The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-05-03
The Rogers Murder.
Trial of Isaac Owens in
Tyler County.
Strong Circumstantial Evidence.
History Of the Case and Sum-
mary Of the Testimony.
The Verdict Not Yet Announced.
From the Parkersburg Times.

From the Parkersburg Tmes.l
The trial of Isaac Owens for the muir
der of Joseph L. Rogers, in Tyler coun-
ty, on the 18th Of March last, was COM
menced on Friday last at West Union,
Doddridge county, where the case had
been removed. 1t will be remembered,
from our statement Of the case at the
time, that Rogers was found dead in
the woods near a path, one-half mile
from his house, with bullet wound in
his side and another in the head. He
was shortly to appear in the Tyler
county Circuit Court as principal wit
ness against Owens, who was indicted
for arson, and who had frequently de-
clared, under terrible imprecations that
Rogers should nerer testify against him.
These and number of more direct in
dications of guilt led to his immediate
arrest. From the testimony OF over a
dozen respectable witnesses. it appears
that on the 18th day of March last,
about o'clock P. NJ, Owens stopped
at the house Of Lorenzo Cain, with
horse and grist, on his return from mill.
After lounging there awhile he saw
Rogers coming down the hill from the
direction Of his house, by woods path
only frequented by the nearest neigh
bors, and Immediately started for home
in hurried manner, which attracted
attention Towards dusk Rogers return
ed by his usual path to his home, less
than a mile distant from Gains, across
the hill Shortly afterwards q shot was
heard, both at Gains and Rogers, then
loud screams from Rogers well known
voice, then another shot and all was
silent. When Mrs Rogers hastened
up the hill to the assistance Of the vic
tim, she heard the hurried steps Of
man descending the ravlne close by in
the direction Of the house Of Noah
James, another near neighbor-who
testifes that about that time the pris-
oner came into his house by the back
door, remaining awhile without any ap-
parent purpose or pretext for his pres
ence at that time. Had he had busi-
ness there, he would have chosen that
route on his way home from mill, as
James house is only one mile from
Gains, but three miles from his own !
house. Owen had ample time between
four o'clock and dusk to 60 home by |
the way he did, and then return on foot |
by a near cut to the scene Of the crime
Notwithstanding diligent search was
made for Rogers that evening, his life
less body was not found until next
morning. A minute investigation Of
the ground upon which footprints were
plainly visible, led to the conclusion |
that the murderer fired the shot from
behind hollow stump through loop |
hole expressly cut out for that purpose,
that Rogers, wild with terror, or per
haps to battle his pursurer, left the path |
and struck through the brushwood for
a distance Of about fifty or sixty |
Yards, where either before or after re
ceiving the second and fatal shot lie.
fell headlong down the ravine-the
same one down which his wife heard |
the steps of the fleeing assassin. At |
the inquest two slugs Of unequal length |
were extracted from the head and body, |
corresponding in shape with a third,
some time previously fired into a tree
by Owens, who was known to possess a
pistol for which he had no bullet mould |
to match, One witness testifes that |
next day he observed blood spots on the |
lower part Of Owens overall pants, up
on which the latter rolled up his pants
and stole away before other by-standers
could verify the discovery. Owens had
sworn to kill Rogers rather than let
him testify against him in the trial for
arson, and even menaced one Of them
with a like fate if they revealed any.
thing about his threats against Rogers. |
Owens had some time ago shot at and |
missed another neighbor, and apologised |
upon the ground that he had mistaken |
has man. He is under general suspicion |
for burning hay stacks. houses and for
other depredations, which rendered him
the secret terror Of the neighborhood. |
His oldest son, fifteen years Of age, a |
chip Of the old block, is in Tyler county |
Jail for theft.
Owens presented no evidence to &C.
count for his whereabouts from the
time he left Cain 8 to the moment when
he made his appearance at the house OF
Noah James, nor any other testimony
to which an innocent would resort TO
reject or rebut the inferences connecting
him with the murder, but rather seems
to rely with a sort Of dogged confidence
upon the insufficiency Of direct evidence
against him. His attitude at the bar is
one Of affected composure. While he
is carelessly, but almost necessarily
stroking his beard, his dim but watch
ful eye takes in every feature Of the
proceedings A jury Of phrenologists
would condemn him without leaving
their seats.
The prisoner was ably defended by
Mr.. Cole, OF Doddridge, assisted by
Messrs. Hall and Louch. Of Wetzel
Col. Ben. Wilson, Of Harrison, conduct
ed the prosecution with remarkable
talent and rigor. and his closing argu-
ment left no link wanting in the logic
Of circumstantial evidence. The unani-
nous verdict Of the audience was
guilty! guilty!l guilty!!r' That Of
the jury who retired at FIVE o'clock P.
n. on last Saturday, ID not known to
us at the hour Of going 70 press