The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-06-18
Tho steubenvIlIe Murder TrIal-Ac-
quittaI OF COIeGtOn.

STEUBESvILLE, o., June II.
To the Editor of the InteIligencer:
The attention of the Court at thiS
place, since Monday last, has been di-
rected to the trial of James Coleston,
for granddaughter, in the killing of Jack
McCafferty on the night OF the first ol
May last. This trial has excited more
interest in this community than any
thing that has been before the courts
here for a great number OF years. Your
readers may remember the ctrcum.
stances of this tragedy, but short re-
view of the testimony as 1t appeared In
the trial, may not be uninterestlng. 1t
appears there had been fend existing
between COlestOn and McCaHertY for
considerable time prior 10 the killing.
Both were rolling mill men and work
ed at the Jefferson Iron Works. On
the night OF May 1st, McCatterty,
who had just come down from
Pittsburgh and who was considerably
under the influence of liquor, met
COleston in Collins saloon on Market
street, and going up to him In bellig :
erent attitude asked him II he was pre-
pared or able to defend himself. Cole
ston replied that he was generally able
to take care OF himself, but he did not
want any difficulty and did not know
why McCafferty should wish to quarrel
with him. McCafferty called him some
very bad names and struck him twice.
AT this Collins interfered and led Nc
Cafferty out of the house. a short time
after, Coleston, with u few friends, left
the saloon and walked up Market street.
On the corner of Market and Fourth
streets they passed MCCaherty and his
friends. McCatferty recognized Cole
ston and called on him to stop, that he
wanted to speak to him, at the same
time walking up to him and taking him
bv the arm, leading him Off some dis
tance from his friends. The next thing
heard was Coleston's voice, telling Nc
Cafferty to go away and let him alone,
that he wanted nothing TO do with him,
that he (McCatferty) had been following
him, had struck him twice, and seemed
bent on forcing fight, whether he
would or not. McCatferty uaid you're
u liar" and Immediately after three
blows we're heard, the parties separa-
ted, and McCatferty started across the
street. 1t was not known that either
partY was hurt until the officers went
10 McCanerty's boarding house for the
purpose OF arresting him, when he was
found in II dying condition from the
effect of Il cut in the lower part OF the
abdomen. The next morning Mo.
Cafferty was dead. Coleston was arres-
ted had a preliminary examination, and
was bound over for his appearance at
Court. When the trial came on 1t was
evident the sympathies of the commu-
nifty were with Coleston. M'Catferty's
reputation, as shown on the trial. was
that of a dangerous man when under
the influence OF liquor. Coleston was
spoke OF by his neighbors as peacea-
bIv disposed man. The best legal tall
ent of this section was employed on
both sides. Tom Marshall. the icele-
brated criminal lawyer of Pittsburgh,
was one of Coleston's attorneys. Yes
terday evening about four o'clock, the
Jury retired, and this morning at Ave
O'Clock, came in with verdict of Not
Guilty
To day the Court is engaged in the
trial of the State Us. Cox, indicted for
stabbing Joel Free. This difficulty
grew out of political excitement during
the last Presidential canvass.