The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-08-16
WEIR'S WRONG
Still Being Investigated by a
Jury of His Peers.
Specially Reported for the Register.

'JAs uSuol "
The eighth day Of the Weir murder
trial opened this morning. Judge Okey
on the bench. This morning broke
bright and clear, and all nature round
about seemed wrapped in her most beau
tiful smile. Tue prisoner was brought
in by the Deputy SherifTs, and seemed
to wear that "don't csre'' air which has
characterized bim all through the exam
But once since the trial began
has he weakened, and that was when
Isaac Shalcross testified that he had
heard the "Genera'' say he intended to
kill Riggs Then his lips quivered; his
eye glistened; bis face became pale
ashen hue, and be nervously wrung his
hands, clearly showing that he vas un.
dergoing terrible mental strain. Seve-
raj witnesses have also testified that they
heard Weir threaten the life Of. Riggs,
hut the mention made of it by Mr.
Shallcross seems only to have unstrung
him. One after another of the witness.
es have been called who testified TO the
fact that Weir expressed himself as de-
tcrmined TO "kill The damned rascal -
Weir was placed on the stand yesterday
after the State had rested its ease, and
was subjected to severe examination,
Counsellor Kennon officiating in the
cross-exsmina,iop. During the ques
tioning that same GOODNESS was again
noticeable, although Mr. Kennon several
times cornered him up pretty tightly
We are at loss to know just what to
think of his statement, and prefer to let
the reader form his own opinion.
wEIR's TESTIMONY.
The prisoner was then placed on the
stand, and be testified as follows: l was
81 years old on the eighth day Of June
last; have lived all my life in this town /;
have known Sterling Riggs about eight
wears; was then schoolboy; on day of
shooting when the disorderly case was
up came up street and started up stairs
into the Mayors office; Jack Riggs was
ordered to keep bacK the crowd and
pushed us back; backed out and took
my position at the west side of the stair
way didn't notice Riggs when l went
up; remember seeing William Crymble.
James Ferren and Bob Burlington; think
l was the drunkest on that day that l
ever was in this town in daylight; think
Crymble cane up or down street and
asked me what was going on; think
told him there was going to be trial,
and said it won't be half the case mine
will be at the next term of court; turn
ed around and my elbow struck Sterl
Riggs elbow; / was surprised and
alarmed at seeing the man, and said
"there was the cause Of all of it," Riggs
looked up at me viciously; I said =
"Sterl, watch me on the day OF trial !"
Riggs answered, Il can watch you, Gen.
eraI )" thought he was going to do some
thing, and 1 pulled out my revolver and
fired; didn't know that day that Riggs
had revolver; his habit was to carry o
revolver he had his hand on his face
I apprehended an attack of some kind
from him when ! fred; have reoollec
ton of the shots fred, but not of nv
position; Riggs used both his hands
pretty well in fight, and in mechanical
work was left handed; when saw
Riggs revolver it was carried in his left
breeches pocket; four days after he and
that ether party robbed the barn, Riggs
said he was going out to Downing's to
thresh he told me to keep an eye ou
for a man, who never comes to town un.
less it is to pay taxes, and see it he wen
up into Riley's Office; after Sterl came
back he was friendly enough; though
it an unprincipled trick for him to jumt
bis bail bond; Riggs said: II under
stand you are doing good deal of talk.
ing against me-" l tried to get out o.
it; he said: 81 guess you are helping
the of11cers;" this was the second nigh
after his return: along after Fair time
we became better friends; be called mt
of on election day to hallway by tht
Recorders Office; Riggs said I'd beer
talking about him and brought up ar
old fuss we'd had five or six months be.
fore, Sterl and l never had any inter.
course after that; he was very pecu
liar man when angry at one, in Geller'.
saloon / noticed Sterl staring at me, bu
no words were passed +; next thing after
that was arrested, charged witt
burglary and grand larceny: when WI
we're arrested Will Downing and hat
gone down to Downing's stable, AM
had little picnic; when coming bacl
Umstead called me in and gave me th,
AFFIDAVIT to read; l had been expecting
to be arrested upon Riggs charge; Um
stead wanted me to 60 up and pleat
guilty; seen Riggs thai night; went in
10 Fink's; saw Sterl there; he LOOKED