The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-06-18
An Old Man Killed at West
: Wheeling. Git
His Head Mashed in with q Stone
Arrest of the Murderers


Emery, on the West Wheeling ferry
boat, while she was tied to the Ohio
shore.
It appears that Powell. a butcher,
who lives at Gravel Hill, near Bellaire,
came up in a wagon with his son, a
boy aboat seventeen years of age, and
drove down on the ferry boat to cross
over to this side. The boy jumped off
OF the wagon when he was at once, and
without any proyocstion, assaulted by
Geary. On his demonstrating against
such treatment Geary told him he
would get more than that. Young
Powell at once started for spring that
is on the bank 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 90 to his assistance and was
struck by the ruffians. After the assault
on his son Mr.. Powell went TO Squire
Kelseys Office to procure warrants for
their arrest. but the Squire was in Bell.
aire. They were followed TO the Jus
tice Office by the men who seemed de-
termined 10 provoke 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 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 aud fell on bis
face. As he did, Geary again picked
up the stone and struck him blow Oh
the right side Of the head just back OF
the ear. The blow crushed in the skull,
and the unfortunate old man died in
stantIy. Geary continued to kick and
beat the old man after life had left
his feeble body
y Meanwhile Emery, with a revolver in
his hand, was running the boy all over
the ferry boat, swearing he would kill
the "--." The boy endeav-
ored to hide and avoid his pursuer I'M
til be saw his father assaulted, then he
turned on Emery like young tiger. and
beat and pounded him until he was al
most seuseless. Emery was assisted
from the boat by some of his relatives
and as soon as he recovered took 10 the
hills. A party was i'm mediately formed
and started in pursuit. About three
o'clock they found him hid in the
bushes. Geary was arrested at once
and sent to the Jail at Bellaire.
There is no cause or reason for the
attack either on Mr.. Powell or his son
They did not know their assailants, and
Mr.. Powell had never seen them be-
fore. The murder was committed in
spirit Of pure devilishness.
As soon as possible Coroner Garrett
was sent for, from Bellaire, and an in
quest was held. We append an abstracl
oil the evidence:
Vim. Wolf, suorn.-I reside in West
Wheeling; l am owner OF the ferry
boat; l have known Mr.. Powell for
twenty yeara; l saw him about II
o'clock to-day, on my ferry boat; was
present when the ARRAY occurred which
resulted in Mr.. Powell's death; had
Just come down from dinner and was
standing on the float, and tied the fer
~ boat when she came in; Mr.. Powell
was sitting in wagon and drove on
board; his son was on foot, and just as
be stepped on to the boat Geary gave
the boy a push with his hand, and the
boy told him to mind who he was
pushing; Geary said, "I'll give you
something more than that" The boy
left the boat and walked up to the
spring; when he had got about
half way up James Geary was
right behind him and kicked him. As
young Powell turned to defend himself,
Mr.. Powell jumped from his wagon
and run up to Geary and asked what
he was striking his boy Tor. Geary
made some reply that ! did not hear
and struck at old'Mr. Powell. At that
William Emery ran in and struck Mr..
Powell below the eye with his fist,
drawing the blood. ran in and conn
msnded peace, and told them to let him
alone. Gesry then picked up stones
and threw at me two. or three different
times. Geary and Emery then went up
the bank, and Mr.. Powell and his con
returned to the ferryboat. ] told him
that he should have the assailants ar
rested, and he and his boy STATED to
Squire Kelsey's Office. They were there
four or FIVE minutes and started back. |
As they got opposite the Ohio House,
Geary and Emery made directly for
Powell's boy, and hustled him around
right lively for little while. The boy
then broke away from them and
ran to the ferry boat. By this time |
had got up to the pilot house, and as
thought there was going to be trouble,
1 came down and got pump handle
intending to preserve the peace. ran
forward. and just as got to the door
Porell's boy ran right BY me With
Emery -eloee after him. ] chopped
Emery and found a revolver in his hand.
I told him, "a ] pushed him back, that
he must stop, that l didn't allow fg hit
ing on the boat While this was going
m Gesrv came in with n stone in his |