The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-05-01


I.rrani OF James w. Roynofds ioS sh'
Murder OF George CaisasnSn.
ousar CRowD--PrBLIc FEELING : TESTIMONY
TReported forths Dispatch.J
s PIRsT DAY.
g-~. CONVICTION, April 20, 1874.
The case of James w. Reynolds, charged
with the murder of George Callaghan on tint
10th of last January, was before the Circuit
Court OF Allegheny county to-day. The
DISPATCH published an account Of the disco
very Of the body, and subsequently the ar.
rest of james w. Reynolds, charged with
the crime. At the March term of the Coun.
ty Court Reynolds was formally indicted BY
q special grand jury.
The remarkable history Of the family oil
the prisoner, their notoriety throughout this
section OF the Valley, caused, upon the arrest
of the prisoner, an almost unanimous verdict
against him. During the early part of his
imprisonment he wus condemned in advance
Of bis trial by the people Of this county and
BY many in the adjacent counties of Bath and
Botetourt. Public opinion ran heavily
against him, and the murder Of Callaghan
was discussed at every public and social
gathering, with imprecations on the head OF
'sJim Reynolds"
A jury was gotten without great difficulty
and is nicely constituted-three brothers
and cousin named Nicely; being third OF
the jury. The yeniremen, the witnesses for
the Commonwealth and for the defence, to-
gether with the visitors, made quite multi
tnde, called together by the fame Of the case.
Interested spectators from Bath and Bote-
tourt are here, Notwithstanding high water,
and the press Of farm work. Robert L. Par
IRISH, Esq, appears for the Commonwealth ;
General William Skeen and Colonel Ed
mund PendIeton represent the prisoner.
The prisoner appeared in court attended
by bis wife and several Of his children. He
looked unusually well-his treatment and
diet received from Tailor Baker having
agreed with bin.
The examination Of the witnesses was te-
dious. The day vas consumed in the ex-
animation OF seven witnesses for the Com
monWeaIth. The testimony in brief 10 as
follows:
William Shumaker deposed: crossed the
mountain on my way from Cooks Furnace
to nv fathers during the afternoon Of JAN
uary 10, 1874. 1t had been drzzling all day.
Stopped at Hays's distillery and met James
O'Brien; soon Edmund Tinsley rode up.
Started down the road with james O'Brien,
who was very drunk. Found George Cal
AFGHAN lying in the wsgon-track OF the mar
row road where road leads Off to James W.
Reynolds's house. 1t had become very
dark. Thought Calaghan was drunk; took
him by the hand and pulled him up
on the bank. Took O'Brien to the
house of John Bess. After FIVE
minutes delay, procured light, and with
Sampson Craft returned to Callaghan found
him lying just as l left him, but discovered,
By the aid OF the light, that he was dead; He
was cold, but not stiff. Returned down the
road as far as Dio Reynolds mill. Isaac
Reynolds and John Be$s went back with US
to the body. These two went OF for as.
sistance, and returned after an alsence of
two hours. built fire. aud staid with the
body till started to CoYington for a jury OF
inquest.
William T. BrowD, deposed Saw Gala
CHAN about 4 Z. M. at Hays's still.house;
left still house about sunset with Cailaghan:
he was drunk, and fell several times; met
Edmund Tinsley at laurel clump ut the
mouth of jim Reynolds road, about three
hundred yards from where met Tiusley. l
told CaIaghan l could not stay with him all
night, and left him; met Jim MINI, negro,
at Dio Reynolds's stable, driving oxen; the
oxen had to pass the body.
Edmund 7. Tin$ley testified: Returning
from court, January -, riding fast to get
home before dark, I met Brown and Cal
laghau 327 yards above where the body was
found. CalIaghan was drunk, and Brown
promised 10 take care of him. Saw Cal.
laghan'S body next morning about O'Clock.
jim Reynolds came down on his mule, and
did not diSmount or come nearer than fifteen
Yards from the body; said be did not pass
that way, &c. The prisoner had abused
CaIaghan because Callaghan had reported
him for illicit disti!ling.
Mr.. Carson, the county surveyor, had
made q plat of the locality Of the murder,
aud was called upon to state accurately the
distances involved in the testimony OF the
witnesses. The murder WAS committed in q
rough, wild gorge in the Rich Patch noun
.ains known as White Rock Cap. A creek
with very rapid fall trayerses this gorge to
, point below the Lowmon Iron Works.
Sampson Craft testified that while he was
1t the house of John Bess, before dark,
George Crawford made fire for Dio Rey-
holds, and Jim Reynolds ate supper with his |
ather Dio Reynolds). Jim Reynolds left.
md fifteen minutes afterwards screams were |
heard in the direction of the place where |
was found.
George w. Crawford deposed: saw CAL |
aghan-at ReynoldS's mill between 3 and !
?. NJ. Jim Reynolds gave him "some hard
ooks." Jim Reynolds left, and went to his
ather's house. I left, and going over the
idge to the right of Dio Reynolds's house.
aw jim Reynolds entering the path through
he laurel patch. Last spring Reynolds said
le would Kill Callaghan if it took three years
o do if. Callaghan had whipped Reynolds.
The testimony of this witness is consid-
red very important rs going to show the
presence of Reynolds in the laurel patch
when the murder was committed and about
he time at which screams were heard com.
pg from that direction.
Miss Joanna Wicher deposed: Mrs. Bess |
s my aunt; l stay with her. Was there ali I
he afternoon. jim Reynolds LETT little |
before dark. | went to the creek for water !
md saw Reynolds last in the road about /
wenty yards from the laurel patch. About |
,aIf an hour after got the water heard |
hree screams in the direction OF the laurel
patch. Three-quarters Of an hour after |
wards William Shumaker came and reported
George Callaghan dead.
The court then adjourned.
CoylSGToS.
yUo bol;ovo = rr,s nrDb ybo Ibid fOU n /