Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-08-10
WEIR'S WRONG
SILL BEING INVESTIGATED BY A
JURY OF HIS PEERS.
The State Rests Its Cass-The Witnesses
for the Defense Callsd-Weir, the Muir
derer, Placed on the Stand
What He Has to Say Con-
seining the Deed.
SAYS 1T WAS NOT PREREDlTATED.
speciallr p Reported for the Register.

Special p Reported for the Register.
ST. CLAIRsyILLE, August 9.
The eighth day of the Weir murder
trial opened this morning., Judge Okey
on the bench. The morning broke
bright and clear, and all nature round
about seemed wrapped in her most beau
tiful smile. The prisoner was brought
in by the Deputy Sherifs, aud seemed
to wear that "don't care" air which has
characterized him all through Ihsexxm-
instion. But once since the trial began
has he weakened, and that was when
Isaac Shallcross testified that he had
heard the General" say he intendedlto
kill Riggs. Then his lips quivered; his
eye glistened; his face became 4 pale
ashen hue, and he neryously wrung his
hands, clearly showing that he Was un-
dergoing terrible mental strain. Seye-
raj witnesses have also testified that they
heard Weir threaten the lie OF Riggs,
but the mention made OF it by Mr.. Shall
cross seems only to have unstrung him.
One after another OF the witnesses have
been called who testified TO the fact that
Weir expressed himself as determined
10 "kill the damned rascal" Weir was
placed on the stand yesterday after
the State had rested its
case, and was subjected to
y severe examination, Counsellor Ken
non officiating in the cross'examInation
During the questioning that same cool
ness was again noticeable, although Mr..
Kennon several times cornered him up |
pretty tightly. We are at loss to know |
lust what to think OF bis statement, and
prefer to let the reader form his own |
opinion.
Two or three days more will probably |
be occupied in taking the testimony, the
defense thus far having only examined
one witness. The arguments Of the
counsel will then be heard, and the case
will in all probability be given to the
jury by Saturday.
Deep interest is still manifested in the
case, the court house being daily crowd
ed by an immense throng.
After the opening OF the court the ex-
animation of the witnesses was proceed
Ell with as follows:
The First Witness To-day
was Thomas Tavlor, who testified that
he lived IN ST. ClaiTsvillS; WAC an town
on last Christmas day; had = eonyersa-
ton with Weir on that day at tlnks
corner; Weir came out Of Flnk's; he
IWeirl said "here comes the damned
son of b - who Is going 10 senu me
mn" Weir had the revolver up his
sleeve could see the muzzle; eau
toned him; Riggs came down street to
the corner; " cir, Riggs and L were
standing together; Sterling said some
thing TO Weir; Weir spoke two or three
words 10 him and then said to me:
There's no fight in that son OF b.
Afterwards Riggs was on the burnt
corner, and Weir then said to me 10
come on and % up street and there
would be q he'll OF time mp there;
declined TO 90; told George was gooo
friend OF his.
Cross. .examined-Think | saw Welr
IN town before | | O'Clock; Riggs came 10 |
me ON Fink's corner and asked me Tors
cigar. gave him one; Weir asked w nat
did you give that son OF b cigar
for?" Fred. Kies, Jr., was near; Riggs
then went home and l went down TO
John Ferren's and had my picture taEei
was coming back past j. K. Mltehells
when the shooting took place.
James K. Taylor Sworn.
Reside in st. Clairsyille; ara acquaint-
ed with George Weir; had talk with |
him about the first of last November at
his fathers house; George asked me
"What do you think of Riggs proceed
inSsP" he then said riggs is a dirty
dov and | will shoot the son ola D;
saw George on Christmas day at FINK
corner and also saw Riggs; saw Sterl |
after he was taken into the barber shop; |
did not see Riggs and Weir togetheri |
saw Weir have his revolver IN some
Young mans fare on Fink's corner.
Cross sexamined-The young man was
a stranger to me; don't know whether
there was any quarrel between them;
saw Weir push or knock down some o'u
Dutchman; when George asked me aoout
Riggs proceedings / replied that II
what heard was true, IT. was oir'y
trick of Riggs"
Amos Mcbride Was Next Called.
Reside here; am q blacksmith; was
witness at the preliminary trial OF Welr
and Downing before the Mayor IN the
bnr0lsry trial; made chisel Tor Weir
soms time before; Weir talked tn me a
few ,lsys after about it and said III L hai
testified sure that that was the chisel ne
vonld shoot Sterl Riggs and leave and
let the old man pay the bail.
Cross-examined-Did not tully iden-
tiiy the chisel produced at the triai is
the one / made.
w.o. Umstssd Tsstihss
Live here; am Town Marshal anu Tt Eon-
stable. made the arrest OF Weir
in the Fink burglary case;
Weir asked me il Riggs had
tnrned States evidence; he said that II
Riu0s had turned States evidence u
sho1Id cost him his life; George wanted
10 know what thought OF the case; 1
said thought it would send him to the
penitentiary; he said 1t would cost hiuh
(Rigys) his life.
Cross ss-Exsmined-Weir was angry
when we had that conversation; hau
not been particularly working up tue
case; Riggs ran of last August; his
brother went and brought him back; was
probably a week or two after he came
back that Fink filed the affidavit against
Weir and Downing; the understanding
was that Sterl was to be let 20 II ne
would come back and testify against
them. 81. W.
Rc-Examined-Had a talk with Weir
about his (Weir's) turning State EVIL
dence. Objected to by defense, ana oo-
lection sustained.
Isaiah Murray's Vers'on-
Reside near Flashing; resided last year
With Mr.. Finney, near st. CialrsVihs;
know George Weir; had been 70
town late one night; saw wen,
Pres Cowen and James Young; they