Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-12-30

they had been there, and | asked him
what was up. and he sail me or the
General will have to Kill Sterl Riggs;
he explained that Riggs hti testified
that he and Weir had burglarized Fink S
house: several times beard Weir talk in
I Downing's presence that he would kill
"Sterl'-that he preferred going to the
penitentiary for killing Riggs to going
on his testimony for rUbbing Fink; All
not certain that heard Downing express
himself since at Walkers stable.
Cross examined by Judge Chambers
Judge from conversation that was on
day they went 10 Riggs house-made
impression enough on my mind for NE
to tell Riggs that Weir was making
threats; toll him several days after
ward: Downing was very much excited
when he came down TO stable; heard
Weir make threats at Sam Geller's sa-
loon one Sunday evening since the trial
before the Mayor; have seen Riggs and
Downing together frequently; never
saw any unkindly feeling; have misera-
bic memory rs to dates.
Mrs. Sterling Riggs called-Am widow
OF Sterling Riggs; on last Wednesday
evening was at Mrs. Skimmons' in Shan
nun . HOuo6, WHoH L Cdlut bdCh w eli
and Downing were ON the Fink corner
saw Downing hand Weir revolver, and
they followed me down to my house
my husband came in after me; looked
out window and saw Weir and Down
ing in yard
Cross examined-was about o'clock
had no difficulty in recognizing them
was light at Giffin's corner and i'll win
dow; my husband came in about two
minutes after NE, the back way-think |
had been at Fink's; did not sleep well |
was afraid of fire; Tillie Fink had told
me that they would set the house on fire. |
Samuel Geller called-Am acquainted |
with the parties; seen them together fire.
quently since Nov. Sd, at my place of
business; have heard them both talk
George frequently; heard George and
Bill both talk about Riggs; heard them
say one day in my back room that
'SterP was going to swear them into
penitentiary and they would fix him."
heard them talk SO much about 1t that
didn't take much account of it; seen
Downing with pistol-he borrowed it to
go to dance
Here the State rested, and the Mayor
adjourned his court until 61a o'clock
TESTIMONY FOR DEFENSE.
James Young called-About Nov. l, !
remember of the arrest Of Weir and
Downing; day or two after election
was at Walkers stable; VIM. Walker.
VIM. Downing, Pres. Cowen and George
Weir were there three or four days.
One day Pres. Cowen came down and
said he was down to Riggs to shoot
''Sterl," and kicked the door open, but
'Sterl' wasn't there; did not hear Riggs
name mentioned in any other connec-
ton; did not hear Downing say to Cow
en- that he or General would have to
kill Sterl Riggs. 1 was the soberest
man of the party.
VIM. Walker was called, and testified
as Young.
Mrs. Downing called-Am mother of
Wm.; remember of the arrest for bur-
ylary; since that time Riggs and my
family have been very friendly, and fire.
luently visited my house; he and VIM
went hunting and walking together they
vent out to Mr.. Davis together Sab
oath before the murder; Riggs came and
at by the hour at my house, and said
le thought as much of VIM. as BROTH
II; said he had no bad feelings against
lin. VIM. came home from Il dance
asst Saturday morning at I o'clock laid
own to sleep awhile; was out once in
orenOon, but came back before noon
nd slept until Umstead came to arrest
i'm. Stephen (another boy and Riggs
vent hunting on last Friday.
Cross examined by Mr.. KennOn-Did
lot offer Riggs 5000 to go away. Wit
eSs Was asked why, if Riggs was trying
0 send Downing to the penitentiary,
1ere her family and Riggs on such
riendly terms? The question was OBJ
ected to by counsel for defendant.
Ourt ruled the question competent.
Witness said family were friendly for
ear of loss, they having been burned out
nee, and for other reasons. Declined
state the other reasons, and the pros
cution said they would not press the
ueStiOn. Weir came to my house often;
lw his pistol he showed it to me the
ay he got it, and told me he was going
} use it for killing Riggs; told him not
} harbor such thought.
Jas. Downing testified that he was in
ackSons barber shop about 10 o'clock
Il Saturday; VIM. was not there then
ent home and back again, and VIM.
ime in soon after; saw revolver in the
lop in possession of VIM, who slipped
under some paper on the case, when ,
Teir came in; Weir asked for it, and m
I'm. told him he had lost it; finally VIM. nt hf
i've it to him, and Weir went out soon. vi
VIM S Neiswanger-Seen VIM Downing feI l
'ednesday evening last week at his house re-
'out dusk, and came up street with him; he ne ne
as looking for Rug Buffington; Downing al, al,
# me soon after. jul
I'll Patterson-Am member of school board; In
I'd entertainment at School Hall Wednesday sa
I'd Thursday evenings last week; k;on Wednes- tn
~ evening at 4:50 VIM Downing came into i
y office to send message; l asked him to M 1n
ay (the music) for the entertainments he ITI
reed to do so, and said be would go and get
ng Burlington or Albert Johnston to assist; nj
came back soon after and said Burlington M M
Ould play; l commenced sale of tickets at
hool house about z: 7:Downing and Burlington Gu
ent in very soon after, and didn't leave, to i.
Y knowledge, during the evening. =
Ruggles BuffngtOn-Played for the school dis
tertainment with VIM Downing; met Down r,I
2 near Gephart's; we went to the hall to- Ia ,,I
ther and went in few minutes later; both g
US stayed there until the close of the enter ne
nment; Downing was not out of my COM T
ny from the time | first met him when l is !
me into town about o'clock. an
Matilda Fink-I live in st Clairsville; knew ~ ~
erling Riggs and wife; had no conversa> SA
N with Mrs Riggs in relation to Weir and Re
owning; never said to Mrs Riggs that Weir
d Downing would burn them (RiggsO out -
ter the Wilkins fire Weir asked me wheth-
was afraid of fire; said | wasn't; never
d anything to Mrs Riggs about the burglao
of our bouse; | don't know how much
,ney father lost by the burglary; Weir and
,wning were in our house (in the parlOr) a
ek or two before the shooting; don't know
lether they went out the front or back way. II
Defense rested.
After the arguments of counsel, which fro
cupied the time of the Court until II COZ COZ
NJ, the Court reserved his decision on
til IL o'clock on Wednesday, when he
nounced his opinion, that the evidence At