Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-11-26
FAIRNIONT.
News About the TOwn-The Is
cape of Henry Simpkins-The
John Burke Case-Death OF
Rawley T.. Dent.

y
John Burke Case-Death Of
Rawley +. Dent.
Correspondence Of the Register.
FAIRNoNT, November %.
Owing 20 the amount OF unfinished
business on the docket of the Circuit
Court that Judge Fleming does not like
to dispose of, it is expected that there
will be special term Of that court here
in January.
There will be "tOny" dance at the
Town Han on Thanksgiving night.
Judge Fleming, Hon. James Morrow,
Jr., Joseph f. Sands, Esq, and DIR. G.
b. Carney are the floor managers. If
the dancers are able TO keep the floor
managers straight good time will be
had.
The military of the town will air
| themselves on Thanksgiving.
Delightful weather we are having now,
but the oldest inhabitant never saw
such a scarcity of water as We now have.
/ The streams all over this county are
very low and it il with difficulty that
some farmers get sufficient water Tor
their stock. The recent freeze only adds
! 10 the Inconvenience.
There was good skating on the ice on
Buffalo Greek, on Monday, which was
enjoyed by many OF our Youngsters.
The store house of Mr.. A. y. Parish,
| i'm Warrington, caught fire this moru-
| inc and was under good headway before
/ it was discovered, but liberal applica-
/ ton OF water and muscle soon eXtin-
/ guished the flames. Warrington is so
/ situated that the burning OF any OF its
business houses would most likely burn
| the entire business portion of the town,
and a cry OF fire will cause great alarm
among her people.
Tux ESCAPE OF HENRY SIMPKINs.
1t will remembered that Henry
Simpkins, the most prominent figure IN
the late Warrington rape case, Jumped
his bail" and did not put in an appear
ance at the last Circuit Court. 1t APP
pears that he went to the State OF
Illinois and became too intimate with
a gentleman out there and, as the boys
say, gave himself away" The gem
tleman then wrote to the sheriff OF this
county to know if Simpkins, describing
him, was wanting, whereupon Prose-
cutting Attorney Arnet got requlSitlon
for Simpkins and deputized Constable
Aaron Furbee 10 90 after him. Mr..
Furbee telegraphed 10 the gentleman IN
Illinois 10 arrest him, and receiving a
reply that Simpkins was under arrest,
went to Springfield 10 get the
necessary papers from the Governor
of that State. After he had pro-
cured the documents, he at once started
10 Woodland, the place where Simpkins
was under arrest, and before he got
there the guards who had been placed
over Simpkins had let him escape. One
of the guards, il is said, had a quantity
of gold coin upon his person, and the
presumption is strong that the whole
marty was bribed. Constable Furbee Is
very indignant over the whole matter.
IL is alsoheported that the three guards
have been arrested, and that the Gov
ernor of Illinois has offered areward for
the arrest of Simpkins. This is strange
occurrence to happen in the loyal State
of Illinois. Ii a refugee from that State
had been caught and allowed to escape
| i'm this county, or i'm some of the conn
ties of the "Solid south considerable
political capital would have been man
ufactured out of il, hut the usual Re
publican majority Of the State makes
| the transaction perfectly regular.
There has been a great change Of pub
lie opiniOn since the trial Of those rape
/ cases. There are many who believe
/ that Simpkins will never be convicted OF
/ the Otlensc, while others held con
trary opinion.
THE CASE or BURKE.
The case of John Burke, charged with
/ that offense, attracted considerable no.
tice. Mr. Burke, up 10 that time, was
considered one OF our best young men,
and when he was accused Oi the crime
| the entire community was aStonished.
| There were some who pretended 10 be-
/ heve him guilty, but many wisely con.
/ cluded 10 withhold their opinion until
/ the facts in the case were fully devel-
| oped. Some of your correspondents
/ treated your readers with some details OF
| that affair that were not sustained by
\ the evidence adduced in the trial
/ of the cases, and did injustice TO
/ Mr.. Burke. think it will not be amisS
| to correct some of the statements, al
| though he has some time since been
\ honorably acquitted by a jury OF his
/ countrymen. "Mr. Burke was caught in
/ bad company" was the expression heard
\ about the courtroom at the time OF his
/ trial. and that was all that could be said.
! There was no evidence of his guilt that
| would have convicted the meanest Grim
/ inal i'm onr State. Few young men can
/ have such a character as he did. Men
rom all parts OF our county, from his
own neighborbOod and from more re-
mote parts of the county where he had
\ been working, men whose daughters had
/ associated with him, and whose roof had
\ sheltered him, testified TO his upright
ness Is a gentleman, and there was
\ nothing shown in the trial TO cause them
TO change their opinions.
| lie was taught a lesson in that trial.
/ He will never again be caught IN such
\ company, and will hereafter be the
same genial, honest, courteous, gentle
\ manly, Johnnie Burke.
/ DEATH OF AN OLD CITIZEN.
Rawley f.. Dent, one of our oldest cit
/ izens, died on the oath inst. at the resi-
dence of his daughter, Mrs. t. f. Thorn
as, near Laurel Point, in Monongalia
county, OF paralysis. He was born at
Dents Run, in Monongalia county, on
February %, IS0S, and was in his 72d
wear. He was inferred in the Manning
| ton Cemetery, by the side OF his wife,
who died July l6, 1876, and his son, }.
| F.. Dent, who died November l., 1874,
Mr. Dent was son Of Capt. John
Dent, who was soldier in the Revolu-
tionary war. Capt. Dent left twelve
children, all of whom have died, but
DR.. VI. Dent, OF Granville, MonOngalia
county, and Mrs. Arab Fogle. Mr..
Dent was, at it were, an old landmark
IN the human family. He had his faults,
but was possessed of many virtues that
won hosts Of friends wherever he lived,
who now mourn his loss.
CARL NUBY.
Coal Miners Strike.