The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-07-23
no WoMAN IN THE CASE,



GRNTLRMRN:-Your article In the paper
Of the 2lst concerning the arrest Of John
Co.'s for the murder Of James Almonds
in 1864, and also the article contained in
the Wheeling Sunday NetoS, on the same
subject, do great injustice to the prisoner.
Now we know that this was not by inten'
ton. But such reports being made upon
the best information at hand are In many
cases, as In this one, erroneous. wish,
therefore, to state in the interest OF truth
and justice and because Cross has q christ
ian and widowed mother now living In
this community, who feels, as only a
mother can feel, for her incarcerated son,
that l have known John Co.'S from his
childhood, and as young man he was
good natured, kind hearted, and not
quarrelsome even when In liquor. ne
was young man when he enlisted in the
West Virginia cavalry. This was his
character through his military career.
BE also acquired reputation among his
fellow soldiers for cool courage. :. .
To call him "a dangerous man" l
think does him great injustice, or TO say
that "Coss and Almonds quarreIcd
about woman" Is entirely without
foundation. | was in Bridgeport at the
time COss shot Almonds, and, as then
considered 1t my duty, l investigated the
case carefully, and the facts are these: a
few evenings before, they were both at a
dance in Bridgeport, when Almonds.
without prOvOcatiOn, assaulted friend Of
Coss, who Wis very much intoxicated.
Almonds dealt him q terrible blow with
KNOCKERS, which crushed the bones Of
his face and knocked him senseless. Coss
did not interfere, but quietly remarked
to some one present, that II Ammonds
should assault him In that manner no
would shoot him." This remark reached
Almonds. A few evenings after this
they met at q dance in Ktrkwood,
Almonds Immediately quarreled with
him, and ordered Co.'S out Of the house.
Almonds drew of his coat and threw II
upon table. Co.'S Tetreated into the
farthest corner OF the room mot
the one in which the dance Was),
drew his revolver and cooked It. Am:
monds started toward him; Co.'s leveled
his weapon to fire; Almonds halted.
Coss said, "Ammonds, II you advance q
step farther willshoot You" Almonds
made rush at him, Coss pulled the trig-
ger and Almonds lell dead-shot in the
body. From these facts and all the prob
able circumstances bearing upon the case,
and also from my knowledge Of the char
acter Of both men, l consideredit q case
Of iustifable homicide-Coss shot him in
self defence. At the time Of the shooting
the headquarters Of the First W. Va. Cav
airy were at Camp Garlic on Wheeling
Island. The men were on veteran fur
Tough. Coss did not flee to escape arrest,
but remained with his relatives at Bridge
port and Martins Ferry until hisrcgiment
was ordered away; and so general was
the conviction that he killed Almonds in
self defence that there was no effort made
to arrest him, The Colonel Of the First
Regiment OF W. Va. Cavalry resided In
Bridgeport and was then at his home, and
there was never even 80 much as re-
quest made Of him by civil officer or
friend OF Almonds to have Co.'s arrested
and delivered into their custody.
VERITAs.