The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-12-14

Frank Milligan being recalled and duly
sworn, gave the following testimony: On
the evening Of December 18th, he saw
Finley MCGreW the last time; il was
about y o'clock, when he came out Of biz
house, and went towards the bridge, and
hallway across II. ! then returned to
my shop, and in about ten minutes alter
wards McGreW'S Oldest daughter came tc
the chop and said her mother wanted me
10 come there right away. Istarted with
her. Alter passing HifIin's corner, cross.
ing 10 Ross Grier's, to the best OF my
recollection, passed John II. Watkins
While standing on Gilin's corner
and seeing McGrew 60 over the
Kirkwood bridge, Doctor Cook pass
ed me coming over the Kirkwood
bridge, passing McGrew, and went on up
Bank street. When | went p 10 see Mira
McGrew abe told me she Thought Finley
was In the river; that she heard some
quarteling, and went out on the porch
and heard splash in the water and
some ono hollow three times, and she
thought II was Finley. When she went
out on the porch she heard no quarrel
ing, but heard the man, who was in the
wafer, say "Oh, oh, OH Igot lantern
and went over 10 the railroad bridge, but
found nothing wrong. Going down to
the waters edge, on both sides OF the
bridge, | returned and went up into Nc.
Crews house, and after returning to my
shop and leaving my lantern, l went TO
the toll house and inquired II Mr.. Nc.
Grew had passed over. was in
formed that he had not, but il might
have happened that he passed over.
went on 10 the other toll house
and made the same inquiry and they
said they did not think he had passed.
| went to several places, but could not
find him, | have no clear or positive
opinion aS 10 how he came to his death.
have heard threats against McGrew;
remember one time distinctly, but do not
wish to state who made them or the sub
stance Of them unless il Ia necessary. One
day on the streets l heard a man at Clay.
lands feed store talking very loudly. He
said he "would not die satisfied until he
could kill Finley McGrew and his wife,
or he would die satisfied il he could kill
Finley McGrew and his WIFE" and he
would not die satisfied till he had; that Ut
was blood he was after, and by the eter-
nal it was blood he was going 10 have"
At another time l heard him say that il
they gave him any trouble he would kill
them both, meaning McGrew and wife.
Being required by the jury, l give the
name, under compulsion, as that OF John
| II. Watkins.
Amanda Powell testified that on Tue
evening Of December IL, while at ]. Fl,
Vests, ale heard QuArreling near the
railroad bridge about Il o'clock, and in
a little while man ran down the rail.
road track, fast until he came to our
house, walked very fast past oHr-houSe,
tandIurnsd 10 the right from the railroad.
The voices were kind OF line liEe@-iike
women. The man was small. / only
heard the voices, fine one and coarse
one. The man did not have on an over.
coat, and when he turned from the rail.
road track he ran on past the stable on
DR.. Pratt's lot. The last Isaw Of him he
was just by the stable.
Pheoby Kugler testified that on the
evening Of Dec. II she heard loud talking
at the bridge, apparently guarreIins;
voices sounded like women. 1t lasted
but n few minutes. ! think there were
but two persons.
John Gilmore testified On the evening
Of Dec. llth, about 7:2O O'Clock, I was
standing in front Of MilligAn's shop, and
while there John H. Watkins passed, 20.
ing up town. had been at AshbaugG's
grocery and going out left Watkins In
there. When | went home il was within
a minute or two Of half.past seven o'clock.
From the lime left Ashbaughs, until |
got home was not more than five minutes.
Alexander Gill testified A short time
before the last term OF court, / heard
John IL. Watkins say Of Finley McGrew,
"Thelc il the s-n OF a b-h that gave
me more trouble than any man living"
He said she was tempted TO kill him,
and :w5ulyAEt4 him il ever he crossed bis
path lie said, "The oIhsFz=lay she WAS
at my mill, and had notion to take
the hatcheI and split his brains out, aud
II ii was to be done over again would
do it, Watkins frequently gets mad
and threatens persons. Everybody knows
that.
Also, DR., John Cook, being duly sworn,
stated: | was in my office at "a O'Clock
last night within one minute. A call
having been made for me, I started out,
walking over the bridge on the wagon
roadway, and when near the north end |
met Finley C. McGrew walking rather
rapidly, and as he usually walks when a
little intoxicated. thought he was
somewhat intoxicated at the time. /
passed to the left sidewalk and passed
Henry RehIn'a meat store, and when near
the entrance 10 Heinlein's shoe store 1net
John II. Watkins going in the same d.
rection Mcirew was going, rather rapid.
ly. Going on, at GifIins corner ! saw
Frank Milligan, and met other parties l
do not remember. l reColIect well meet
ing those three parties, for it called to
my mind the lawsuit between two OF them,
which is still pending. did not think
McGrew al the time was much intoxi
Gated, as he was not staggering at all, as I
have often seen him,
George King, being duly sworn, stated
that about ! o'clock P. NJ, Of December
IL, 1877, he heard man cry out loud aud
clear, "Oh!' and then another cry "Oh |"
fainter and lower, and then heard a
splash. believe those cries came from
the man before he fell from the bridge.
Then ! heard woman at Mrs, McGreW,s
Kitchen door cry out, "a man has fallen
in the watef." | heard the faint cry Just
as ! struck the south end OF the bridge,
Running acrosA the roadway OF the bridge
saw man struggling in the water close
into the shore, very near to the south
bank, and supposed he had got out, as
did not see him but ashort time. called
the attention Of others to this, but they
paid no attention to il. My opinion ia
both the crINs came from the man before
he fell in the water, and that he made
no cutlery aiIer he struck thewaler. When
| saw the man struggling in the water
could hear no splashing, and believe the
loud splash which heard plain was
when he lell into the water.
Jacob Carnes, being duly sworn, stated {:
| have heard threats made against Finley
c. McGrew by only one person l now
remember. The threat was in the fol.
lowing language as nearly "a can re-
member: "By Jesus Christ, will take
his life; | will kill him: | will mt him