The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-09-24

RIPLEY, JACKSON Z. H., W. VA.
September 18th, 1867.
Editor of the Register;
As it has been long time since / saw
a communication from this section OF
country and having n spare moment j
thought / would scribble little for
your invaluable paper. Our Circuit
Court convened on the ID and adjourn
ed on the 10th inst, His Honor, George
Loomis, presiding. The grand jury was
in session two days and found some
twenty indictments, almost all of which
were for selling liquor without license.
There were but few civil causes dispos-
ed OF, owing to the facts that five days
of the Court were consumed in the
trial of Geo. W. Wigans, whs was in
dicted at this term of the Court for the
murder of John A. johnson on the 10th
of June last. The murder was commit
ted OH the steamer David Lynch, a short
distance below Ravenswood in this
county. Wigans was steward OF
the boat and Johnson a passenger.
The with esses of the State testified
that there was no cause OF prOvocation
whatever to Justify Wigans in commit
ting the deed. johnson was drinking
man, and was to some extent under the
influence of liquor at the time, and at
the supper table made use of some vul'
gar and profane language, when Wigans
went to him and told him that he must
leave the table, that such conduct would
not be permitted at the table in the
presepce of ladies. johnson left the
table, and when the second table was
Get he returned and took seat. One Of
the cabin boys gave him q cup OF tea
when johnson asked, "When did
Wigans ship on this boat as cabin boy,
Wigans, at the time, was at the end OF
the table carving. He walked up te
johnson and plunged the carving knife
up to the handle in Johnson's right
breast, with the remark, 81 told you te
behave yourself" andwalked away ,leav'
ing the knife sticking in his victims
breast. johnson expired in about ten
minutes. In the trial of the cause, the
State was amply represented by Major
r. s. Brown, State Attorney. The pris
oner was defended by Okey Johnson, oI
Parkersburg; Mr.. johnson, of Mt. Pleas
ant; L. w. Flesher and j. U. Myers, o.
this place. All the attorneys acqnlt
ted themselves with much credit. The!
showed much skill and ability in the
management of the cause. The defence
put in a plea of insanity, and offered ev'
idence to substantiate the same. Iht
evidence was not very conclusive, but
had the desired effect on the jury, a:
they did not find the prisoner guilty o.
murder in the first degree, but guilty o.
murder in the second degree, and fixed
his time of Imprisonment in the State
penitentiary at six years. The Sheriff
left the next day, with the prisoner, fol
Wheeling.
The Radical party held county Con
vention at the Court House on theeyen
ing of the ID inst, to nominate can
didate for the House of Delegates
They had quite q warm time. Part o
the delegates withdrew from the Con
vention, and it was thought by some
4 that they would break up in . row, bn
they finally succeeded in nominating X
r.. Riley. Mr.. Riley has since declined
running, and they have fixed uponso
day in next month to hold another Con
| yention. sssg r.VA.n..
Owing to the long drouth, corn crop
in this and adjoining counties viii b