The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-11-12
rhe Life Of ssenerai James weir. o.
ohio. and les Termination ne 'hs
uox8e of HIS Son.

gives an account OF o'o - IN.
Belmont county. Ohio, 70 WinVn puD" ',
att alton has lately been drawn ny na1s'
en-, hcgan liie In restitution and igno-
rance. and ended It in squalor and neglect.
In thc interim, however, he educated him.
ELF ne q LAWYER, attained eminence al
shc her. and served his State III
n,,hlic Office. DuriGg this period he
recelycd the title OF general. In 1877,
gs2o. and 1896 he was elected TO
the Ohio Legislature as Wing. lie was
married twice, but soon repcnted OF the
second union, and endeayored to Obtain
divorce. himself writing the petition 10
The court. 1t was refused, however, ana
sbc couplc resumed the coniugal relation
shlp. Mrs. Weir died In 1876, having
given birth 10 eight children, five OF whom
died Of consumption. The remaining
three are James, George, and Ada me
account adds. sardonically: cit would
have hecn better for all concerned II con-
sumption could have taken these TWO Dogs
also. as subsequent events have proved
a. HE'LL on EARTH."
james Weir, Jr., grew up TO be man OF
fine personal appearance, put Oh Nlolc.i'
temperament. lie became person VINO
wanted 10 rule or ruin. When but yOueh
he Knocked n young mans eye out IN 81.
(gairsyiIle with hammer This was over
a game Of cards at his fathers Office. Inc
iniured man'sn name was Joseph Ryal. Upon
another occasion James struck man named
Lytlc johnson over Che head, inflcting per-
manenf injury. Young James secured en-
nloyrnent AZ Iettcr-carrier in Cmcln-
natl While here he cut mans arm
nearly of in an encounter, for which
no was tried, but he was acquitted.
lie also fired shot at another en-
Move OF the Cincinnati post-offlce
Tor some trivial cause, but was never
arrested. the affair being compro-
missed. He returned 10 the parental ROOF
in 1877. ostensibIy TO look after his fathers
estate. For wears previous General Welr
had led secluded life, following no busl-
pess. and living as best he could upon
money borrowed upon mortgages. when
fbe family were all at home no meal was
over sat down 10 but there was quarrel.
Friends quit visiting the house, and the
home was turned into hell upon earth.
The elder brother had so intinidsted
George that the latter feared to oppose
him openly, although he objected heartily
10 the influence gained by James over the
old man, who by this time was becoming
childish from old age. Frequently James
would strike his AGED father TO compel him
10 accede TO his demands; and although
George witnessed these assaults, he feared
TO intercede in behalf Of his father.
FRATERNAL STRIFE.
During the summer that the yellow fever
ragged so violently in the South, George,
still n boy only seventeen or eighteen
wears OF AGE, left his home, and in company
with another wild youth started on q
tramp. The two had but fifty-two cents
between them. They found their way TO
Memphis, but, although they remained
there several weeks in the midst OF the ter
ribIe fever then raging, they were not
affected by the dreadful disease. AT
the end OF two months George
Weir returned home from his tramp,
and shortly aftcrward a violent and
Wcllnigh fatal encounter occurred be-
tween the two brothers. James brought
home mortgage deed one day, ana tried
20 force the old man to sign ii. Knowing
phat il the General were 10 sign the instru-
ment il would transfer all the property to
James. George interposcd n strong obiec-
fion. At this james took him 10y the throat
and, with many curses, exclaimed "Iou
Young scoundrel, you have crossed my
path now, and j am going to Kill You.
I'll fix you so you can't interfere with
nv plans" But George begged for
his life, and as soon as he could escape
from the grasp OF his brother he so strong
Nv feared, fed from the house. James pur-
sued him and fired revolver. IL is not
known whether he aimed at his brother OF
fred i'm the air merely to brighten him.
George went away, and, procuring dou-
ble-barrelled shotgun, returned TO his
home, where he called upon his brother TO
come out and fight duel. James would
not come out, and George kept him in the
-h3use nearly all day, each looking for an
ooportunity to shoot the other, but neither
being willing TO face his enemy.
After this scene both Of them went heavily
armed, and the old man slept with reyOl
yer under his pillow. Such violent scenes
as the above were OF frequent occurrence
in the Weir mansion, and poor little Ada
Weir was forced to hear and witness them
There was no mother in the house 10 whom
the child could fly for protection and assur
Rnce. Piece by piece the furniture wa
sold off, and the fine library accumulated
by the old man went the same way. Every
thing was mortgaged, and every day TIN
place became more andsmOre squallid ant
miserable. Yet this was only the beginning
OF the real troubles OF the family.
MURDER.
st. Clairsyille became infested by gam
Of outlaws, who were the terror Of Belmon
county. Robberies were committed, ant
property burned. George Weir was sus
pected OF belonging TO the mob who wer
responsible for these depredations. Al
though young in years, George Wei
gained the reputation OF being an exceed
ingly desperate character. Many Grim
was laid at his door, but he succeeded i
eyading punishment through the influenc
he was able to command. At length th
people began TO fear him so much that n
one could be found with the courage I
instigate his prosecution. George becam
very handy with his pistol, and his yiolen
passion made him all the more 10 be feared
One day in 1879 he fred two shots at ma
named Mcintyre on the public streets q
st. Clairsyile for some trihing cause, bu
no attention was paid TO this.
In Nay, 1880, the house Of Martin Fin
was burglarized, on which occasion 800
was taken. For some time there was n
clue TO the perpetrators, but on Noyembe
1st q man named Sterling Riggs informe
the officers that the burglars were GeOrg
Weir and William y. Downing. Weir an
Downing were arrested. Riggs tlTne
States evidence, and the prisoners wer
indicted for burglary and larceny. Tn
case went TO trial, but Weir got contnu
ance. On Christmas day, 1880, Georg
Weir neryed himself with liquor, AM
meeting Sterling Riggs In front OF tn
Mayors Office in st. Clsirsville, shot hin
three times with 3s-calibre Smith ,vo.
son revolver k'l'i"g him sr,s, in y ~,
After a chase and a desperate struggl
young Weir was s.esrly killed himself, cal