The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-04-18
WHEELING WEST VA WEDNESDAY, MORNING. APRIL Is, 1866

! ter for the inquirer, STOOD around Int
table in quiet groups, bending then
ears to catch every word that was said
| The prisoner was perfectly cool and
collected, and during the lengthy cross
examination he went through at the
hands of the Mayor, exhibited the
greatest selE-possession. He answered
every question in the most unreserved
manner, and stated Mt one time that he
had nothing whatever to conceal.
AT one time, when the Mayor put n
question to him regarding his family,
| the prisoner became melancholy and
slightly agitated. His face colored and
eyes were moistened with tears but they
quickly passed away, and he resumed
his manner of stolid indifference.
1t was the snbject of general notice
| that during the rigid examination at
the hands of the Mayor, the prisoner
did not contradict himself in single
instance. He spoke broken English
with tolerable distinctness, but occas-
iOnally when in doubt as to the mean
ing of u question put by the Mayor, the
service OF Mr.. George Mock, the May
or's private messenger, were brought
into requisitiOn, who acted as an inter
prefer.
The manner of the prisoner would
Indicate that he was stricken with re-
| morse; for when questioned as to
whether he did not fear being arrested
while lettering about the city, he said,
"he did not care, as he knew IL would
be all right when he was caught"
The Mayors system of questioning
the prisoner was admirable, and emf
nently calculated TO draw forth correct
answers. He called the prisoner by
his Christian name. "Antoine," and put
leading questions in a kind and quiet
manner.
HOW THE MURDER WAS COMMITTED.
The private examination before the
Mayor elected the fact that the murder
was committed in the following man
ner:
On Friday last Ganther's accomplice
in the terrible tragedy came over 10
Mr.. Dearing's, and proposed TO the pris-
oner that they should murder the fami-
ly and rob the house. Ganther consent
ed to the plan proposed by his accom-
plice, and it was arranged I hat the pris-
oner should murder the boy, while the
other man despatched the rest of Mr..
Dearing'S family.
About ten o'clock on Saturday morn
ing the accomplice persuaded Mrs.
Dearing to come TO the barn, II short
distance from the house, and getting her
there, struck her in the head with an
axe, and then cut her throat with the
edge of that instrument. He then
pitched her body into the corn crib nd-
LLe DdEli1 anu llGA
to the house, took the children one by
by one to the barn, when their heads
were knocked in with the butt end of
the axe and their throats cut. As fast
as one was dealt with in this manner
its body was thrown into the corn crib,
and the process continued until the
whole family We're disposed of.
While the accomplice was thus en-
gagged, Ganlher proceeded to murder
the boy Cornelius. He overlook him
at the haystack, and struck him on the
back of the head with an axe, after
which he cut his throat, and then hid
the body under the hay.
The fiendish plot being accomplish
ed, the two murderers proceeded to the
house and lay in wait for Mr.. Dearing
and Miss Elizabeth Dolan. They ar
rived ut home about u o'clock, and as
soon as Mr.. Dearing had deposited his
carriage in the wagon house, the ac-
complice according to the prisoners
statement) attacked them both, knock
ing them in the head, and cutting their
throats, after which the bodies were
carried to the barn, and placed where
they were discovered. The precious
pair then proceeded to the house, and
after collecting together all the valua-
bles they could gather, deliberately
sat down and eat their dinner, when
they left and came to the city.