Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-08-12

character as dangerous man; not ac-
quainted with his reputation from what
have heard.
Jacob Martins Version.
Resided here about thirty years; am
blacksmith; have known Riggs be-
tween twenty and twenty-five years
have heard enough to satisfy me that he
was 3 bad man.
willism Jackson Called.
Lived two miles from here for the past
seventeen wears; knew Riggs from hear
say as a very dangerous man.
Conrad Troll Testifies.
Have lived here for thirty seven years;
knew Riggs probably twenty years; his
general reputation was that oi desper-
ate. bad man.
Cyrus K rk Examined.
Have lived here five years; knew Riggs
to bear a bad reputation.
George Iddings Questioned.
Lived in this neighborhood for the
past twenty-four years; knew him to
bear q very bad name; my opinion ID
based on hearsay.
VIM B. Hardesty Sworn.
Lived here in town about nine years:
knew Riggs in the neighborhood Of
twenty years; thought he was rather
dangerous man.
James Ferren Recalled.
Have known Steri about fifteen or
twenty wears; have lived here all my
life; know his reputation to have been
bad.
Jacob Martin Recalled.
NY blacksmith shop is just below
where Riggs lived; saw Weir and Riggs
near nv shop after Weir and Downing
had been arrested; heard conversation
between Weir and Riggs; persons came
in nv shop and reported the converse
ton. tHere Judge Kelly put
the direct question to the
witness, What was that conversation"
and make a few remarks in support OF
his question, and asked the court to rule
il competent. The counsel tor the pros
ecution objected to the question, and
the court, alter explaining the matter,
sustained the objection.
samuel B. Piper's Story.
Reside at Barnesville; have been
sheriff of Belmont county; resided in
St. Clairsyille two years at that time;
knew Riggs reputation, when | lived
here, to be that of q vicious man; have
been away from here about twelve
years.
The defense here rested their case,
and the prosecution began the examina-
ton of the following witnesses:
The Wife of the Victim Called.
Am widow OF Sterling Riggs; live now
at Cameron; have five little children;
Sterling did not wear a beard; only
moustache; remember burning OF vii
liams' BAN: Sterling WAS in bed at that
time.
Cross examined - Shaved himself
about once a week.
w. Umstead Recalled.
Am marshal here: did not hear all OF
Weir's testimony; told Weir when ar
rested him that thought he would get
about year in the penitentiary; he
asked me what thought he would get.
DR.. West Re-examined.
Was called after the shooting to see
Weir in Jail; that was about or 1
O'Clock; Weir was not drunk at that
time; but was laboriug under the ex-
ritement OF the moment. 'here VT.
Danford objected, and the court ruled
the Doctors testimony out.
VIM. Lee Sworn.
SAY Weir at Fink's corner about
minutes before the shooting
MIR. Mitchell then asked the witness TO
state what he saw and heard there, but
the counsel for the defense objected 70
the question and Judge Okey overruied
il as testimony in chiet)
Both sides here rested, and Mr.
Mitchell asked that the court adjourn
until tomorrow morning. After the
usral adnonition to the jury court was
adjourned until $50 o'clock tomorrow
morning, when the arguments OF the
counsel will be heard. Mr.. kernon
will open for the prosecution, Wnen
Messrs. Kelly, Chambers and Danior9
will follow him in the order named, ana
MIR. Mitchell will close the case Tor the
State. II is thought Mr. Chambers VIII
make the Longest speech and attend 10
the sympathetic part. The reputation
of the prisoner is very bad, he always
having been of a Guarrelsome dlsposl-
ton and engaged in many breaches oil
the peace. The feeling agalnst hlm Is
yery bitter, and the majority OF the re-
spectacle portion oil this community
have long since wished that he might
either be hanged, die or placed IN the
penitentiary for the remainder OF his
natural life. The general opinion formed
from the evidence gwen at the trial Is
that a verdict of guilty, as charged IN
the Indictment will be found, and many
are wishing that that may be the final out
come OF the case. No defense visible to
An outsider has yet been made-no
proof that Riggs had ever threatened
W,ir's life, no proof that the deed was
M, rommit,el through malice, no proof
mat il was not committed premeditately,
mo- nothing upon which to base the
slightest hupa OF escape. On the other
hand the evidence against the prisoner
il most conclusive and damaging one
ri uySs alter another 10 the number oil
i'm; or ten, having testified thai the
rr,,pIer AT the bar had on several oc
,,s,ous. and when not excited or drunk,
>vo,p that he would kill Riggs. Just
What return will be made by the jury
is harl 10 tell, but the verdict looked
for d the one which will give general
attraction, II rendered, is "Murder in
the First Dsgrpe."
HANLAN.