Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1854-05-24
rninful Homicide.

as we can at this time.
John Dilworth and ADDISON Bumgard
ner have been for number Of years en-
gagged in a law suit, involving n small
farm on the head waters of Simpsons
creek. In 1851, we believe, the suit was
decided in favor Of Dilworth, but Bum
gardner applied for and obtained an in
junction to stay the proceedings. At the
last Circuit Court for this county, the in.
junction was set asida, and Dilworth put
in possession Of the property by the She
riff. through his deputy, E. G. Reed.
A bitter luminosity has long existed be-
tween the two men. which was increased
when the Sheriff elected Bumgardner
from the premises. Bumgardner had fire.
quently threatened DiIworth and renew
ed his threats on this occasion. Dilworth
anticipating a disturbance, borrowed a
revolver previous to starting with the Of
6cer for the residence of Bumgarder.
After the family Of Bumgardner had
been ejected from the premises. and Dill
worth placed in possession, an arrange
ment was made between them that Bum
gardner should be permitted to return the
next day and remove quantity Of corn
which had been left.
It was while Bumgardner was there for
the purpose Of removing the corn that the
fracas occurred which led to his DEATH
We give the statement Of Mr.. DilworLh.
who came to town, gave information Of
for his own arrest Immediately after the
termination of the ARRAY the evidence
taken before the coroner's jury, and the
verdict of that jury. There are some cir
cumstances which tend TO substantiate
Mr.. Dilworth's statement, which was, in
substance as follows:
That when Bumgardner and ShiAct, a
man who was assisting him, returned to
the house for the second load Of corn, and
found him. John. there, instead Of his ia
Their, William Dilworth. whom he had
seen in the morning, he (Bumgardner)
came iI1o the house, and making some
threatening remark, pulled off his hat and
coat, and advanced upon him (Dilworth)
from towards the door, with an axe, at
the same time winking to Shihet to get be-
tween Dilworth and the window. Bum
gardner struck Dilworth with the axe,
causing bad wound on his head, and
stunning him for an instant, and was
about to repeat the blow when Dill
worth rushed in and clinched him. While
they were thus scufaing, and Bumgard-
ner still endeavoring to again strike Dill
worth with the axe, Shifet came up be-
hind Dilworth and seized him by the feet,
and endeavored to pull him loose from
Bumgardner. Dilworth finding that he
must fall to the floor, and believing that
Bumgardner could and would kill him,
he drew his pistol and fired. That they
then disengaged, and Bumgardner went
out doors and told Shiaet to go and get
his gun, that he would kill the Id
rascal yet. After going home and ha-
wing his head dressed, he started for
town.
Such is in substance the statement of
Mr.. Dilworth. The affidavit of Shitlet
will be found below. Diiworth remained
in the custody OF the officer at the North
Western Hotel from Wednesday evening
until Saturday, when lie was committed to
Jail. He will be examined by a called
cou't on Monday next. Shidet was ar
rested on Thursday morning. and is now
in Jail, charged with being the accom-
plice of Bumgardner in attempting to kill
DiIworth. The Called Court will sit on
his case on Saturday next.
The following is the evidence 81.
ven before the jury to hold an inquest
over the body of ADDISON Bumgardner,
May 18th, 1854:
John ShyRet s10orn.-Yesterday morn
ing, l and Mr.. Bumgardner went to the
house where Bumgardner formerly lived
to shell corn. We found VIM. DilworLh
there. We shelled our corn and took a
load Of corn to the railroad-then return
ed to get another load. AS we returned
from the railroad, we stopped at the old
house TO ges an old axe to pound the
corn. When we got to the house the Sc
cond time. We found John Dilworth in the
house before mentioned. We went in
the house to go up in the left to get
more corn. and John Dilworth said we
should not go up and get The corn. Then
Mr.: Bumgardner said he would. for he
had the privilege from VIM. Dilworth.-
Then Mr.. John DiIworth got up. went to
his coat and got his pistol, and then pre-
sented it at him. Then Mr.. Bumgardner
said if he would lay down his pistol he