South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1871-07-07
From Me Waeslmg Rsgisto, July A.

ed near Central Station, in Doddridge coun-
ty, the last scene of a tragedy which for
cold blooded and dastardly crime has been
seldom surpassed even in fiction. Moan
JAMES, Esq, member of the West Virginia
Legislature in 1868, and a man of wealth
and influence In his neighborhood, JLc,0 out
htS OIon BRAINS. The suicide was undoubt-
edly the result of the circumstances we are
about to relate.
Our readers remember that on the | 9Th
OF last March a man named Rogers, for
merly living on the edge of Tyler county,
near the Doddridge county line, was found
lying dead In the woods near his own house.
lie had received bullet wound in his ab-
domen aud another in the neck, either of
which would probably have proved fatal
by various circumstances which it is not
now necessary to repeat, suspicion was di.
rccted against ISAAC OWENS, a sort Of des-
perado in the neigbborhoo5, who was then
under Indictment in Tyler county on the
charge Of having burned some haystacks
and a cabin belonging to the murdered
man, Rogers. Owens was arrested on the
charge of murder and the trial took place
ut West Union, in Doddridge Co, whittier
the case had been transferred from Tyler.
The evidence was mainly crcumstantia but
was sufficiently conclusive as to his guilt;
he was convicted on the 10Th Of April last
and few days later sentenced to imprison-
ment in the penitentiary for life.
Soon after Owens arrest some suspicion
of completely in the murder of Rogers was
directed against Noah james. There was
a long standing and bitter feud between the
parties they had had several law suits,
and James had been heard to say that Ro-
gers ought to be shot. Up to the time of
his arrival at the penitentiary, Owens had
preserved n stubborn silence with regard to
the murder. He had not divulged a syla.
bic that threw any light upon the bloudy
transaction and had maintained an appear.
ance of stolid Indifference as to the result
of the trial. A few days after his incarcc-
ration, however, he made full and circum-
stantial confession of the crime his state
ment was reduced to writing and was found
to coincide exactly with the evidence ad-
duced at the trial.
lie stated that on several occasions Noah
James had said that Rogers ought TO be
shot; that on Friday, March 10, he was
engaged in company with his son in grub
bling field for Mr. james, when the latter
came to him in the field, took him short
distance apart from his work and had long
talk with him about Rogers, aud offered to
give him twenty five dollars if he would
keep Rogers from appearing against him
(James) in case then pending in the bod
bridge county Court that he objected to
the proposition at first, but James then of
forcd to give Lin twenty five dollars aud
lend him fifty dollars more if he would kill
Rogers. Owens also stated that James a
greed to get him some powder, lead 4 caps,
and promised that if he was arrested he
James would take care of his family, 90 his
bail, get him lawyers, pay his witnesses and
swear him out of the scrape, and finally a
greed that he would himself assist in the
contemplated murder. Ovens consented.
On Saturday, March II, Noah James
went to the store and procured the necessa-
ry ammunition, on Sunday Isaac Owens
and bis wife took dinner at James the ar.
rangcmcntS were completed, and Ovens got
the powder and caps he needed aud went
home. IL was arranged that Rogers should
be murdered on tho next day Monday.
but upon his arrival at home Owens found
that one OF his boys who was charged with
some oifensc, had taken his horse and zone
away so that the completion Of the plan a.
greed upon with james, had to be postpon-
cd. On Wednesday, March -, Ovens
was returning from the mil when he dis
covered Rogers coming along the road on
his way home. fastening home AS rapid
ly as possible, Owens went over 10 NOAH
James and told him that Rogers was com
ing along tho path towards bis house, when
they Immediately fastened to the woods
and placed themselves in ambush TO await
the arrival Of Rogers. Noah James fired
the first shot from lis rifle, the ball taking
effect in Rogers body, who then turned
screaming from the path and started to
run. Owens then fred bis pistol, the ball
taking effect under Rogofs right jaw, when
he Immediately fell and 10 n few moments
was dead. After Owens arrest and some
surmiscs Of James completely I'm the crime began
90 bc circulated The latter refused 10 have any
thug 90 10 with Owens, 90 furnish him any moo
ney or give him any assistance whatever and
we believe, furnished some evidence against Ow-
ems at the trial But DC failed 90 put To- rest the
suspicious tht bad been circulated concerning
BIN 90 the ueightOrbOOd. Public opinion had
been aroused, one circumstance after another
came 70 light all tending 70 weave web of guilt
about thc unhappy man. At length DO was
thought thlt sufficient evidence bad been found
TO authorize his arrest AS an accessory Co the
murder of Rogers, and ON last Saturday Che war
ran was 90 bc served. but Mt that time DC bad up-
Tcarcd hcio.e higher Judge
ON last Friday Noah james, who lived about
two miles from Central Station ate very little
dinner and complained OF feeling uuwcII Soon
after dinner he took his gun aud proceeded up
little run that flows through r. ravine close 60 his
house. lIo had only been absent n few minutes
when bis wife hcerd the report Of the gun aud
sent one of tle children to see what had been
.U.l ILLl .IL-I LlILrnDI IN MIA lDrr-r L-.r----