The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-12-18

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Other Prisoner.
WELsnuRe, December 10.
Editors lHtslliIencer.
By permission OF J. L. Curtis, Esq, ou
pleasant and accommodating Sheriff, youl
correpondent'was allowed to visit the
county jail this morning for the purpose
Of having an interview with the prisoners
confined there, more especially with those
who have been styled the Bethany FIRE
bug and burglar gang.
The jail building is an old.iashioned
stone structure, situated on the alley i'm
mediately in the rear OF the Court House
1t is about twenty-five or thirty feel
square and two stories high. The lower
story isdivided into four apartments, OF
cells, the divisions being Of iron lattice
work. There is nothing to prevent the
prisoners from hearing an ordinary con.
versation held in either OF the rooms
One medium sized stove, placed near the
main entrance door, furnishes the heat
for the entire prison. The second story
contains four apartments, three oil which
are allotted to the use Of the janitor, the
other is what used to be, under the old re.
gime, styled the debtor room, and is now
used exclusively rs the female depart.
ment To the credit OF our county, be It
said, the room last spoken OF is but very
little used.
Having taken the mind of the reader
with US TO the jail we shall endeavor to
describe the brief interviews we had with
the inmates.
ENTERING THE GILL
OF Dr.. Parkinson, We approached him
with Good morning, Doctor; how are you
this morning.
u am as we'll, sir, as could be expected
under the circumstances" he replied.
"Are you comfortable in here?"
"only tolerable; we feel the cold some.
what"
doctor, l am representative OF the
Wheeling DAILY ISTELIldRNCER, and have
ceme here to have talk with you, with
reference to your difficulties. Have you
any objections to tell me your side OF the
story? What you say will be published.
You have had the benefit OF considerable
newspaper notoriety from one standpoint,
and am here to let the public hear your
story"
ga put up job! A put up jobl Sit down
aud l will tell you briefly all that have
to say" said the Doctor.
The Sheriff kindly furnished US with
seats in the room that contained the stove,
and the Doctor and entered into CONVEX
sat!on. He stated that he was sixty-four
years OF age; was born and raised in
Brooke county, where he has resided the
greater portion OF his life.
Doctor you know that some very
serious charges have been made against
you, and sworn to, what have YOU got to
say in regard thereto. We don't want YOU
to give yourself away, mind?"
81 have nothing to give away he re.
piled: Its a put up job as said before.
The day before, continued the Doctor, the
burning OF Bethany College, left Martin 8
Ferry for my home near Bethany. had
been suffering with sore foot and Mr..
Meade, of Martins Ferry gave me things
to battle it with. Arriving at Wellsburg I
got in John Lanck's hack and went to
Bethany and from there to my home,
which is about three miles from Bethany,
John Crawford saw me on the road home.
| stayed at home that night and put things
to my sore foot. Susan Agnew, my sister.
in-law, was at my house. Thenext morn.
ing borrowed horse from Mr.. Simpson,
a neighbor OF mine, to 60 to Bethany Tor
the purpose OF getting my tools which
had left at John Lanck's the evening pre-
vious." [Dr. Parkinson is a dentist and
stands at the head of his profession as a
mechanic. "On the way to Bethany,
James Beall, son OF Col. G. II. Beall, over
took me. Before he cameup to me met
woman with child with her. She ask.
ed me ''if l heard OF the fire at the col.
lege." l told her that had not. The
same lady met James Beall and told him
about the fire. When Beall caught up
with me the fire was the subject Of CONVEX.
sation until we reached Bethany. When
got TO Bethany went up to see the
ruins OF the college. am as ignorant OF
who did it and how it was done as the
dead. 1t Is put up job on me-"
'Well, doctor, what do you think is the
motive for charging this thing to your &C.
COUNT"
~ think there is somebody behind it all
who is endeavoring to hide their own
troubles"
"Why do they select you?"
II do not know"
'Do you think that you can prove your.
sell innocent2 You know, doctor, that
the evidence against you is very strong
which you must meet"
81 am aware OF that and expect to cleaI
myself" He continued, TASK the people
il ever wronged any man; ask. tho citi'
zens Of Martins Ferry as TO my conduct as
good citizen while l had my shop there.
The doctor then said that he had nothing
more to say.
ruos. BELL.
This prisoner informed US that he was {
native Of England, and was in the filtiett
year of his age. Came to America abou
twenty.one years ago; settledat Bells Goa
mines, in Kentucky; was made citizen o
the United States in Wellsburg; reside
now in the town OF Bethany; said that ht
did not know what he wasin Jail for; asked
me il l knew; told him / understood II t
be on y charge OF burning Lanck' q stable
II that Is 1t, said he, 81 am an innocen
man. was the first man at the fire ant
my son was the next"
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