The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-01-07
BELMONT COUNTY ITEMS.
From the Baruesville Enterprise

h0 uuUclEldnu tudb hoo
atout three Thousand petitioners for
the removal of the county seat to that
place, while Belmont has obtained
about two thousand. We have not
learned the number of remonstrances
against removal. 1t appears, however,
that upwards of five thousand persons,
or three -fourths of the voting pspula-
tion, are in favor Of removal to some
point. A meeting of the removalists
will be held at Belmont on Friday next,
the 9Th instant, to decide their future
action.
Thomas Delaney, after sending a
written challenge to John Henthorn, on
last Saturday evening, concluded to
Ocean out" the bar-room of the Cont
mental. He began this little recreation
by throwing chair through the win
dow, and whether by accident or de-
sign, the witnesses could not say, but it
struck in its passage VIM Deems head,
producing a slight flesh-wound. With
commendablc promptness, French Hunt,
as Deputy Marshal, was on hand, and
took Delaney before his Honor, the
Mayor, who assessed q fine of 81 80 upon
him.
The mania for murder seems to have
reached Belmont county. For many
years no man was murdered within its
borders, and life seemed to be entirely
safe. But in 1869 all this was changed,
and murders followed each other in
such rapid succession that the excite
ment attendant upon one had not abated
until another horror furnished fresh
theme for discussion. Yost shoots an
inoffensive man in q saloon; Carr mu.
tilates and kills an Innocent girl, and
tries to end his own miserable existence;
aud before the Jaw retaliates, another
fiend gratifies his passions by shooting
down O harmless man who was trying
to escape his vengeful wrath.
The scene of the last murder is near
the town of Flushing, in the northwest
elm part of this county, in the township
adjoining the one in which Louisa Fox
was murdered. The victim was a
young mulatto named Charles Woods,
about twenty-four years old. The per.
patrator of the cruel deed is EnOch
Thomas, ffty-six years of age.
About one year since the wife OF
Thomas died, and left him with four
children. Since then he has been keep
ing house, his domestic affairs being
managed by Susan Blanchard, negro
girl OF rather questionable reputation.
Thomas was of jealous disposition,
and swore vengeance against every
young fellow that dared obtrude upon
his premises. His threats were never
executed, however, az most of the
friends of tie girl feared to excite his
displeasure.
On Monday evening, the 9th of De
cember, Woods called to see the girl.
He was admitted by Thomas, who re.
marked that he thought Woods was q
certain man of the neighborhood, and
that if he had been, he (Thomas)
would have bent the poker over his
head. Nothing more was said on the
subject until Tuesday afternoon, when
Woods called again. He incidentally
remarked, during this visit, that if
Thomas had bent the poker over his
head, he (Woods) would have soon
shown him who he was. OHe of
Thomas boys, who heard this, shortly
! afterwards went to coal bank where
Thomas was working, and repeated the
conversation. Thomas Immediately
left his employment and repaired to
the house. There he asked Woods
if he had said the words men.
toned. Woods loosely replied in
the Affirmative, when Thomas seized o
pick. handle and Knocked him down.
Recovering from the blow, Woods
seized Thomas, and violent struggle
onsued Thomas finally succeeded in
inficting another blow with pick
handle, when Woods let him 90 and fled
| from the house. Thomas then hurried
after his gun and fired when Woods was
passing through a gate about fifty yards
from the door. Six slugs entered the
body of the unfortunate man, one pass
ing through his side, and the Others
lodging in his body, some Of them pene-
tratiug the heart and liver. He fell
down, and Thomas put the gun away,
and went back to the coal bank as if
nothing had happened. Reaching there,
he told his associate that he
| (Thomas) had shot Woods, and that he
(the associate) had better goand attend
to him.
Woods was mortally wounded, the
slugs having penetrated the liver and
heart. No one approached him after he
was shot except little girl belonging
to Thomas. He requested her to turn
him over but was not able to speak
afterwards. He was shot about three
o'clock in the afternoon, and died the
same evening. Thomas came to the
house about half an hour after the
shooting, and refused to allow the citi-
zens to bring in the body of the mur.
dered man. They took it in, neverthe-
less, and shortly afterwards arrested
Thomas. He expressed no regret for
his crime, save that he was sorry on ac-
count of his children.
Woods, the victim of this wanton
murder, is represented as having been
an inoffensive young fellow. He had
been living In st. Clairsville and
Barnesville, and was very popular
among his acquaintances. Years ago,
when child in Virginia, he often sat
on the knee and received the man who
afterward so cruelty murdered bin.