The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-04-02

proved concluslvely that the Ited men
were justifisble in doing as they did
and that for their interference there
would have been no protection to life
limb or property in Wetzel county. For
the purpose OF setting the people Of
Wetzel county right before the COM
muni,y at large, book has been writ
, ten BY one perfectly familiar with all the
circumstances necessary to enable him
to prepare such a work. This book ia
eotitled "a SKETCH OF JOHN JENNINGS,
THE RoDpER CHEF" etc, and gives a
history not only OF the Robber Chief,
bat Of the prominent members OF his
gang, as we'll as an account Of the
more prominent outrages by them COM
United. Italso gives an account OF the
organization OF the Red Men. the ne.
sessily OF such an organization aud TIE
work they did. 1t is complete vim
disation Of the people OF WetzeI, and
proves that instead OF being lawless
mob, they were really law abiding citi-
aens, and tamely submitted to a series
OF insults and outrsges, consisting OF
robbery, larceny, burglary, murder and
the most horrible Of all, the outragiug
OF female virtue, longer than they were
justified in doing, ere they resorted to
violence to protect themselves aud their
property.
The book ought to be in the hands
OF every person residing in the
State. or that ever heard the name OF
John Jennings. The following extracts
from the book will give the reader a
pretty good idea of its nature and con-
tents:
nThe fret act OF jennings, The ehief,
in connection with his coDiederstes, that
brought hln prominently before the
public, was the burglary aud robbery
| ot Nicholas Hitch, which occurred IN
the adjoining county OF Marshall and
near the line separating that county
from Welsel, and not far from Ger
man settlement known as Steuders.
Hitch, himself OF German extraction,
was the proprietor Of a country store.
and bore the reputation OF being good
oitixen, and had al excellent
name among his neighbors
HIS store was located near bis dwelling
house, the two, in fact, were conr ect-
ed, and he generally passed his nighls
10 the store. deeming the store 80 much
more secure from robbery by 80 doing.
The sequel will show his mistake. Oae
night after he had closed his store and
retired to his rest as usual and had lain
there until he bad fallen into q deep
sleep, he was awakened by a noise IN
the store, and upon becoming fully
awakened, found the store in possesA
don OF sx men, John Jennings at their
head, giving the necessary orders. Be
fore Hitch had recovered from his sur
prise Jepnipgs had advanced and draw
ipc his revolver, presented it 10 Hitchs
tase, threatening him with instant
death should he attempt to give any
alarm. at the same time directing those
with him, and who obeyed his orders,
what goods to carry away.
They already knew which road he
intended travelling upon. lie was
permitted to pass on into the country
aumolested, but while riding lelsurIy
bomewsrd on what is known as Terra
piu Ridge, he saw two men emerge
from the heavy underbrush by the
roadside, who commanded him to malt
which summons be by no means obey
ed. The next moment he heard the
report of a revolver and felt the ball
Nrike him in the hip. With difficulty
retaining his seat in the saddle, 'or ne
was severely wounded) he urged his
horse forward until he reached the res
hence OF Washington Snodgrass, Esq'
where he was taken into the house and
kindly cared for by the family OF tha'
gentleman.
During the month Of 1878
two members of the gang, Frank anc
Jack Jeuuinga, made their way to TIT
residence OF q respectable citizen Q
Wetzel county. and found him with
his wife and two children at home
alone. Armed with revolvers, they 0
course, could compel submission t.
their infamous demands. One OF TIT
villains, presenting revolver, gave 10
slructions to his brother to bind tn
unfortunate man hand and foot, ate
which the house was plundered, tn
scoundrels SEEING and carryin!
away with them all the val
uable articles they could find
including a silver watch, cloth
ing and eighty dollars in currency; hi
wife being compelled 10 remain an.
witness the robbery-not being permit
bed to leave the house, or even remon
strate with them upou their conduct
. This alone would have been sutficlen
to Justify her husband or any othe
person in shooting the villains at once
without losing or wasting time 10 use
. less preliminaries. Had they desiste
!. from further outrage their crime won
be less atrocious. less damning, bu
after having pluudered the house, nri
, binding the proprietor securely, one
the villains, in sight OF the husesn
= and children, brutality outraged tn
! wife OF the unfortunate man; ate
/ which the tieuds fled, seeking their hI
ding places with as little delay as Po
sible.
These extracts, and we have roof
for but few. will enable the reader
form an idea as to the nature OF til
| anfra nea To whiah tn q neonle OF WetZ.