Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1871-07-15

to be shot; that on Friday, March 10,
he was engaged. in company with his
son, in grubbing field for Mr.. james,
when the latter came to him in the field.
took him a short distance apart from his
work, had long talk with him about
Rogers, and offered to give him twen-
ty-hve dollars if he would keep Rogers
from appearing against mm (James) IN
a case then pending in the Doddrid&e
County Court, that he objected 10 the
proposition at first. but James then Of
itred to give him twenty-five dollars
aud lend him fifty dollars more II lac
would kill Rogers Owens also stated
that James agreed to gtthim some pow
der. lead and caps. and promised that II
he was arrested ne (Jam,S) would take
care of his family, Ga his bail get him
lawyers. pay his witnesses and swear
him out Of the scrapc.and finally agreed
that he would himself assist i'll the con
templated murder Owens consented.
On Saturday, March II, Noah James
went to the store and'procurod the ne
ceSsary ammunition on Sunday Isaac
Owens and his wife took dinner at
James. the arrangements were comp.c-
ted. and Owens cot the powder and
caps he needed and went home. ltWaS
arranged that Rogers should be muir
der,d on the next day (NondayD but
upon his arrival at home Owens tounI
that one of his boys, who WAS charged
With some offence had taken lis horse
AMI gone away, SO that the completion
of tie plan agreed upon with James had
to be postponed. On Wednesday,
March Is. Owens was returning from
the mill when he discovered Rogers
coming along the road on his way home.
fastening home rs rapidly rs possible,
Owens went over 10 Noah James AID
told him that Rogers was coming along
the path toward his house, when they
Immediately haStouod 10 the woodSand
placed themselves in ambush 10 await
the arrival Of Rogers. Noah James
fred the first shot from his iilc, the ball
taking effect in Rogers body, who then
turned screaming from the path and
started To run. Owens then tlod has
pistol, the ball taking effect under Rog.
,rs' night Jaw, when he Immediately
fll and in few moment. WAS dead.
After Owens arrest and some sumI3-
IS Of James completely in thc crime be
oan TO be circulated, the latter refused
to have anything TO do with Owens, to
furnish him any money or give him any
/ tt#n h.I
furnished some evidence against Owens
at the trial. But he failed TO put TO
rest the suspicious that had been circa.
lated concerning him in the ncighb"r
hood. Public opinion had been aroused,
one circumstance after another came 10
light, all tending TO weave Il web "i
guilt about the unhappy man AZ
/ length j: was thought that sufficient ey-
idcnce had been found TO authorize his
/ arrest as an accessory 10 the murder OF
/ Rogers. and ON last saturday the war
rant was 10 be- served, but al that time
he had disappeared before Higher
Judge
On last Friday, Noah James, who
lived about two miles from Central Sta
tion, ate very little dinner and cor!.
planned of feeling unwc.l. Soon after
dinner hc took lis gun and proceeded
up little run that flows through IA
vine close to his house. lie bad only
been absent few minutes when his wife
heard the report Of the Gun and sent
one of the children 30 see what had
been shot. The child returned IN Wild
terror, bearing the dreadful ncWs that
is father wss dead II va, found that
Mr. James hal taken OF the boot and
sock from one fs5; and placing tie
muzzlc Of the ri'c 10 his eye, pulled th"
triggcr with his toe and sped the ia,ai
Lullotto bis brain.
Noah James was a man Of strong PFC
iudiccs and bitter rescEtmcnts. lie wJs
liked by some Of lis ncighhors ard
feared Ly many Hehad very little ed
ocation, but had acquired salicicnt H..
iuencc in his county 10 secure election
on the Radical ticket az 2 member oftbe
House Of Delegates in 1868. lie made
no mark "a 4 Legislator, and ls only re
mcmbered as the successor Of the wide
( ly knopn Ephraim Bee. We makethis
+ publication from 10 design 20 wound
the feelings OF bis distressed family, but
as the sequel to and completion Of the
history OF one Of the darkest crimes that
eyer stained the history Of this State. -
/ Uhe,li"g Register J~yf.