The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-12-05
THE HIGHWAY RoRBERY.

Preliminary Hearing Yesterday Afier-
nno-Weldin Positively Identified the
HOltseIaWa ~ the Men who Assaulted
HIm-Ihey are Held In 5000 Each for
Court
The preliminary hearing Of George aud
James Holtsclaw, who are charged with
the highway robbery Of Tuesday night
last, took place Yesterday afternoon before
VIM. Philip, ESQ., who acted in the
absence Of Col. Miller who was sick. IL
Jordan appeared for the State and Col. w.
W. Arnett and John o. Pendleton repre-
sented the Holtsclaws.
Weldin, the man robbed appeared In
the court room bearing the marks Of the
assault, all over his face. He Is a very
modest and unGssuming Englishman and
gave his testimony In a straight forward
truthful manner. His evidence was well
substantlated by the other witnesses for the
State, and a strong case was made out
against the accused. The witnesses on
each side were excluded from the room
during the hearing.
VIM. Weldin, swOrn.-Came 10 this
city last Monday morning; stopped at the
Rine House; saw the prisoners between
six and seven o'clock that evening ut the
Rine House; one Of The Holtsclaws want.
ed me to go TO bad house; ] refused we
took walk toward the steamboat land.
ling; in the meantime the other Hollis
claw went for whisky. We then went up
the railroad track 10 the bridge, above
which / was assaulted by one Of them,
don't know which one 1t was. was
rendered insensible. had nine dollars
in bills and some silver. / noticed them
leaving me. Soon after two gentlemen
came 10 me. ] then went to the Rine
House; could not say which one Of them
got rny money; am satisfed,these are the
parties left the Rine House with.
Cruss.examined by Mr.. Pendleton--
Formerly worked at Cumberland and
Baltimore. Live wherever l can get
work. Formerly worked in the State Of
New York. Came from England nine
years ago. Came to this city from Bridge
port Went to saloon first; drank sew.
eral times. Come to Wheeling TO take q
boat to Parkersburg. Ipassed the day in
looking around the city. / drank nomore
after the first drinks. was paid off last
Monday morning. Exhibited my pocket
book in the Rine House in the presence Of
the prisoners. Think was sober at the
time, at any rate sober enough to keep the
run OF what was doing. Don't think we
went along the railroad track more than
hundred yards until was struck. Before
this asked to go back TO the hotel, but
they told me that We were going the near
est way. Can not say which one Of the
men struck me; it was too dark to see
which. Did not cry out when struck.
James Holtsclaw took my money after
was knocked down. They kicked me in
sensible very long. Two men came along
while was lying on the track.
Redirect by Mr.. Jordan. My clothing
was torn; my pocket book was taken.
John NJ. Laishley sworn: Was at the Rine
, House Monday evening; saw the prisoners
and also Mr.. Weldin; they were in COM
pany. This was about six o'clock; was
there quite while in the afternoon. The
man Weldin drank quite q quantity Of
cider. / told him he had better not drink
any more. Weldin was under the in
fluence OF liquor; he was notvery drunk.
Elias Kettle testified that he had been at
the Rine House on Monday evening, and
while there had seen the prisoners and
Weldin together; they drank together;
they appeared on very good terms; they
left the house together; one Of them had
Weldin by the arm; they went down street
together; this was shortly before o'clock.
William Armstrong sworn: Saw Weldin
on Monday evening between seven and
nine o'clock on the railroad track; he had
no hat on; he was walking down the
track; he told me had been robbed; the
train was approaching and pulled him
off the track, and he was 80 weak he fell
down the bank; called our carpenter off
the float and We examined him; he was
covered all over with blood; his hair was
all matted, and he was terribly beaten up;
l gave him twenty-five cents.
To Mr.. Pendleton. The injuries to him
could not have resulted from the fall after
met him; think he was intoxicated;
told me six men had "set on him.; said
ISl2 had been taken from him; he was
walking toward me when first saw him;
We were above the bridge,
Officer VIM. Miller: Heard OF the rob.
berry the morning subsequent to it; was
on the lookout for them all day; Consta.
bic Love was with me when the arrests
were made; prisoners both denied tho
robbery; at the lookup the prisoners ad.
mitted to me that they had got the whisky
at Mrs. Hadlick's, but claimed that they
had gone home from her saloon.
To Mr.. Pendleton: George HoltsClaw
told we that they had not done the steal
ing.
YIN. Love sworn: Mr.. Laishley brought
Weldin to this office Tuesday morning;
be was beaten badly, and was in deplora-
BILE condition; hunted all day for the
Holtsclaws; went TO their house several
times during the day; Officer Miller and l
arranged to go around there during the
night, which we did, and arrested George;
James, We arrested at MONEYS; we took
them to the lookup, where we left them
while went after Weldin TO identify
them; which he did.
To Mr.. Pendleton: Miller did not say
to Weldin, these are the men don't you
recognize them2"
The State rested ut this point, and James
Rine was called for the defense. fam
proprietor Of the Rine House; saw Mr..
Weldin the first time at $50 last Monday
evening; did not drink in my presence;
the Holtsclaws were there when came
home; they were all together when went
into supper; when came out they were
all gone; could not swear as to Weldin's
condition. Weldin came In about eight
o'clock bloody and very sober; said he had
been robbed by the parties who were with
him; said he had lost about Sl2."
Mrs, Hadlich sworn-Know the Hollis.
claws saw them Monday evening between
Q and o'clock. James Holtsclaw and
stranger came into my saloon; the strang.
er was "purty" drunk. Weldin came in,
but witness could not identity him. re.
fused to sell them whisky, as the stranger
was drunk.
To. Mr.. Jordan-Neither Of the Hollis.
claws bought half pint OF whisky that
Louis schell sworn-Neyer saw Mr..