Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1873-07-24
& REST OF AN ALLEGED
MURDERER.

On Saturday officers Junkins and
Scott of Wheeling, by request of the
Marshal of Bellaire, arrested John Co.'S,
a former resident Of Martinsferry.
charged with the murder of James
Ammons, in February, 1861, in the
town of KirkwoOd. Officer Owens of
Bellaire was in waiting, and shortly
after the arrest, by the consent Of the
prisoner, transferred him TO Bellaire,
and TO the County Jail on Sunday
morning.
The prisoner is a man of apparently
stalwart frame, about five feet ten
inches high, ruddy complexion, high
receding forehead, sandy hair, with
closely trimmed sandy mustachc, and
about 35 years ofage.
In an interview with him or Mon
day evening, he gave Us the following
as his statement of the facts connected
with the affair: Was ii member of Col.
Capchart's 1st ". Va. cavalry, then
in camp on Wheeling Island. Had
been invited to party on the evening
of the 18th of February, 1864, at Frank
Linn's in Kirkwood, and when on bis
way thither he met two OF his COM
rades who insisted on going along. Ar
rived at the house of Mr.. Linn he ask
ed permission of the host for the admis-
sion of his friends, which was granted.
In the course of the evening word was
brought him that one ofhis friends had
been beaten severely by some one, and
he at once proceeded to the part of the
house where the disturbance had oc-
Cured and found that the statement
was correct and his partners head
bleeding. Ammons was near by when
some words passed between them, and
Ammons made threats and used abu-
sive language; during the melee Coss
drew a revolver and shot Ammons
killing him instantly, and then fled,
joining his regiment on the island
Coss remained with his regiment and
no attempt was made to arrest him.
An indictment was found against him
at the Summer term of court, 1864. At
the expiration of the war, July, 1865,
Coss returned with his regiment to
Wheeling and was mustered out
Shortly afterwards he went to Gallipo- |
lis, and in company with two other
men got on drunken spree. The
prisoner alleges that his partners broke
into shoe store and stole about $500
worth of goods and secreted them in
room where he had been. placed in a
comatose condition. The goods were
found in his possession, and he assum-
ing the name of John Mullins, together
with his friends, were arrested, tried,
and sentenced for seven
years in the Ohio PeniteEtiary. He
was released a few months ago, a year
before the expiration of his term.-
Upon his release he returned to this
County to see his friends and to secure
a local bounty of one hundred dollars
due him from Pultney township.
Coss expresses himself well satisfied
in his position, and is glad to have the
matter terminated.
Below is an account of the affray !
from the Lntelbigencer of February 21st, 3
1864. +
We yesterday received letter from 7
Frank Linn at whose house James
Ammons was shot and killed by John =
Joss, on Tuesday night last (Feb. IL,
1864, in which an entirely different L
version of the affair is given. The r
statement made by Linn is about as :.
ollows: One of Linn's brothers and :
brother of his wife land also of the 1
leceased) had returned home from the t
lrmy, and it was decided to give them $
dancing party to which few of their /
riends and acquaintance were invited. :
The evening passed off pleasantly until +
ToAn CoSs made his appearance with v
Wo soldiers belonging to his Company. u
Is they were not invited, Coss went to :
linn and his wife and asked if there
vas any objection to himself and
riends remaining in the house, to
which answer was made that they were u
Welcome as long as they behaved them
elves. The dancing then commenced
nd nothing unusual occurred until y
bout two o'clock, when Coss said to :. :.
Ammons, "let's have the next dance" ~ ~
Ammons replied "talk enough. Have y
on got q partner? Coss answered,
Yes, / have got your sister, not the :
married. one but the other, Eliza."-
Ammons then threw off his coat it be-
1g to heavy to dance in and was going
4 quest of a partner, when Goss raised OF
is revolver and shot him. Ammons 81
I'll upon the floor and Coss rushed for 70 70
ae door, but meeting Linn in the hall -
back or will shoot you" - -
,inR turned back and Coss rushed from w w
ne house. Linn says that there had tb
cen no words between the men DUR al
lg the evening rnd they appeared to Fc
g very good friends, When the cry clt
ent around that Ammons was killed, sn
Il the male members of the party fell pr
pom soldier who was lying in bed s5
nd bruised him pretty badly. Mrs. ]
inn finally induced the men TO desist sic
nd the soldier was permitted to 60 TT
way. ou
This statement differs very widely Nc
ON any version of the affair which be
e have yet heard. tn
Ammons was buried on Wednesday. :
inn says that Coss gave himself to his IN
.gjment on the Island and still re- clG W