Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-08-03
WEIR'S TRIAL.
SECOND DAYS PROCEEDINGS At ST.
ClAlRSVlllE.
Another frutless Day in Endsayoring to
Secure Iuy-A Sketch Of the Pris-
onsr at the Bar-Brief Outline
Of the Victims Career.
WEIR REPRESENTED AS A BAD CASE.

| Inc SecOnu udy VI lLc "Vi hu'Oti
trial began this morning with Judge
Okey on the bench.
| The Prisoner,
Geo. W. Weir was brought IN in charge
OF Deputy Sheriffs Bailey and Green.
He is only about 81 years of age, pos
sesses q pleasing countenance, and it
strikes one upon looking at him how he
could have committed such a terrible
deed as the one for which he is on trial
that OF murder in the first degree. He
is the SON of General james Weir, an
old, well known and respected citizen OF
this place. Although Young in years
| George is
Old in Crime.
He has been charged with numerous Of
lenses, but has always managed to evade
punishment. He is one OF those who
regard the commission OF crime AS
something glorious. About year and
o half ago he shot at young man
named McIntire, a hostler in the EN-.
p'oy OF Mr.. ]. p Lowe. This occurred
only few steps from the spot
Where the Tragedy Was Committed
for which he is now undergoing exam /.
ination, but nothing was ever done with
him for this otfense, McIntire failing to
appear against him. The prisoner is
handsome young man OF medium height,
compactly built, well educated and pos
sesses high degree OF natural talent.
The particulars of
His Last Achievement
are as follows: On Saturday, December
-, 1880, about , o'clock in the after
noon, George Weir, in cold-blood, mur-
dered Sterling Riggs, in front of Patter-
sons drug store, just opposite the st.
Clair Hotel. There were large num-
Der OF oipersons present at the time, some
OF them being attracted thither By an
assault and battery case which was to
have come up at that hour before the
Mayor. Weir vas talking as to the
probability OF his (Weir's)
Chances of Going to the Penitentiary
for three or five years ior the burglary
and robbery of Mr.. Martin Fink's
house. 5. Riggs, who was the principal
witness in that case against Weir and
Downing, an accomplice OF Weir, was
standing within two or three feet OF
Weir, but was taking no part in the con-
versation. Weir ended his remarks by
pointing out Riggs and saying: "rhere's
the man, Mr.. Riggs; that's the cause OF
all of it. Watch me, Sterl, walch me"
The murdered man immediately y
Strengthened up and said:
II Can Watcn You, General
The term General" is nick name by
which the prisoner was sometimes call
ed. As Riggs was saying this Wier
was reaching in his pocket
for revolver. Riggs immediate
ly cautioned him, saying: Don't pull
that thing out OF your pocket" These
words were no sooner uttered than Wier
had his pistol out and leyeled at Riggs.
Weir fired and the ball entered Riggs
right hip. The victim then started to
run across the street, but when he reach
ed the curb on the opposite side he fell
on his left knes and partly turned
around, when
The Prisoner Fired Second Time,
the ball entering the right breast, three
inches above the nipple, passing through
the lung and lodging in the
vicinity of the backbone. After the sec.
ond shot Riggs rose to his feet and start
ed toward the residence OF Rev. Alex
ander, but before he reached the middle
of the street Weir fired a third shot,
which struck below the small OF the
back, took a downward tendency and
lodged in the bowels. This was the fatal
wound. The victim was taken to bar
Der shop near at hand, where Doctor
Close commenced to examine him, but
he had Just barely been carried in when
he breathed his last.
| The cause OF Lno huruer'
| il cause there was for it, is that Riggs
was the principal witness against Down
ing and Weir for the case above noted
He never admitted that he had anything
to do with the burglary. but was in pos
session of sufficient knowledge OF it that
his evidences would have sent either OF
the PARTIES to Columbus. Weir made
| numerous threats that he would take
| the hfs oi Riggs after the latter divulged
what he knew about the matter, and
verify he carried his threats into execu-
| ton.
| Sterling Riggs.
| like many other men, had his faults,
| but during the latter part OF his life he
| had expressed his determination to lead
a better life than he had in past years.
tie MAS generally peaceable and OF a
kind disposition unless assailed, and
tlen he would fight for himself.
To-pay's Proceedings.
Immediately after the reading of the
| IL q nal this morning, the clerk proceed
ed to call the names of the jurors. anu
Messrs, Frank K SedwiCS, j. Fl. Watt,
Sidnev Burton and Jacob Maser, each
| OF whom had been summoned, tailed 10
respond. Thiriy-six jurors having an
swered to their names, the Court asked
tine attorneys ii they were ready to pro.
c i to the o'ls lizatiol Of jury. Mr..
Danford, on behalf OF the prisoner,
said that they would he ready rs soon
as all their witnesses were present, and
also askal for an attachment fOr
| Anna Lockard, whom he b =
| lieyed had not put in her
al De lrauce. The Court ordered that
an sit ,ehment be issued. A great deal
OF diniculty is experienced in procuring
jury, the majority OF those summoned
having either formed or expressed an