The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-08-16

"HoW are you, Sterl T. Il called up the
drinks for the house; he did not want
to drink, but finally consented and kept
his band on his revolver while he drank
the morning after the preliminary Down.
ing and | went down to see Riggs. /
asked him what he put this job up on
us for; was referring to his turning
States evidence; Riggs replied: swell.
what we're you trying to do to mel
told him 1t was mean trick. and ex.
pressed my opinion very freely; Bill
Downing dragged me away; Riggs call
ed Downing back and said he'd explain |
it all to him; the night of preliminary
examination started for Fink's; went
by the back way; Sterl met me he had
a revolver. Robert Wilkins and were
talking about Sterl, and was giving
him the devil; was talking as hard as
could; Downipg's little girl came out
and told me: George, Sterl Riggs has
heen listening at that door there for ten
minutes" when Sterl came out he threw
bis overcoat hack and put his hand in
his packet; the door was q feet from
US; Sterl would come into Fink's fire.
queotly when I was there with the pen
itentary staring me in the face, and
caused by such man as that, people
would come and talk to me and sympa
thize with me; made threats against
Riggs; made no threats after my father
obtained counsel in the other case:
made no threats after my trial was con-
tinued; made no threats in the presence
Of Christv; came down street about IL
o'clock on that morning; went first to
Jackson's barber shop; went there to
look for Downing; found him there
got the revolver from him he got it the
day before; went down to Dowoing's
and got some whisky; Downing got ter
rible drunk; then came up the street.
and went to Ellis Wilson'S; Riggs came
in there for eggs; then went to Fink's;
Charlie Merritt and were talking there:
Sterl came along on his way home;
about five minutes after / went up the
street think crossed over at Seidwitz's
shop and talked with Sam Geller; had
been in good humor up to that time ;
am always in good humor when drink
ing; was the drunkest on that day that
I ever was; last ride took on narrow
guage was in q coach on the Saturday
before the case was continued; Sterl said
to Downing: The General has pulled
that thing out on me again, and the next
time he does 1t he has got to use it,"
Bob Burlington warned me against
Riggs; Sterl also, as my father told me,
insulted him
Cross examined by Mr. Kennon-Hai
the frs, difficulty With Riggs about the
Sth or 9yh of August; were good friends
after that until after the Fair. heard he
was going to put a joh upon me; heard
he was going to turn States evidence !;
armed at the time: usually put revol
yer in nv pocket every night I came up
street think told Wilkins that If S,erI
would come to me and deny 1t I would
shoot him think never told Shallcross
the threats he tells about; think l said
to Weber that il he would 60 down and
get Riggs to come up l would give him
S.; never had any intention of putting
my threats into execution; they were
merely idle talk; never made threat
when / was copl; deny statements Of
all witnesses as to threats; was nearly
crszy for two or three weeks after the
arrest and did great deal Of idle talk
ing. The witness was here shown the
pistol and he said he believed it was
his, and said it would shoot through an
inch plank don't any conver-
sation with Rice; when at Mayors Office
had pistol in my pocket, loaded: turn
ed around and saw Riggs throw his eye
!, tup towards me; Riggs had his foot on
a box, with his side toward me; ! said
"there's the cause Of it;'' was laughing
and joking about the case; Sterl looked
up At me; said: "Watch me, Sterl, on
the day Of the trial." didn't mean
,, would shoot him he eaid: IL con watch
you;" he then threw his eyes up and go,
mad and threw his foot down from the
box; did not move away from me
could see he was about to do something
:, then pulled the revolver and shot him
: can't tell where / shot him; think
, knew what I was doing; don't know
whether third shot was given in stree
: or not; didn't think about the effect o.
the shots; did not want to escape: mere
ly run they all run after me like foci
e Of sheep; after got to the alley was
8 coming to myself, and said | would sur
e render.
/; The examination OF the prisoner wa
t here closed.