Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1881-08-18
The Weir Murder Trial
Conclusion Of the Testimony
IContinued from last week. G5l


IContinued from last week. E5.4
James Downing-Live in st Clairs-
vile. Was present with Weir and Wn
Downing at Riggs house on the day
of the preliminary examination; Riggs
was there. George asked him why he
was trying to put up this job on them
Sterl said .you'ye been trying to pu,
up one on me-, / thought both of them
were angry. Riggs went into the house
and then came out again; Riggs said
something about kicking the CUTS out
of Weir. Sterl told Will to come back,
he wanted to talk the matter over with
him. There wasn't much talk after
Sterl came out Of the house; Sterl ap-
peared to be mad. Had been acquaint-
ed with Riggs good while; he lived
on our farm before living on Marietta
street. He carried pistol ever since
l went any place with him: he always
took his pistol with him when he went
to his work. 1t wasn't very long before
the killing that last knew him to
carry pistol. On the day of the kill
ing was on our corner with Geo Weir
Charlie Clark and some other boys we
all went over to Fink's and went IL;
Webber and big crowd was there
After we came out | seen Riggs on the
street on the crossing; he walked past
US; I didn't hear anything between
Weir and Riggs. Riggs asked some one
for cigar and got 1t; Weir was about
2 feet from Riggs Riggs went towards
his house; it wasn't very long until
the crowd started up street. I know
Samuel G Christy; didn't see him
that day. Geo Weir, Charlie Clark and
I started up street together; George
said "Boys, let's 60 up street" l did
not hear him say "there's going to be
q b. of racket" Think / was in
position to hear what he said. Did
not hear him say he was going to shoot
the d. soI of a D.. George stop
ped at Seidwitz's shop to talk to Sam
Geller; after got to The Mayors Office
we started to go into the Mayors Of
flee, George il front of US; Jack Riggs
told US we couldn't go up there and
Weir said shat settles it." Charlie
Clark and / started down to the
billiard room. was not present at
the shooting; heard oft at Clark's as
we came back from the billiard room.
seen Riggs standing in front of Kinks
as we started to the billiard room
Weir was standing at the Mayors Of
fce door. seen Weir that day lit
tie after 10 o'clock in Jackson's barber
shop. Next seen him in our house; he
was there about an hour. Did not hear
Weir say anything about Riggs.
Cross examined-I went to Riggs
house with George and Will to keep
them from getting ints trouble;- /
thought they acted as il there would
be trouble; 1 WANTED to see my brother
get out all right. / had no pistol; don't
know whether Will or George had any
revolver. Riggs was good working
man. / didn't want to have any trouble
uhere; tried TO keep them from going
to Riggs house. had been drinking
some the day of the shooting; wasn't
tight
Re-examined-I know a good bit
about Riggs; / know that he shot at q
couple of persons one night. (Object-
ed to by the state and the objection
was sustained.) 1 always thought he
was dangerous man. l never heard
people say any good of Riggs; never
heard much said about him.
Charles Clark-Live in ST Clairs-
Vile; am son Of the landlord Of the
National Hotel. On Christmas / first
seen Weir on Downing's corner. We
crossed to Fink's; George went with Us /;
saw Riggs pass the corner; we were
standing there. Heard nothing said
between Weil and Riggs. Didn's see
Christy there that day. George said
"Come on boys and 90 up street with
the band" Could have head all that
was said. George was at the Mayors
hall when 1 started down to the billiard
hall.
Cross examined-I was sober shat
day; l had been drinking. Got into
trouble myself that day; know what |
was doing. may have been. excited
when we were at Fink's. Don't recol
lect seeing Taylor or Christy there;
they may have been there. don't re-
member all that was said there. Did
not see Weir flourish pistol there.
He may have said what Christy and
Taylor say he did He may have said
something that l didn't hear. Didn't
say it while was with him.
Re-examined-George did not say
"what did you give the son.of q b
that cigar for?'
Chas Merritt-Was around with the
boys on Christmas; was at Fink's
corner when the band was there; seen
Weir there; seen him start away.
Charlie Clark and were talking to-
gether. Did not hear any remark by
Weir when he started up street. Seen
Weir afterwards at the post Office with
Sam Geller. Weir came up street
ahead of me. Did not see Taylor when
George started up street; seen Christy
there at that time.
Cross examlned-George and had
talk there by Fink's about fuss we
had had; did not see Weir have re.
volver there; / was armed that day.
Robert Buffington-Live / mile south
of St Claiisville; have lived about
here all my life; knew Sterling Riggs
for 25 years; was pretty well scquaint-
ed with him. ! had talk with
him in relation 10 the charge be made
against Weir. 1t was about Walker g
corner. Talked with him down jug
Run about the turning OF states evil
fdence, about the wool business and
about Weir. Don't recollect much