The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1872-03-07
IGt Wttlrg Rtgistts
LOCAL MATTERS.

case which occupied seven days Of thcprcs
sent term OF the Circuit Court. and wbicl
wa, before two previous jurics in Cabcl
county. which failed to agree. is now ter.
minated 10 the acquittsl Of David StattOn
BY . Mason county Jury, upon the charge
Of the murder Of Johu Thomas Moore, Of
Barboursville, Cabcll county. From the
evidence in the case we are informed that
the tragedy occurred 10 the town of Bar.
louisville, about midnight on the 18th Of
February, 1871, IN drunken row be-
tween the young men Of Barboursville and
aparty Of raftlneu from Logan county who
were stopping at the Burnett House in
that town. The evidence showed conclu.
sively that the riot was q premedltated al
fair on the part Of some Of the young men
Of Barboursville who were engaged in the
difficulty, growing out Of quarrel be-
tween some Of the parties early in the cv.
ening. About III o'clock on the fatal
night mentioned, a party Of white men
and negroes, armed with pistols, clubs and
rocks, by some means unaccou''ed for
mot near the front door Of the Burnett
House, where nrgroe was pounding at
the door Of the room where the Logan men
were qa,rtercd, calling for the id To-
ganite who had bit Tom Digs" and say
Ing at the time that be could whip the
man wholsd hit Tom Digs In an in
slant after rocks were thrown aud pistols
were Cred, when several Of the Logan men
issued from the house, and during tho row
john Thomas Moure, young man OF con,
siderable wealth and standing, fell, stab
bed to the heart, and almost instantly di.
cd The case had become one OF the most
celebrated cases in the State. And after
two trials in Cabcll county, il being abso-
lutcly impossible To obtain another Jury 10
that county, it was removed to Mason
county for trial. On this, the third trial,
young Stratton wafscquit'ed:
We doubt whether there has ever been
case tried in our county which elected
more Interest from the public, than tl'is
one. The courthouse was crowded from
the beginning to the ending Of the trial;
aud the sympathy Of the public was almost
entirely with the prisoner, and their pray.
crs were for bis acqaittal.
Ira j. McGinnis, Esq aud Joseph
Mayse, ESP, ofGuyandct'c, aid W. n
Thompson, E.q of B,rtonrsviIle. appear.
cd Cor the prisoner; and W. II. Tom|ioson,
Esq. Of this county, assisted by Col. j
4. Moore, Of Ca,lsllsbnrg, Ky and B..
j. McComss, Esq, Of Barboursville, ap.
pcared for the State. Both sides were con-
Quoted with consumatc skilland ability
Mr.. To,nlinson opened for the Stale occu-
pying nearly three hours. lie was follow
ed by Mr.. Thompson in an argument Of
some three hours, in which he handled and
ANALYSED the evidence 10 skilful aud
mastery manner, showing great ability
wisdom and foresight, for one so young
Mr.. McComas followed Mr.. Thompson in
an argument Of over two hours. Mr.
Mayse for the defense followed Mr. Me-
Comas, occupying about one and BALI
hours, and ably answered all tho points
made BY Mr.. McComas. He is a ready
and forcibIe speaker Mr.. McGinnls then
addressed the Jury (for The prisoner some
two hours, when the Court adjourned, and
on the next morning Mr.. McGinnis rcsu-
med bis argument and spoke some three
hours. His argument was able aud torcl-
bic, and was delivered with effect. In
concluding, bis appeal to the Jury was el
oqueut and beautiful. Avery unusual oc-
currence took plase Of an outburst of up.
plausc from the large audience at the con-
clusion Of Mr.. McGinnis' argument, but
the sympathy Of the audience was so strong
for tho prisoner, they could not well help
giving this manifestation Of their feelings
in the matter. This outburst was prompt.
ly checked by the Sheriff by command Of
his Honor Judge 'Ilogc.
Col. Moore replied to Mr. McGiunis in
a most powerful argument of some four
hours, which closed the case, aud twas
then given to the Jury. The Jury re-
turned verdict Of mot guilty"