Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-08-11

started down to the billiard hall.
/ Cross-examined-Was sober that day,
but had been drinking; got into trouble
| myself that day; knew what / was do
/ ing; may have been excited when We
were at Fink's; don't recollect seeing
| Christy or Taylor there, but they might
| have been; don't remember all that was
said: did not see Weir flourish pistol.
Re exsmined-WeiT did not say:
"What did you give that son OF b
that cigar for2'
Charles Merritt's Testimony
| Was around with the boys on Christ
mas; was at Fink's corner when the
band was there; saw Weir there; seen
him start away; Charlie Clark and /
were there talking; did not hear any re-
mark from Georgs when he started up
street; Weir came up street ahead oil
me.
Cross-examined George anu | had a
talk near Fink's about n fuss We had
had; did not see Weir have revolver
there; was armed that day.
Robert Rufsuston Examined.
Live half mile south OF here, knew
Sterl Riggs for twenty-five years; haf a
talk with him in relation TO the charge
he made against Weir; IA ked with him
down Jug Run about his turning States
evidence, about the wool business and
about Weir: don't recolleft much about
it now, said ifhe didn't do tito them they
would do it to him; heard Sierl Riggs
saw that "if Weir wanted to shoot, the
best man would get the first shot;
that talk was after the jug Run conver-
sation, along about two or three weeks
before the shooting; don't know that he
had weapon at that time; he said he
was prepared; he had some talk with
Weir and told him that he'd better be
careful as Sterl Was pretty bad kind OF
a man"
Cross-examined-S and l were in
the army together; the talk on jug Run
vas shortly alter Sterl came back; don't
recollect how il commenced; there was
no threat on Riggs's part that he would
shoot George; he may have meant he
would defend himself.
Ruggles Burlington Called.
Am brother OF the last witness; knew
SteTl Riggs; was at Geller's saloon one
night before the October election; Sterl
aud others were there; Sterl put his arm
on the counter and seemed to be look.
ing for some one; / asked George what
the matter was between him and Steri;
he said he would 20 and ask him; Pres
Cowan told him not to do ii; George
said ne would watch him; Riggs look
at Weir was severe one; seen him
look that way several times; he followed
a look OF that kind once by knocking me
down; seen Sterl have revolver; seen
him have two the day OF the Presi-
Dental election; when / used to be with
him he always carried revolver.
Or lss txaInlned-Had been drinking
that night at Graer's saloon very freely;
Steri was pretty full; don't know whether
George or Sterl were around; Steri did
not 90 anything.
Mrs A. G. Downing Examined
Am the mother OF Wm. Owning; we
have farm near town; Sterl Riggs had
liy d on that farm; remember the burn.
ing oil wilkins barn; soon after that l
saw Riggs in our place; party were
standing in front of the door; Riggs was
standing near the door, leaning against
the couRter; think he could hear the
talk on the outside; the door was little
bit open; after this time | remember
Weir and Riggs together IN our place,
also after the time the charge was made
against Weir and my son; never saw
them speak together; our establishment
is saloon.
Cross-examined-Did not see any par
ties standing by the window; never
heard any threats by Sterl against Weir;
heard NO threats OF any kind in the
house.
Mary Downing Sworn.
Am thirteen years OF age ninth No.
vember; remember when wilkins
barn was burned; seen Riggs
shortly after in our saloon; {;
Weir and Robert wilkins We're
on the pavement outside; it was about 3
o'clock, after dark; Riggs was standing
with his ear at the crack OF the door, ap'
uearing to be listening; went out while
Riggs was there and told George that
Sterl was in there listening to MIN; when
went back Riggs went out; Riggs told
me after wards at he was NAL st me
because went out and told George;
told him I didn't care if he was: go TO
SterPs house frequently; frequently seen
Srerl there; he would sometimes come
in and have his revolvers, loading them;
can't tell how long | seen the pistols be-
fore the murder; think i seen them the
same week; he was lying on the bed and
took large revolver from his pocket
and laid it on trunk; be one evening
showed me pistol with seven balls; saw
that pistol three times, and another
smaller one.
Fred. Kiss, Jr., Examined
Reside here; was in ST. Clairsville on
last Christmas day; was at FInk's and
sav George Weir there that day; saw
Sterl pass there; George said nothing;
did not hear Weir make any threats: al
ter the shooting Thomas Taylor told me
about the threats George made to him.
Josephus Watson Called.
Live two and a hall miles north oi
New Athens; worked near st. Clairsville
,,,t WINTER on a saw mill; have seen
Sterl R'Sys; have seen him in this town
after night in November last; think he
then had pistol; was walking along
the street; heard quick steps behind tue;
turned around and he laid his hand on
| me. and said he wanted to see me; that
he had business with me; when he said
that he had pistol in his hand; he said
"I'm mistaken in the man" and then
passed on. Mary Brsiden was with me.
Cross-examined-Didn't know Riggs;
the woman told me who he was; never
seen Riggs afterwards; he was q rather
heavy-set man OF medium height; had
on a low crowned broad rimmed hat
wore a dark beard, but would not say
the beard was all over his face; don
know whether he had 2 moustache.
Albert Johnson's story.
Am 81 years OF age; knew Sterling
Riggs for six or eight years; am in busl-
ness in part OF Fink's property; never
talked much with Riggs; had no lnti'
mate acquaintance with him: as was
coming up from Wheshng lasL lail Slth
a wagon load OF furni,ur.' Steri was al
| the foot OF the big hill; Ia got on my
wagon; think asked him how p an,
| DowninQ were getting dlnny: he said