO beg Tor his life; Semmes was gratiheds at
| the remark. Day before the shooting, Sprlgg came
to my office, with .etterS from DR.. Scolleys Mr..
Semmes and Dr. Dougherty, and the printed circu-
|, r, said Semmes child was i'll, aud he could not
approach him, and he wished my advice; he said
Swami had turned his partner in dance, and when
told that he was out of his place, Swami Replied
ttWhen want your advice, I'll ask it;" that lie
| did so again; when he took him by the arm anu
threw him off; that he went nextda 20 give Swami
an opportunity 10 explain or aploglSe, anu tnat
Swami didn't notice hun, and he spit IN his lacei
he spoke of the challenge aud other matters; said
he wanted these letters for publication, III answer
| 10 Swann'S, which gave the impression that Inc
apology was signed under fear, rejecting upon him
as towards; witness tried 10 give different inter
probation tothe offensive postscript, bul he was
determined upon the publication; witness advised
him then TO give simply plain statement without
Recommendations; he came and shnwed me his state
uIent Tor publication; attempted some eraSlves'
but he saii Swnnn had published him us coward
aud he felt compelled to retort.
ByDefence-If had known OF any friendly ap-
Proaches by Swami, should have attempted an adj
IjusIment % So. i...sa -is
BY State-I believed Sprgg penitent and anx-
iouS to1elieve Swami; Sprlgg felt he done wrong
and said he hal given the apology chsSrtully to
relieve Swami.
George M. schroYer called.-Kne W sprigg from
boyhood; he was impetuouS; quick to resent. fea-
dy to lorgiye not given to Dloodshedi never heato
| his Naracity questioned. -'-f e--A
BY DISTINGUISHING was very sensitive; never
4 heard OF his reSenting AL imaginary insult.
Andrew Green called-Knew SPrigg; never
i conside.ed him desperate dman; lie was lmPelu'
ous ready to resent an insult, and ready 10 make
IN: never head of his disposition 10 she'd blood,
nor of his being quarrelsone; he bore a god char
l actsr as to truth; saw Swami about the time of
the publication ofthe apology, with the note ap-
pended; he showed me copy across the dinner
table, aboutIhe middle of the week before the
shooting; asked him if Sprigg had signed il with
THE note attached, and he sad he did; afterwards
saw them pass each other on the street, but
heard nothing said by them: night OF the shooting
was in Of Cowton's Hotel, and SAID, y want II dls-
| tinctly understood that have killed VIII Spngg,
and want you all 10 bear testimony didn't APP
pear TO be crazy; looked usual; this. was about
! 20 minutes after o'clock; the printed circular
\ was not given confidentially; had remarked, when
Swami said Sprigg had signed it with The mole. APP
pended, thet 1t was very strange. Had, never
seen arms about Sprigg.
Cross. examined-Can say that tile establish
mentI was interested in, fUrnished coaches for
Sprigg's stableS;liVesin Baltimore now.
"A. B. WilIiSon dalleu-For three or four years
! associated with Spugg in his business; never
heard Of his being, dangerous man, or his truth
fulneSS doubted; after his death, or next morning,
in searching for papers of the business, took a
quantity from the breast pocket of his oyer-coat,
found hanging in the hotel and invarous drawers
in his chamber, and in the Office; never came
acrossany weapons, pistols, &c. 1t had been
supposed lis effort 10 get out the back door, wien
Swami came upon him, was to get arms from the
Office but he had none there Never hearl of his
carrying arms, except when he. once went to aid
in afresting some slaves runaway from Virginia;
there was little difference in the size ofSwann
and Sprigg the latter had crippled foot, on Sum
day saw Sprilg and Swami uear Co@ton's door,
a part; Sprigg narrated the affair; said Swami had
said he was not physically strong enoagh 10 fight
him, but he intended to challenge him, and not
receiving it, he had spit in his face, and then went
down the street and armed himself having head
that Swami was armed; that Swami come afler-
wards to The hotel, called TO hun TO come out,
vvh hen sI'm ready for Bob, when
Swami said, don't shoot, I'm came 10 havea talk
about the natter Swami wished him to go to the
stable, but refused; went up stairs, had no in
tention Of meeting Swami, for the reason that he
had spit in his face, and was sorry for it. Swami
asked ifhe apologised what course he would pur-
sue, and Sprigg told him he woulddo anything an
honorable man could do; that when they. parted
he understood twas TO be left with friends 10 set
tie. Sunday evening Sptigg got anote from Swami
they mel after supper and Sprigg told him of it;