Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-10-25
THE MAYNARD WEIRS.
AN OLD MAN MURDERED BY HIS
DESPERATE SON.
Our Correspondents Account OF the ST..
Clairsyille Patricide-General Heir's
head Crushed BY a cIub-Tbs
Verdict Of the Coron-
er's Jury.
THE MURDERER MOI YET CAPTURED.
sr. CLAIRsvrLLE, October %.

ing to learn that anOtner terrlDIe Tragedy
had been enacted in our midst, and that
another foul murder had stained the
fair name of our town. Following so
soon alter the Weir murder OF few
months ago, we were scarcely prepared
to record another fearful tragedy in the
same family. The readers OF the REGIS
TER remember the brutal killing OF Ster-
ling Riggs by George Weir last CAri5t-
mas and that Weir is now confined in
Jail here under indictment for murder
in the first degree. We are now called
upon to chronicle another murder, in
which James Weir, brother OF George,
is the murderer, and General James
Weir, father of George and James, Is the
victim.
twas shortly after dark last evening
that this community was startled by the
announcement that James Weir had
made a murderous assault upon his
father, and that the latter was then in
dying condition. The tragedy occurred
at General Weir's residence, which is
but few rods southeast OF town, be-
tween the town and the Narrow Gauge
depot. Gen. Weir, his son James, who
is about 80 years of age, and little
daughter, Ada, aged u, have been
Keeping House Together.
For a short time, their housekeep-
er having left recently. The daugh.
ter Ada has been working with Miss
Cady, dressmaker in this place, who
desired to adopt her. Miss C4dy is
worthy Christian lady and the change
of Ada from her own home to that OF
Miss Cady would have been a good one
for the girl. But her father objected
and refused to give her up. James Weir,
her brother, was warmly enlisted in
the proposit: on 40 bind Ada to Mhs
Cady, and last evening he tried to get
his father to sign an article OF agree
ment to that effect. This the old gen
tleman refused 10 do, which so enraged
James that he struck the General a vi
oient blow on the face which
knocked him down and, together with
the fall, rendered him unconscious. Ada
went for Drs. Henry and ]. f. West,
who answered the summons as quickly
as possible, and upon arriving at the
Weir mansion they found the old man
past all earthly hope. James, who had
II allied the enOrmity OF his Otense, was
irving to restore his father to conscious
ness and implored the doctors to save
his life. Doubtless James did not in
tend to kill the old gentleman, but he
is possessed OF an ungoysrnable temper
ami this is what caused the commission
of the crime. The whole family had
most violent tempers, the iather being
no exception, and their bome Is de.
scribed by those who know as
A Veritsble He'll Upon Earth.
James is generally considered the best
of the lot. He is industrious and, ex-
cept when his temper got the best OF
him, he was well-behaved and law abid-
ing.
After the physicians arrived James
frankly told them what he had done,
an6 appeared very sorry for tlfe deed.
The doctors having given the old man
up to die, James began to think OF the
consequences of his rash act, and about
half-past eight o'clock he slipped out in
to the darkness and disappeared, going
no one knew whittier. There was no
effort made to detain or arrest him, it
being known that under the circum-
stances he would be bad man to fool
with. The officers claim they had no
right to make the arrest without war
rant, probably for the reason that the
Weirs afe a vicious, dangerous set.
Gen. James Weir has, years ago, been
one OF the most prominent citizens OF
Belmont county. Many years ago he
was leading lawyer here, and he has
represented this county In the Ohio leg
islsture. For several years he has been
quite feeble and childish Gnd had be-
cJme badly ran down and generally de-
moralized. His property, two small farms
near this place, is heavily mortgaged
fr debt, aud his home indicates the
abode oil poverty. What little respecta-
bility the family attained because OF the
Generals prominence, long since de-
parted from them, and they are shun-
ned by the better class OF the communi-
ty. The daughter Ada
Isa Bright, Promising Girl,
and with proper training would no doubt
turn out we'll.
At this hour Gen. Weir is still breath
ing, but the doctors pronounce his case
hopeless. He has not returned TO con-
sciousness, and his entire body is paral-
wed. He cannot live more than few
hours at best.