Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1881-08-18
THE WEIR MURDER TRIAL.
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when he was killed. A burglary and
larceny was committed at my house May
5. 1880; $500, gold locket and revoIy-
er were taken. Saw Riggs have that re-
yolyer afterwards. After. the wool
serape he showed me the revolver, and
he told me he would tell me all about
where the money went. / didn't claim
it because couldn't; it was seven
shOoter;I / seen it after that time;
haven't got it yet; Riggs had it the last
| knew of it; saw it shortly after the
trial in the Mayors Office
Cross-examined-The robbery was
about a quarter before 9 O'clock in the
evening. Riggs was in my house that
night; that WAS about seven o'clock;
don't know that he was up stairs; when
he showed me the revolver he said some
body wanted to sell it for 50. and told
| him | didn't want to buy my own prop
erty; he didn't say he took the money.
A great many were in the house that
night. Riggs and were good friends.
The money stolen was all silver. | seen
| Weir setting on the corner after l shut
up that night. tiled an affidavit against
Geo. Weir and VIM. Downing for that
burglary. Sterl testified in that case; he
stated in the Mayors Office that he got
S4G of the money from Weir and Down
ing.
Re-examined-I filed the affidavit
against Weir and Downing on the infor-
nation of the Mayor; S75 of the money
! was in a buckskin sack. The Mayor
told me they had proof enough who took
the money.
Matthew Davis Live mile out of
town. Knew Sterling Riggs 4 or years.
have seen Riggs with reyolvers
nearly every time l saw him. l seen
Riggs on the day before Christmas. He
and Stephen Downing were out with me
hunting furs. Seen a revolver in. Riggs
possession that afternoon. Riggs told
me- that day that he was seldom with
out revolver; he said he only carried
it for self-defense. We talked about
Weir. l said, 'you want to leave the
shooting for Weir to do" He SAID, "rm
not afraid of Weir; 1 wouldn't be afraid
of him if he was covered with revolvers
from head to feet" l believe he said if
Weir made the attempt he (Weir) must
make center shot or the second shot
would be his (Riggs0. Riggs said he
| would never use revolver in any way
except in self-defense.
Cross .examined-I had heard that Weir
had threatened to shoot Sterl and that
was the Way came to mention the sub
ject. 81 said, "yOu wouldn't shoot any
body, would you?" He said, mo, only
in self-defense." l asked him before
that whether Weir intended to shoot
him. He said he had heard so.
Alex. c. Downing-Live in this town.
Knew Sterling Riggs since the. second
year of the war. | have seen revolver
in his possession frequently. The last
| time saw him have revolver before
Christmas was about three weeks be-
fore. He said shat revolver belongs to
my old friend Martin, and l may have
to give it up some of these days"
Stephen Downing-Was at home in
this place On Christmas last Was out
hunting day before Christmas. Matth-
ew Davis and Sterling Riggs were with
NE. There was perhaps half an hour
| that we were not all together. Seen a
| Heard no conversation between Davis
and Riggs about shooting or threats.
was away from them about half an
hour. Davis and Riggs were together
| while was absent.
Lewis Wooten-A week or so before
the shooting seen revolver in Riggs
possession. He asked me whether
knew why he carried the revolver? :?
Told me George Weir threatened to
shoot him, and kind of laughed.
Clifford Williams-Sterl Riggs used to
frequent my shop. l think he carried Il
revolver most all the time. He pulled
out his revolver in the shop and want
ed to trade with me. His was a seven
shooter.
In. Riley-Was Mayor of st. Glars
vile on Christmas last. Defendant was
arrested and brought before me that
day. Seen him before on that.day. Seen
him in front of the entrance to my Office.
Seen him about a half hour before that.
When he was bro't before me he was not
good physical condition. He had receiv-
ed blow across the bridge of the nose
He was bleeding considerable. Marsha
Umstead was with him and think Con-
stable Webber. George was intoxicated /;
he was drunk enough to bloviate and
talk loud. l noticed that before the
band played at Fink's. When he was
brought before me he didn't have much
to say. He said, what in the hell does
this mean?" said something about his
eye being out and couldn't see' Some
one present told me what he had done.
George said mo reckon not" He-want-
ed doctor. sent him to Jail.
| Mr.. Chambers said both sides were at
a point where it would be agreeable to
both parties to consult as to further tes-
timonu and tharafaro .o L cd thu oo.,rt 70
| adjourn until tomorrow morning. Ad-
journed to So o'clock Thursday.
TENTH DAY-THURsDAY, AUG. IL.
| Court convened at S11S O'Clock, the jury
being in the box. The prisoner was
brought in in custody of the deputies.
The testimony on the part of the defense
was proceeded with
E. W. johnson being called-Live In
Cadiz lived in st. Clairsville; /;
left here Ney. ed, 1879; came here in
i1sS7; for good part of time kept the
National Hotel, and was in some public
business during most of time-for six
years run omnibus; knew Sterling Riggs
for many years; personally l didn't
know what his character as a dangerous
| man was; the general expression about
him was wouldn't like to trust him if
he had anything against me- believe
he was generally considered dangerous.
Cross examination by Mitchell-When
1 had any personal intercourse he al
always treated me well enough; had no
trouble with him; never thought him a
quarrelsome man, was rather inclined
to be quiet; have saw him in one or two
difficulties, but nothing of Importance;
didn't show himself often in public.
David McCann-Am keeper of toll
gate on Cadiz toll pike, and was last fall
a person came to my house last fall and
wanted in; was IL woman with him
was between II and l O'clock; when
opened the door raised his hands; the
woman who was with him told him not
TO do that.