The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-02-28

TuE WoRREt CASE The Pittsburgh Leader
has had reporter in ClaYsyille during
the past week who, on Wednesday gave
a statement ofthe facts In the Worrell
case. alphabetically sustaining the Original
reports, which were first published IN THIS
paper. After describing the .Worreii
family, their habits and associations, he
saws: The night, the second OF February,
had arrived. They all retired at the usual
hour. The house, in the shape OF 0 I,
consists OF six rooms and o hall. On the
first floor Of the main building was the
parlor and dining-room with Q hali pc.
tween them. The kitchen opened from
the sitting room. The arrangement Of the
second floor was the same. The iathef
and the two younger boys occupied
the room over the sitting room,
the girls the room over the kitchen
which room opened upon an
upper porch. James slept in the sitting
room. After they had gone to bed James
arose, left the room, and It Is said by the
gossipers, went to q school house about q
mile distant, procured eau OF oil and re-
turned and poured 1t over the building.
He took kitching strap tied the door OF
the girls room, then he locked the door OF
his fathers room on the outside. His sis
ter Annie was the first 10 give the alarm.
She was aroused by the fire breaking
through the. ceiling and ut once sprang
from her bed shrieking, "He is trying to
burn US up" The rest were soon alive 70
their perilous situation and rushed
TO the door only to find 1t fastened.
There was door connecting the
rooms OF the father and the girls. He
ran into their apartment and their united
efforts parted the strap, and they were
free. They all screamed for Jimmy to
come to their aid, when, what was
their surprise TO see the son and brother
coming around the corner of the house
fully alfred, even to the buttoning OF his
shoes, while they had barely time to es-
cape in their night clothes. The alarm
must be given; the Oldest girl, Nettie, ran
half mile across plowed fields TO the
nearest neighbor, William Ross, and on
her arrival sank to the ground. Hel
feet were terribly lacerated by the
frozen clods. She said aiterward
that when about half way across
the fields she was seized with the fear that
she was pursued or she does not think
she could have gone 80 far. The people
we're soon on hand but not in time TO save
lanything. The house was a smoulderinR
ruin. The children were the fathers first
thought. They were grouped together
shiyering with cold. He sent a part tc
this neighbor and part TO that; When
it came to James he looked at him and
said: Jimmy, you can look out for your
self" The father appeared crushed. He
took the two younger boys 10 his brother
Robert Worrell, whose house was at 9
short distance,
The uncle threatened to have him ar
rested. This came TO the ears OF his par
ent, who Immediately took measures tc
lhaye the son who attempted his murder
escape. The uncle gave him money and
told him to go. His grandfather also gave
him a small sum, and on the 18th OF the
month, eleven days after the committal Q!
the crime, and which had been whispered
among the relatives for nearly the whole
OF that time, left the town. Everybody
talked; every one had theory concerning
his motives for the commission OF the
deed. The general idea was that he mus
be insane. It was found that insanity hat
been in the family not many generations
back. 1t is said that the young man is II
Ross Hill, Texas.
There are a good many interviews
printed In the report which we have no
space totpublish. The following are tht
reporters conclusions;
'From all this one thing can be de
Quoted: The Worrell family first put thu
story about the son into circulation. Thil
| is beyond doubt. There could havt
been no one else that night OF the fsinil!
who could have committed that crime bu
Jimmy. This the father admits. AL
Claysville believes the boy guilty. TIT
family talked freely about the mstter un
til popular indignation aroused them, ant
then they were kept busy making denials
II he 10 innocent why do they not brinl
him back and reiute the SANDER. To d.
this would make his own relatives his &C
cusers. Truly, it is strange CASE"