The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-08-20
ELI ICES CASE.
A Relative Refutes The Miastaiements
Ofa Register Correspondent.
MANSISGroS, August 10,

MASSISGTOS, August 10.
EditOrs fntsliEsneer;
l sec by an article in the Register OF the
10th inst, signed 70. A. P.," serious and
untruthiul reflections on the leo family in
this section. do not wish to enter into a
protracted newspaper discussion, hut l can
not suffer such glaring Misrepresentation
as were contained in that article TO pass
without a merited rebuke. The writer OF
that article Is either ignorant Of the facts
or willfully prevaricates. His story about
"Bogy," as he is pleased to style
Ell Ice, swimming a river and being dis
tinRuished for cool bravery and never
shrinking from any line of duty, is a weak
bit Of irony.
The writer also unadvisedly asserts that
Of the attorneys who prosecuted Eli Ice,
one had his land and the other possessed
his wife. l now propose to give the facts
In the case, and being second cousin Of
Eli, and having known him from his youth
up think / am well able to state them
correctly: Eli Ice was residing at Farm
ington at the breaking out OF the rebellion;
and for being Union man, and voting
for Abraham Lincoln, party Of Secession
roughs concluded 10 make lin recant his
political faith. They attempted to string
him up by rope, but finding him deter
mined 10 stick to his avowed principles,
they gave up their design on his life. Al.
ter this occurrence he left the place and
joined Capt. l.atham's company. He re-
mained with Latham for two years, alter
which he joined Ewing's battery, and
remained In that command until the close
OF the war. He was in nearly all OF the
principal battles, and was three times
wounded, the last time at Hatcher's Run,
where he was left on the field for dead
but was afterwards recovered.
&C A. p" says he was treacherous. In
this statement there is not one particle OF
truth; for there never was a more frank
out-spoken or honorable man than Eli Ice.
In regard to the tragedy which led to Ices
trial and imprisonment, beg leave to
correct the untruthiul historian. Ice was
at home on twenty days furlough, and
was at Squire Carothers' house on the
evening OF the alleged murder, having his
gun with him, as he feared the rebel
sympathizers in the vicinity would carry
out their former threats and hang him.
Uriah Wade had Just returned from Camp
Chase, under oath TO be OF good behavior.
Squire Carothers thought he was not
keeping his oath, and ordered Ice
to arrest him and bring him to Manning
ton, telling Eli it was as much his duty to
obey him as his officers. Ice found Wade
at the house OF man named Hess, and
told him he had orders 10 take him 10
Warrington. It was not in the night
time, nor was Wade man OF family as
is alleged by &c. A. P, but was young,
bold and fearless, and decided Southern
sympathizer. Ice took him to Squire
Carothers, who ordered him Ia
ken to Warrington that night.
They started on their journey and had not
proceeded more than q quarter OF mile
when Wade was shot. 1cesays that Wade
seized his gun and tried to wrench it from
him, when he shot him in self.deiense.
The matter would have passed into obliv-
ion had it not been for a newly nedged
lawyer, Ezekiel Q. Snodgrass, who desiring
TO distinguish himself, and being an ardent
Souther1er, hunted up the old warrant
and had Ice arrested and prosecuted with
the result already well known.
Ice was without money TO procure coun.
sci, and the Court assigned for his defense
a Mr.. Somers, an ex-COniederate Captain.
The defense made by Mr.. Somers was
weak, while the opposing counsel were
powerful pIeaders and fine lawyers. The
verdict Of the Jury wasasurprise to every.
one, eXcepk those who were aCtUated by
partisan feeling. e. ~
The story Of &c. A. F." of Wade being
torn from his house at midnight and his
corpse being brought back on sled to be
greeted with Widows sobs and the wall
ing Of his children, is fancitul picture,
and docs not carry with Il the truth. for
he was Childless. These are the facts
OF the case, and as the shooting took place
when the two men were alone, we have
only the statements Of the principals to re.
ly on, the question being one OF crdibility.
Very truly, H, NJ. Ice.