The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-12-13

MfHrER1ou8 DRowRtR0 or FINLEY
MoGREw.-Finley MeGrew left his home
In Bridgeport, on last Tuesday evening,
and ~ he did not return on Wednesday
morning, his wife became alarmed, and
10 answer 70 her inquiry as to bis where.
aboutsteceived intelligence which aroused
fears that be had drowned by falling from
the railroad bridge, crossing the creek at
Bridgeport. This gupposition was found.
ed on the report Of a colored man, whose
evidence we give. Accordingly the mouth
Of the creek was thoroughly seined but
without finding the body. Mr.. @. @.
Cochran went 70 the colored man and had
an interview with him, and at once con-
clnded that the body was certainly In the
water, but in such 4 position near the
bridge pier as 10 make II impossible to
get Il with the seine. He accordingly
procured grab hook and the first effort
made with Il brought TO the surface the
body Of the missing man. The corpse wAa
taken to his late residence near by and
Justice d. Z. Howell, acting as coroner,
summoned the following jury: n. A,
Sharp, K. I. Howell, r. j. Alexander, G..
r. Grier, Milton McConnaughy, William
Alexander The following witnesses were
examined;
&C. Cochran being duly sworn stated
that on December Il, 1877, soon alter 10
o'clock A. NJ, he grappled the body OF
Finley y. McGrew directly under the
iron railroad bridge and towed 1t across
the creek 10 the west bank Of the
Ohio river. Life was quite extinct.
George King, colored, stated that about
a o'clock p. NJ. Of December II, 1877, he
heard woman scream there was 4 man
drowning In the creek, and he ran to the
east side Of the iron bridge on Morgan
street, 10 about the centre oil the same,
aud saw a man struggling in the water
under the railroad bridge, very near the
south bank, and he supposed he had got
out, as he did not see him but a short
time, the moon giving but little light.
He told others the same night, but they
paid no attention to his statement. He
also heard the man cry ont twice, as II
for help.
Sophia McGrew stated that she was the
vile Of Finley Q. McGrew, and that on
The night Of December llth he went out
Of the house alone after Z o'clock. Soon
after she heard loud talk, and going ont
Of her kitchen door she heard a man
struggling 10 the water and calling ooh,
oh, OH" several times, and abe thought
u was Finleys voice. She sent for Mr..
Frank Milligln, and he went with Ian.
tern and examined about the bridge aud
creek, but found nothing. She believed
1t was Finley.
Frank Milligan stated that he was
with Finley MCGrew after dark on De-
cember 18th, and about Z o'clock saw
him come out Of his house and 90 south
over the Kirkwood bridge. He made
search at Mrs. McGrew's request for her
husband last night, and went to Wheeling
10 find him.
Nancy Kugler stated that on December
nth, alter Z o'clock P. NJ, she heard tile
voices oftwo persons apparently quarrel
ling at the South end Of the Railroad
bridge. She thought from their voices
they were females.
The verdict Of the jury was withheld
until after the examination Of other wit.
nesses who were absent from town. II is
thought by many that testimony will yet
be ELECTED that, together with previous
threats, will enshrOudt che affair In veil
oil mystery that may not be raised this side
the Great Beyond.