Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1877-04-12
UNIONTOWN.
Joseph Randolph.

Joseph Randolph.
We promised to obtain for our read
ITS the full particulars concerning the
.rrest of joseph Randolph, and the
.rime OF which he stands accused. The
course which the CHRONICLE has taken
N refusing to publish the many ru-
nors, and unjust accusations in circula-
ion, eommends it to the favor Of every
" hat is published in it from time to
time can be relied upon as correct re-
port of the matter in its different bear
Ings. This report is the property of
the CHRONICLE alone, for which We
obtained il, although rs matter Of
portion of it was allowed to
be copied by all another newspaper
The writer of the arti-
Gle from which we copy states:
We were present ON the occasion of
lis preliminary examination before
Squire Clapper in November, 1870, and
noted the important points in
evidence for publication, and must say
that We were of the opinion then (and
the same opinion to-day
that Randolph killed John Miller in
and consequently is not
gully of the charge of murder. BY ref
erence to our issue Of the Hartford
City Union, Of December l. 1870, you
will find the following report of the
preliminary examination before Esq.
Clapper. We republish it 20 refresh
the memory of our readers with regard
to this so-called murder:
1.-The evidence on the preliminary
examination of Joseph Randolph be-
fore Esquire Clapper, charged with the
murder of John Miller on the 10Th ult,
disclosed the following facts: That the
Miller family while at the residence OF
John Miller, three miles n.r,hesst OF
this place, observed Jesse and Joseph
Randolph coming aleng the public
highway in front of John Miller's resi-.
dence, when one of the members of the
Miller family suggested the propriety
of getting clubs and going down TO the
road and giving the Randolphs a
thrashing-or something to that effect.
Upon this suggestion Asbery and John
Miller gathered clubs and started for
the road, the rear being brought up by
reached the fence, Joe Randolph stop
ped Gnstead of fleeing as he should
have done) and warned them not to
cross the fence, and told them if they
came into the road to attack him with
clubs they would get hurt. The Mil.
lers needed not the warning, but cross
ed the lence-and the evidence OF Mr..
Bedwell, who was near and saw the
parties, and it appears is q disintereSt'
ed witness--shows that John Miller,
after be crossed the fence, advanced
rapidly on Joe Randolph with his club
drawn, whe backed from the old mau
at the same time throwing off his coat
and drawing bowie knife, as he
bed welD thought, from his bosom.
At this juucture James Miller, hearing
the affray, came Iuuibg up, and as ne
neared the scene of coufiict, jesse Ran
dolph knock ed him down with d club.
The combatantS were now oil on the
field of battle. On one side John Mil
Ter, and his wife; James Miller, and his
wifi; Asberry Miller and Ann Miller
all armed with clubs. On the other
side was Jesse Randolph, armed with
with club, and Joe Randolph, armed
with a knife. The evidence of Mr.,
Bedwell shows that John Miller ad.
vanced on Joe Randolph and endeav-
ed to strike him with his club-Joe
backing of, throwing his coat and
brandishipg his knife at the same time
Notwithstanding the apparent danger,
John Miller, Gnstead OF fleeing to the
wall as he should have done, advanced
ON Joe and struck him with his club
(rhe evidence on this point is some
what conflicting; but what seems to be
the most reliable evidence shows the
above ia, Is.
At this point in the engagement il
appears by the evidence that the Mil
lers were fighting to protect theil
father, directing their attacks upon
Joe; aud Jesse Randolph was endeav'
ing TO keep the Millers from huItins
his brother. In the scuff1e between the
old man Miller and Joe, the club was
wrenched from the old man, when he
and Joe clinched. While they were
locked in each others embrace Jos
plunged his knife into John. Miller
four times twice to the depth of ab1ul
four inches in the right side; also in.
fiicting slight wound in the thigh,
After the stabbing occurred the com.
batants separated, all parties appear
ing to have had enough Of such work.
Joe Randolph then told the Millers t.
20 back to the house-and added that
if they would do so he would not mo-
lest them. The Miilers then started
en- masss for the house, and John Mil.
ler, the evidence shows, died in five
minutes after he entered his home.
The above are the facts as near as we
can relate them from memory after
hearing the evidence.
An examination of the body OF the
deceased by DR.. Mason, revealed the
wounds as above described, with an
additional wound on the back part Oi
he head-which, the doctor stated on
the witness stand, he thought was
caused by club. The witnesses left
it matter of extreme doubt as to who
or what caused this wound on the
head, and the evidence of the physi-
clans, Drs. Drawer, Kirby and Mason
was that the sudden death was most
liKely caused by nervous shock pro-
duced by a combination of all the
wounds. This left il a matter OF doubt
whether this wound was one Of the
causes Of death ,and also doubt wheth:
er 1t was one of the Randolphs or Mil
lers who produced the wound.
The preliminary examination was
on Saturday last aud end
ed on Tuesday. The prosecution was
ably conducted by Col. Steele and J.
t. Wells, the defense by A. B. JetmOre
and w. A. BoDham. The evidence
having been heard and the pleas of the
made, Esquire Clapper &C.
quilted the prisoner.
After the acquittal Of the prisoner
the prosecutor had both the Randolph
brothers re-arrested and lodged ie Jail
to await another preliminary exami-
patton before Esquire Cline--Jesse
being kept in custody to have
i hearing, charged with being an nc.
in the murder. Since the
have been rearrested, Mil
er's body was taken up By the medi
al uanflaman Drs ClOuSer Drawer