New-York tribune., 1871-07-07
4 VEST PTRGINIA TRAGEDY.

from N, Wle,l,ag tEIl Va) Reyfser J.,y4
On last Friday afternoon there was enacted,
Central Station, Doddrdge County tn. last seen,
OF terrible tragedy, Noah James, esq member OF the
West Virginia Legislature in 1858, and man wealth
suicide escape the penalty OF the law The particulars
OF the crime are n follows
Last March man named Rogers formerly living on
the edge OF Tyler County, found lying dead in tho
woods near his own house lie had received bullet
wound IN hs abdomen and another IN the neck. neither
OF when Woud nave proved Ittdl' 10y Various ctcnm-
stances suspicion was directed against isaac owens,
uHdter indo,ment in TgleP County. on the
charge OF having burned property of the mur.
murder The evidence was mainly circumstantial, but
was sufficiently conclusive to his guilt. lie was con
victod the Goth of April last and few days ater sen
fenced 10 Imprisonment IN the Pouentary for life soon
after Owenss arrest some suspicion OF cOplcy IN the
There lOngstanding and bitter tcud between the
men: they had had several lawsuits. ana James had
been heard to say hat Rogers ought To he shot UP TO
the time of his arrival at the Pententi1ry owens had
preserved stubborn silence with regard to the murder
few days after his Incarceration, however ne mtle
fn ana crcumstantal confession OF inc ,Ili', ~ -, r.,
He stated that on several occasions Noah James had
C he was engaged IN company with his son. IN gruDbng
field for Mr. James, when the latter came to him IN the
field took him short distance apart from his work, had
long talk with him about Rogers ana OugIeu " gN9
him s2 II he would keep Rogers from appearing aglln5t
COUNTY Court that he objected to the proposition at
first. but James then offered to give nm 20 anu lon nun
$50 If no would kill Rogers. Furthermore, James
agreed 10 get him some powder, lead, and caps and
promised that II he was afle5ted he tJames) wOud tkc
OF DIS flully, Ddll, get MN ll"Jtl''
witnesses and him out Of the scTape. ana nha
agreed that he would himself assist in the c0ntemplaeg
murder Owens consented. nm "H
on Wednesday March l5 owens was returning from the
mill when he discovered Rogers coming along the ROAD
on his way home. Hastcung home rapidly AZ posi-
ble Owens went over TO Noah James and told INN mat
Rogers was coming along the path toward his house,
when they Immediately hasened TO the woods ana
placed themselves in ambush to await the arrival OF
Rogers Noah James fired the first snOt from MS rlle,
the bail taking effect in ROgerss body who then turned
screaming from the path and started To run owens
then fired his pistol the ball taking effect under ROgerss
right Jaw, when he Immediately fell, and IN Few
moments died After Owens5 arrest and some sur
misses OF James's completely in the crime began TO
be circulated, the latter refused TO have anything
10 do with Owens furnish him any money or give him
whatever the contrary FURNISHED some
evidence against him at the trial But he failed to put
the suspicious that had been circulated concern
ing him in the neghbOrhOOd Public opinion had Deen
aroused, circumstance after another came 10 GhJ
all tending to web OF guilt about the unhappy
man. At ehgth it thought that sufficient evidence
had to authorize his arrest an accessory 20
was to be served. on last Friday. Noah James, who
tie dinner and complained Of feeling gunwc Soon after
dinner he took his gun and proceeded up te run tat
flows through Taviuc near his house He had only been
absent minutes when his wife heard the report OF
gun, and sent of the children to see what han
shot The child returned IN terror, with the dread
full news dead 1t found that Mr..
James taken off the boot aud sock from foot and
placing the muZzle OF the rifle tO his eye pulled the trlg
gCr with his toe, and sent the bullet to his brain.