The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1873-06-24
from the Wheeling Register, 18th inst.
a Cold s!00aed, Esrmsai Murder,
An Old Man Killed at West Wheel
ing.

About II O'Clock yesterday an old
man named Casper Powell, aged about
sixty or sfxty-fve years, was most bru,
tally murdered by two men. one named
James Geary and the other William
Emery, on the West Wheeling ferry
boar, while she was tied tc the Ohio
shore.
1t appears that Powell, a'butcher, who
lives at Gravel Hill, near Bellaire, came
up in q wagon with his son, boy about
seventeen years of age, and drove down
on the ferry boat to cross over to this
side The boy jumped off the wagon
when he was at once, and without any
provocation, assaulted by Geary. On
his demonstrating against such treat
ment Geary told him he would get more
than that. Young Powell at once star
ted for spring that is on the hank just
above the ferry landing, when he was
followed by both Geary and Emery
Old Mr.. Powell fearing that they might
injure his son started to so to his assis-
tance and was struck by the ruflians.-
After the assault on his son Mr.. Powell
went to Squire Kelsey's office to pro
cure warrants for their arrest, but the
Squire was in Bellaire. They were fol-
lowed to the Justice Office by the men
who seemed determined to provoke Il
fight.
As soon as Mr.. Powell and his son
returned to the boat they were again
attacked BY the two men, the son by
Emery and the old man by Geary, who
had armed himself with a sharp pointed
stone. He struck the old man and
knocked him down. AS he rose to his
feet he was again struck on the head
with the stone thrown by Geary. Mr..
Powell staggered back on to the edge
of the ferry boat and fell on his face
As he did so, Geary again picked up the
stone and struck him a blow on the
right side of the head just back of the
ear. The blow crushed in the skull land
the unfortunate old man died instantly
Geary continued to kick and beat the
old man after life had left his feeble
body.
Meanwhile Emery, with revolver ir
his hand, was running the boy all ovel
the ferry boat, swearing he would xii
the G. The boy endeav
ored to hide and avoid his pursuer unit
he saw his father assaulted, then hi
turned on Emery like a young tiger, anC
beat and pounded him until he was al
most senseless. Emery was assisted
from the boat by some of his relatives
and as soon as he recovered took to th'
hills. A party was Immediately formed
and started in pursuit. About thre'
, o'clock they found him hid in the bush
es. Geary was arrested at once ant
, sent to the jail at Bellaire.
,, There is no cause or reason for tn,
attack either on Mr. Powell or his son
! They did not know their assailants, ant
Mr.. Powell had never seen them before
The murder was committed in spiri
of pure devilishness.
T The Coroners Jury returned the fol
lowing verdict:
J We, the undersigned jurors, in vie,
of the body of Casper Powell, Sr., her
lying dead, do find that he came to hi
death by blows from a stone in tn
!, hands of James Geary, and that Will
liam Emery was accessory thereto.
The accused were taken in charge b,
) Squire Kelsey, who committed them t
: Jail to answer the charge of murder a
: the next term of the Belmont Court Q
Common Pleas. -