Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1881-08-11
Cross examined by Mr.. Danford.

steps, and his testimony cOrroborated
and was substantially the same as that
of R. NJ Eaton.
Charles Merritt-Was standing on the
Treasurer's steps when the shooting
took place; saw Weir pull his pistol and
IRE first shot, when Riggs started to run
and the second shot WAS fired; he ran
half way across the street and the third
shot was fired; reaching Alexander's
pavement Riggs started towards the
Treasurer's office and DR.. Close came up
and asked if he was much hurt, aud was
answered, yes, L am a dead man., he
was taken into Jackson's barber shop
and died in five minutes: searched his
clothes; found nothing but comb and
bunch of keys about his person; no pis-
tol or other weapon.
Edward Feeley-Am Deputy Treasu-
rer; was behind counter in the Office and
saw nothing but the last shot, when
Riggs was near an ash pile on the side
of the pike; when Riggs passed me, said
/ he was dead man." and made but two
l or three steps afterwards andSank down.
was in barber shop when he died, but
but made 10 examination of the body.
Cross examined by Mr.. Danford.
Il JdIDeS IdOI6ISOh- "A III d sui VI Guc
druggist, Patterson; saw Weir standing
near the drug store door with his hand
in his pocket; before the shooting was
standing in the door of the store, and
heard Sterl say, don't pull that out of
your pocket" saw third shot plainly. at
ash pile, and Weir running down street.
Cross examined by Mr.. Danford-Riggs
was moving away when he told Weir
not to pull the pistol out.
Isaac Shalcross-Am engineer on the
n st. Clairsville railroad had conversation
with Weir before the shooting; he asked
to take ride on the engine to Quincy ;
on the way down subject of his trial
was advanced; George stated that he
had got his trial put off, that he didn't
intend Sterl Riggs to testify against
him; he stated that if lie had to go to
the penitentiary he would kill him be-
fore he went; and if he had bis trial, he
would kill him before he had his trial (;
4 this must have been Il week or ten days
before the shooting.
!. Cross examined by Mr.. Danford.
John Traber-I was in PattersOn's
drug store before the shooting; the first
: | saw Jimmie said, "there was racket
out there;" both ran to the door; saw
Weir with pistol in hand; didn't at first
see who he was shooting at; second time
saw it was Riggs; ran down to the al
] ley, where there was some excitement as
to who should have the pistol, Tep Pat
ton or Webber; pistol shown; it was a
: pistol similar to that.
: William Webber-Am resident of st.
Clairsville; was acting constable on
: Christmas; first saw Weir at Fink's sa-
I loon between 10 and IL o'clock in morn
ing, and had talk at that time with him
, saw Riggs afterwards and he said to me,
!, "the General is drinking / said he was
, & he better watch him ;help ed to undress
Riggs after the shooting; found a pocket
/ knife, comb and piece of orange peel in
{ his pocket; some time before / met Geo
Weir at Kies' or pretty near opposite
| Kies' saloon; he says to me, "Webber
+: do you know who burned Wilkins barn
, or do you want to know?" Told him ]
did-would like to know; says he, Sterl
Riggs; first he said, "was you at the
! fire?" saiSxI would like to know, Geo.
, he said, Il can tell you" says he, aSterI
! Riggs burnt the barn." then he ssid. 81
: will give So or $40 to you or any man
t who will go to Sterl Riggs and say so
t and get him to call me liar" and, says
he, 81 want to shoot the son of b.
and l have got that to do it WITH" and
5 by that he pulled out his revolver; said
3 he intended to shoot Riggs, and he pull
) ed the balls out of his pocket, and said
) that is what l have got to do it with
0 that was on the morning the barn was
{ burned.
!, Re-examination- Riggs said that 'am
a going to take my family out riding
Harvey Bungarner-Live in st
: Clairsville; am-freman on engine; haC
s conversation shortly after his trial was
: put off; he took a trip on engine one
day; believe that l mentioned about it
and he said that would give him bet
!: ter chance to get a settlement will
2 Riggs-he will either get away with mt
: or will with him.; L was busy and HI
r may have said other things-Mr. Shall
O cross would have better chance to heal
b him than l.
n Cross examined by Danford.
e Samuel G. Christy-I live two mile!
e from st. Clairsville; was in town Christ
mas afternoon; saw Weir that day a
d Fink's corner; ne was walking with tn,
d band hitched my horse at that corne
IS and listened to band playing, whel
j. Weir came up the street; there was
IS crowd of four or five boys with him h
said come on, she was going up to shoe
IS Riggs, to come little faSter;" | went VI
d street stopping at Osborne's, and a littl
d while after heard the shooting.
MI The cross examination by Mr.. Dan
d ford was in a. savage tone, but the wit
is ,nessstuck to his first statement-Di,
10 not know the boys.
John l.. Rice-Was in ST. Clairsvill
n on Christmas day and saw the shooting
W Weir and were in Fink's together, tax
,r ing a glass of beer, while the band wa
playing; we went out together, an,
|; Weir and some one got into a fuss;
a pushed George back and said "hold on
,e here, We won't have any fuss" tho
IS he was going to haul revolver; h
IS went up street and l went in and go
le another beer and then went up street
,; and when got there the General Weir
D. was saying, There's the man who is 60
'el ing to send me to the penitentiary for
le years-watch me, Sterl, on the day o
N the trial" Sterl said, II can watch you,
lel when George pulled his revolver out o
ID his right trousers pocket and fired.
IN followed Weir and grabbed him, and h,
n told me to let 60, and 1 did; afterwar,
II caught him in the alley and got re
ID vOlver from him. The revolver wa
lel shown the witness and identified as tn
le one used, he purchased within montl
ID at McMillan's; had another. revolver be
1t fore this, that was not a self-cocker
B heard Weir say he used to be afraid o
IS Riggs, but now was not; lie was dirty
)t sneaking rascal, and he was going to at
:; tend to him; referred to his new revolv
e, er as "a daisy; could tear the side of
r house down with it.
IL oss-examined-Have seen a goot
many people go into Fink's aisle. Their,
,s was some drinking that day. He and
st drank never seen George drunk.
u Ruht.M WilkinS-LiYe north of town