The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-03-04
The Morgantown Murder
THE FACTS IN THE CASE
Details Of the Bloody Crime.

We condense from the Morgantown
Constitution and Post the following par.
ticulars Of the recent murder in that
place:
On Sunday morning last the citizens
Of Morgantown were startled and horrl-
fed by the news that murder had
been committed in our usually quiet
burgh. The Virginia House, kept by
Mrs. Mary A. Snider, was the scene of
the crime, and at an early hour the
house was tesieged by the more curious
of the population. There, on the bar
room floor, in which room the deed was
committed, lay all that was mortal of
John jenkins. an old man some 63
years Of age, who resided a short dis
lance from Morgantown.t He lay on
his back, his head being towards the
window facing Front street, near the
door, his feet reaching opposite the fire.
place; an overturned chair, partly rest
| ing on the lett side of his body, lay be-
tween the fireplace and he window.
The face was somewhat distgured, head
resting in small pool OF blood, glueing
his gray hairs TO the floor; the wall
near his head also being bespattered
with blood The instrument which
caused his death was an old shovel
handle, the shovel part being broken
off, making a most formidable weapon.
On the night previous John Jenkins
(familiarly known as Daddy" Jenkins,)
George Smith, Coleman jenkins (son
of john, and Oliver Murphy, it seems,
were all together in the barroom under
the National Hotel engaged in some
kind of game of cards, where they re-
manned until about II o'clock. They
then started for the Virginia House,
kept by Mrs. Snider, on Front street,
and all entered the house shortly before
one o'clock Sunday morning. John
Jenkins and Smith, as we understand
it, were both under the influence OF al
coholic drinks at the time, and were
not on good terms, and had been quar-
reling. Young jenkins and his friend
Murphy retired to the back part Of the
house, while Daddy" and Smith went
into the old bar.room. Nothingmore was
heard of them. About four o'clock
A. NJ, Young jenkins returned from
his room to see what had become Of his
father, and proceeding to the bar-room
he discovered him lying on the floor,
and supposing him to be asleep. endcav-
ored to arouse him, but was horrilicd,
upon turning him over, to find that he
had been murderously dealt with, as
three horrible cuts or gashes on his
head indicated. His father was dead
Early in the morning coroner 5 jury
was empannelled and post norton ex-
animation of the body was made The
skull was found to be fractured and
much blood was clotted upon the brain.
Doctor Mackey testified that he had
been awakened about = clock in the
morning and called to George W.
Smiths. Mrs. Smith had tainted and
her husband, who was still somewhat
intoxicated said that he had killed
Jenkins with poker. The Doctor al
forwards. about o'clock, went to the
| tuhInS
in the room heavy poker, about two
teet long, having traces Of blood upon it,,
The coroner's jury found verdict in
accordance with these facts.
Smith was arrested after daylight on
Sunday morning at his home on Front
street, by Deputy Sheriff Emrod Ten
nant and constable Uriah Rider. He
was in bed at the time, and exhibited
no signs Of resistance or attempt to
escape lie was taken to jail, where he
now remains.
Jenkins was 63 years ofage, and leaves
a wife and several children. He resi-
ded about one mile east Of town.
Smith is about % or 80 years Of age,
stoutly built, and of good habits when
sober, very kind to his family, and atfa-
be and accommodating among his &C.
quaintances.
Court meets on Tuesday, and we pre-.
sumo he will have his trial at once.
On Monday, Smith was taken from
the jail by the Sheriff to have a pre-.
liminary hearing, but waived an exam
ination and was recommtted.
He has engaged Keck IL Iough and
Raymond, Moreland n Co, as his at
tOrneys.