The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-12-22
snRnoM AZ sKYENrY.


SORROW Ar SKVENTY.
a History OF and laiK with EIIhu Gregg
the ALLEGED Incendiary Of Preston
County.
The Supreme Court Of Appeals decided
last Saturday that there was no error in
the proceedings Of the Circuit Court OF
Preston county, by which Elihu Gregg
was sentenced to death for the crime at
arson, committed in 1859. The circum-
stances Of this occurrence and the pro-
ceedings OF both the Preston county au.
thorities and the counsel OF Gregg are
ain fresh in the memory Of our
readers. The burning OF the Court House
and Jail took place in 1859 and in short
time suspicion fastened upon Gregg who
was shortly afterwards arrested while at
work in distillery in Lafayette comfy,
Pa. He was subsequently arranged, tried
and convicted OF the crime, before Judge
Ollie, OF that Circuit. Pending the execu-
ton Of his sentence, however, he Escaped
from iail, loitefed around the neighbor-
hood for q time and then went West,
where for the next eight or nine years be
remained unmolested, as no strong effort
was made to recapture him.
After the lapse OF these years, however,
he grew weary OF the face of strangers,
and determined to revisit the scenes OF
his old residence and exploits, and again
came east. Hewa frequently seen in dit.
ferent tections OF West Virginia and
Pennsylvania, and at last was arrested in
Greene county, Pa, by the Sheriff Of that
county, and confined in Waynesburg jail,
subject 10 the requisidon OF the West Viz
ginia authorities. The requisition came,
but 1t was not potent enough at the
time to take Gregg from the Pennsylva.
mia officials, and long Aseason OF
legal wranglings ensued, carried on by the
late George o. Davenport, who, by the
way, was indeiatigable during his life
time ID his efforts 10 rescue his client from
the meshes OF the law. Attorney.General
White very ably represented the State Of
West Virginia in these contests, and I'm
ally succeeded in having Gregg surren-
dered 10 Deputy Sheriff Mitchell, OF this
county, in the fall OF 1878, since which
time he has been in our jail. There are a
great many other incidents connected with
the eventtul history OF this septuagenatian.
which are familiar to all who have any
knowledge Of 1t at all.
The case has been in the Supreme Court
for long time, on the grounds that there
was error in the trial at Kingwood, and on
this slender thread the old mans hope Of
protracting his life has hung.
While at the jail yesterday reporter Of
this paper asked Mr.. Gregg what he
thought OF the recent action OF the Court
OF Appeals.
"When l read the action Of the court"
said he, ~ thought it was merely a hoax
gotten up by some one 70 see how 1t
would work on my mind. There are some
persons who imagine that am the sub.
iect OF ungoEernable passion, and also
say that man who would make an at
tempt to take his own lite is not sane. /
do not have any physical fear Of death.
have in my lifetime been in its immedt-
ate presence three times. and would
rather die now than be taken again to
Preston county and be compelled to I'M
dergo the sufferings, or some OF them, l
there endured.
was confined in the jail in Kingwood
for months, chained and fettercd TO the
floor, and while there subjected 70 the
ieers and mepaces OF those who chose to
infict them upon me, and my suffe,ings
there were nothing short OF martyrs in
hell.
You want me TO tell you the particulars
OF my escape. After my confinement to
the Kingweod jail l possessed myself oil a
small piece OF glass and began exReri.
menung with it. soon discovered that
by holding this glass in certain position
It would cut the links OF my letters. was
loose fye times during my incarceration.
One time little girl saw me walking
around in my cell and told her mother, and
| was soon chained down again.
Finally, November LIST, 1869, escaped
from the jsilcarrying my steel letters with
me, a distance OF thirty miles, and when
I weighed them they tilted the scales at
four pounds and half. l collected some
money, went to Missouri, came back here
and the rest you know.
"Well, / can hardly say what think OF
the proceedings Of last Saturday. They
were quite surprise. / Thought that the
lower court would be directed to enter
nolls pro@gui and then my discharge
would follow. am now represented by
B. B. Dovener and Governor Jacobs.
They have not been to see me for some
time, and l do not know what action will
be taken. I do not think that l have any
thing to fear 30 far as capital punishment
Ia concerned"
The old gentleman has bright eye, a
clear and facile uttersnce and talks with
much intelligence. He has busted him
self while in this city in teaching prison.
ers to read and write and in making him
sell generally useful about the jail.