Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-08-10

/ some kind from him when fired; have
a recollection Of the shots fired, bnt not
| of my position; Riggs used both his
hands pretty we'll in fight, and in me.
| chanical work was lett handed; when |
saw Riggs revolver it was carried in his
left breeches pocket; four days after he
and that other party robbed the barn,
Riggs said he was going out to Down.
| ing's to thresh; he told me to keep an
| eve out for a man, who never comes to
town unless il is to pay taxes, and. see
il he went up into Riley's office; after
Sterl came back he was friendly enough;
thought 1t an unprincipled trick for him
to Jump his bail bond; Riggs said: II
understand you are doing q good
deal OF talking against me-" Itried to get
out OF it; he said: 81 guess you are help
ing the officers" this was the second
night after his return; along after Fair
time we became better friends; he called
me off on election day to hallway by the
Recorders office; Riggs said I'D been
talking about him and brought up an
old fuss we'd mad FIVE or six months be-
fore, Sterl and never had any inter-
course after that; he was very pecu;
liar man yhen angry at oHe; in Geiler's
saloon I noticed Steri staring at me, but
no words were passed; next thing after
that was / was arrested, charged with
burglary and grand larceny; when We
were arrested Will Downing and ] had
gone down to Downing = stable, and had
little picnic; when coming back I'm.
stead called me in and gave me the atfi-
davit to read; | had been expecting to
be arrested upon Riggs charge; I'm.
stead wanted me to go up and plead
guilty; seen Riggs that night; went into
FInk's; saw Sterl there; he look, d pale
and drew out revolver; said: "How
are YOU, Slerl?" | called up the drinks
for the house; he did not want to drink,
but finally consented and kept his hand
on his revolver while he drank;
the morning after the preliminary
Downing and went down to see Riggs.
| asked him what he put this job up
on US for; was referring to his turning
States evidence; Riggs replied: We'll,
what were you trying TO do to meT l
told him IT was a mean trick, and ex.
pressed my opinion very freely; Bill
Downing dragged me away; Riggs called
Downing back and said he'd explain 1t
all to him; the night OF preliminary ex-
animation started for Fink's; went by
the back way; Sterl met me; he had a
revolver. Robert wilkins and i were
talking about Sterl, and was giving
him the devil; was talking as hard as |
could; Downing's little girl came out and
told me: George, Sterl Riggs has been
listening at that door there for ten min
utes;" when Sterl came out he threw his
overcoat back and put his hand in his
pocket; the door was 2! feet from us;
Sterl would come into Fink's frequently
when was there; with the penitentiary
staring me in the face, and caused by
such man as that, people would come
and talk to me and sympathize with me;
made threats against Riggs; made no
threats after my father obtained coun.
sci in the other case; made no threats |
after my trial was continued; made no |
threats in the presence OF Christy; came
down street about IL o'clock on that !
went first to JacSson's bar |
Der shop; went there TO look for |
Downing; found him there; got the re-
vo,ver from him; he got, il. the aaa sol |
lore: went hn psruing got terrl'le
drunk then came up the street and
went TO Ellis Wilson'S; Riggs came IN
there for eggs; then went to flnks;
Charlie Merritt and were talking there;
Sterl came along on his way home; about
five minutes after | went up the street;
think | crossed over at Seidwitz's shop |
and talked with Sam Geller; had been
in a good humor up to that time; am al
wavs in good humor when drinking;
was the drunkest on that day that ever |
was; last ride | took on narrow guage |
was in a coach on the Saturday before
the case was continued; Sterl said to
Downing: "The General has pulled that
thing out on me again, and the next
time he docs it he has got to use II;
Bob Burlington warned me against Riggs;
Sterl also, as my father told me, insult
ed him.
Cross.examlned by Mr.. kennon-Had
the first difficulty with Riggs about the
Sth or 9th of August; We're good
friends after that until after
the Fair; heard he was going to put
lob up on me; heard he was going to
turn States evidence; went to him about
il. may have been armed at the time;
usually put revolver in my pocket
eyerv night came up street; think l
told Wilkins that il Sterl would come to
me and deny it l would shoot him;
think | never told Shallcross the threats
he tells about; think l said TO Weber
that if he would go down aud get Riggs
10 come I'D | would give him -; never
had any intention OF putting my threats
into execution; they were merely Idle
talk: never made threat when was
cool: DENY statements OF all witnesses
"a Tor threats: was nearly crazy for two
or three weeks after the arrest and did
a great deal Of idle talking. The witness
was here shown the pistol. aud he said
he believed it was his, and said 1t would
shoot through an inch plank; don re-
member any conversation with klce:
when at Mayor'S office had pistol in my
pocket, loaded; turned around and saw
Riggs throw his eye mp towards me;
Rigs had his foot on a box, with his
side toward me; said "there's the cause
Of it,: was laughing and joking
about the case; Sterl looked up at
me-: | said: Watch me, Sterl, on the
day of the trial." didn't mean L would
shoot him; he said: lean watch you;'
he then threw his eyes up and got mad
and threw his foot down from the box;
did not move away from me; could see
he was about to do something. then
pulled the revolver and shot him;
can't tell where l shot him; think L
knew what l was doing; don't know
whether third shot was given in street
or not; didn't think about the effect OF
the shots; did not want to escape; mere
" run: they all run after me like flock
OF sheep: after 20. to the alley | was
coming To III msseii, and said would sur
render.
The examination OF the prisoner was
here closed.
Mr.. Danford, on account OF the ab-
sepce of some OF the witnesses for the
defense, asked for an adjournment un-
I'll tomorrow morning, as the counsel
for the defense had not yet had time to
arrange their witnesses irregular order,
and also thought that by so doing time
would be gained in the long run:
Judge Okey, after admonishing the