The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-10-05
DEAD, WHOEVER HE IS
All About the William Jenning. " no
Died i'm wheeling
New MARTINsvILLE, W. VA, !
October ID 1874

Editors of the Register.
In your Daily of yesterday there APP
peared remarkable article, one so very
erroneous in almost every particular, and
60 liable to lead many Of your readers
into error, besides rejecting unjustly
upon both living and dead, that | am
compelled to make an effort to correct it.
l allude to your article under the caption,
dead whoever he is" True, recognized
the man as William Jennings and con-
versed with him freely, so did my fellow
townsman, John Cherry, Esq. and the
man even confessed before he died that
his name was William Jennings, but
with all this testimony the writer of the
article referred 70, insists that his name
was Nolan" not Jennings, unless indeed
Jennings had been resurrected from the
dead. Permit me to enlighten your
readers on that point. The article
states that William Jennings, the
son of the robber chief and
who was Il prominent member Of the
band, WAS accidentally drowned in the
Ohio river long while ago All Il
mistake. William Jennings, son of the
robbcr chief had nothing to do with the
band, nor was he drowned i'll the Ohio
river, but in Fishing Creek, near Nor
gans Dam, before, Il think the late
civil war.
Another portion Of said article i u
follows: Several persons from Wetzel
county were in the city yesterday, and
| having read an account Of the accident
in the morning papers, went to see aim,
and he said his name was not Nolan
but William Jennings, the son Of the
robber chief, and member Of that no.
torous band Of robbers and murdrrcr-
which have long been II terror
| This is not -, and neither myself nor
| Mr.. Cherry ever made such remarks.
! Now for the facts: The man who wa,
run over, and has since died from the eli
fects of his injuries, WAS Williams Jcn-
nings, and Lyother Of the robber Chief
/, but not mcntb,r of N0t g1"q. While
seated at the breakfast table at the Lingo
man House, Mr.. Lingcman entered the
room and inquired whether there We're any
person, present residing in llrw Martins
willie. | replied that wis from that
place. He then informed me of the acct
dent. and asked me to Soand see the man:
and identify him if | could. | did call.
! leaving my breakfast untinishcd,D and
H. entered the room in which the i'll
! iurcd man lay, noticed his amputatcd
| limb lying on the floor near him, with
several pieces of flesh lying in close prox
unity. Not accustomed to such scenes. !
! experienced >rkcnimg sensation. and
turned to leave tbs room, satisfied how
ever that the man WAS not Nolan,
as Mr.. Lingman had informed me the
man claimed to be- met John Cherry,
Esq, and asked him t" step in, which
he did, but he saw he was not William
Nolen, and | then suggested the pro
pricty Of calling upon Geo. +. Boyd.
Esq. W" proceeded To MS office, but he
was not there; We thsn returned a. far
u the store of Simpson, Hogc q Co.,
which extends from Main street through
/ to South street. passed through the
/ store on South street, and crossed over
to the depot thinking I would again
call on the injured man. entered the
room, and STOPPING down took hold OF
his wrists and placed my fingers upon
the pulse; when he reused up, opened
his EYES. and rs he turned his head, |
recognized Billy Jennings! He looked
surprised and said: "Why, my God.
Fred. Muhcman, is this YOU" | re-
piled in the affirmative, and asked him
whether he was not badly hurt He said
it all appeared to him like dream.
l. pointed to his amputatcd and
mutilatcd limb, and asked him, " Do
YOU see your leg lying over there? - and
partly raised him up. He looked over in
that direction, gave Il groan and sank
back in fainting condition. then sent
for Mr.. Cherry, telling the messenger not
10 inform him who the injured man was.
Mr.. Cherry came. Upon entering, ! said
to him, John, do YOU know that man
now" iJcnning> had by this tim" re
covered again He looked astonishcd
and Immediately replied, Why, w..
that Is Bill Jennings. Jennings laug he'd
and said no. his name WAS Nolan. We
hal some further conversation. and
Cherry left. assisted to convey him 10
the hospital. remembered that h" had
scar on his left arm. caused by a wound
made by knife, but had forgotten by
whom i, was inflicted. The idea
that il VA, don" bv WORTHLESS,
fellow named Brady Lcmastcrs took
possession Of me. remarked
to those present. Let Il, take of his coat.
upon removing it | placed my finger on
the scar. saying. Bill, this i where
Brady Lemastcr cut YOU, is it not II"
answered: No. that i whore that Id
Free Whipky stabbed me"
Bill Jennings WAS not member of the
gang that SO long infested our county.
lie could not be trusted by them. He was
simply worthless fellow who would
never be sober when he could get liquor
with which to get drunk.
VIM. Jennings. son of the robber chief
was - YOU state accid"ntly drowned II
good many years ago, but not in th" Ohio
river. am told he did not have bad
character, that he Was the best and
most worthy Of the name. He had moth
inc 10 do with the criminal acts Of the
Jennings gang.
have taken the pains to make this
statement DfChuSt II WAS lAIlN
through me, that the reporters Obtained
knowledge of tn" man. He did not
like the name Jennings. because Of the
infamy attached To it,. and h. depressed
the wish To- his father. to assume his
mothers name, WI jrh was Nolan.
Why did not recognize him when |
first saw him is easily explained. Near
" faintinG, | was compelled to leav" tn"
room hurriedly. Again. hi hair wa,
neatly trimmed and his face clearly
shaven, and his personal appearance was
So much superior to what it had always
been that none Of his friends would have
recognized him at first sight. Fearing
that some OF our people might say that
] simply made the statement that il was
Bill Jennings, through desire to shield
some one else, Will" others may say
am trying to bring disgrace on Others.
tax" this method of explanation
Please give ;hi, an insertion in your
L -