The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-08-03
1HE wElR nUHDEE rRIAL,

kSeApe-AOFo keeeut EVents,
Two days have nov been consumed by
the prslimipGTiss to the trial Of George
Weir for the murder Of Sterling RiRgs at
St. Clairsvills, and yet aiury has not been
secured, The case bids fair 10 consume
tedious days in hearing, and at the same
time to be attended at some stages by no
little dramatic interest, St. Granville is
noted Tor her able aud distinguished lar,
and
II LAWYRR1
in this case stand high among the Attor.
neys practicipg there. The Prosecuting
Attorney, A. H, Mitchell, isR young law.
yer, now serving his first term, but be has
shown his capacity for the position, and
given promise Of q good record In his fu-
turs Us = lawyer. He Is assisted by
Hon. Wilson s, Kennon, himself
once Prosecuting Attorney Of Bel
mont county, u former member Of
the State Legislature, and Secretary Of State
under Gov, Tod. Mr.. Ksnnon formerly
pTActiced at tue Cincinnati bar, and had
quite q reputation as = criminal lawyer
there.
The counsel for the defense are Hon. L.
Daniord, st. Clair Kelly, Etq and ex-
Judge r E Chambers. Mr.. Dantord was
at one time prosecuting attorney OF the
county, and recently represented his dis
triCt In Congress for several successive
terms. He has appeared in q number Of
murder cases heretofore, and is one OF the
most powerful advocates before q Jury In
Ohio. Mr., Kelly 10 a lawyer Of ripe years
and large experience, and Is esteemed one
Of the best Informed, II not the very best
informed, attorneys in the Belmont bar.
Judge Chambers spent several years on
the bench Of this same court, and his judi.
ciAl mind, wide experience and great fund
OF information, united with his pleasing
address and ioTCible style q oratory, have
won him q dessrvedly high place In the
profession,
So II will be seen that go far as legal tai.
ent Coca 10 make An interesting fight, With
the awful stake Of . human lie vt issue,
this case promises TO bs n Of the most
brilliant and notable In the history Of the
State.
Yesterday was spent in
RCURIEG A JURY,
and at the hour for A~djourning but eleven
were In the box, and the defense still had
In reserve twenty II their t%wenty.three
psremptory challenges, Some thirty gen.
tlemen had been rejected for cause-ons
because be was u relative Of Weir; n be-
cause hs was 0 member OF the Bellaire
police force; one because he was III and
numerous ones on account Of their con
fesGed pre- judgment Of the case. The
eleven we've: william H. Lash, OF Cole
rain township; Valentine Aplt, Of Warren
T.. S. Mead, OF Goshen; Jos, s. Chandler,
Of Peass; &. K. Greer, NJ PeAse; ]. II,
Thomas, Of Ps&te; VIM. L Duffy, OF War.
rem; Joel S'rahl, Of Pultneyi Z D. Barnes.
Of Warren; g.. D. Myers, oil York; and
Vim. u. Kinney, Of RIChland.
Some amusement was caused by some
Of tho replies to the questions put by the
Judge touching the candidates. fitness aS
Juror. One mar was asked II he en-.
tertAIned such views 10 regard to capital
punishment as would prevent his render
Ing 8 verdict Of guilty, II auch q verdict
should be warranted by the law aud les
timony. This non.plussed him.
DO you know what capital punishment
is?" he was asked.
II would suppose Il was putting q man
In prison." he replied,
"D1n't you know the meaning oil the
word cApiIal?"
ayes, sir; | do. have
souR CAPITAL OF Ny OWN
floating around" be said.
He was subsequently excused on the
States peremptory challenge.
One gentleman was alleged to have re.
marked in the morning that he was "ln
favor Of more graveyards and fewer peni.
tentiaries," and several had decided opln.
ions as to the guilt OF the accused. But
one Juror was known 10 be prejndiCed In
favor oil Weir. Proceedings Of the same
kind were continued until q late hour In
the afternoon, when an adjournment was
ordered until $3.50 this morning.
THE PRISONERS APPEARANCE
has improved somewhat since bis confne
ment. He Ia q handsome, independent
looking young fellow OF just twenty. one,
having attained bis majority since bis or.
rest. lie has dark hair and complexion,
and a piercing black eye. His mouth has
an expression Of frmnesg, and bis whole
appearance 10 rather prepOssesSing. He
is scrupulously neat, even stylish, in his
apparel, and smiled ss CareltsSly as one
oil the spectators yesterday In converse.
lion with a friend. He appears TO take a
lively interest In The proceedings, and TO
appreciate the points which are brought
out 10 the courso Of the proceedings.
The case bids fair to bring out quite 0
number Of novel questions Of law, by the
way. Tho defense yesterday indicated
that they reserved a ground for objection
to the whole jury. This Is understood To
be the fact that the boxes from which the
Jury lists are drawn are not emptied each
year, aS required by the statutes.
THE LINZ or DETESsE,
It Is said by persons who claim to be In.
formed, will probably be that, while
Weir did threaten to kill Riggs on several
OCCASIONS prior the shooting, he did not
kill him premedita'edly and with malice
atorethought; but that on addressing
Riggs Just before the tragedy be received
reply which iniuriated him, and on the
impulse Of the moment he drew bis
weapon and 6red. II Is said that The
circumstance Of the shooting alone would
not raise q presumption Of premeditation,
but rather sustain the theory Of impul.
sive and passionate action. The color.
log given by the threats, however, places
The affair 10 O new light However, Il 10
scarcely proper TO discuss the circum
stances OF the occurrence at this juno.
tnye NJ Affairs, The prDsfetg OF the case