Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-03-03
rms rAxroN sHoor1Na.
The In~yesfisatien Held at the Jaii.res-
ferday Afternoon.

On Saturday, December ID. Harry Pax
ton, A feeder at the Top Mill. was shot in
the back by some person, at Slacktown,
about two miles above the Top Mill. This
distance may not be exactly correct, but 10
the REGISTER reporter who walked up there,
at midnight, il seemed at least seven. FAX
ton. who was retuI hing from a Nimrod eN-
petition, with several friends. had had
some words with three brothers, John,
Elias and Isaac BealS, a delectable trio, re-
siding at Slacktown and the brothers had
fred several shots, one of which had struck
Paxton in the back. Since then, he has
.been-lying in bed and now, though not
well, is out OF danger.
The Beals had been arrested by Captain
Bennett and officer Dunlap and hroughtto
the iaiI, under q commitment issued by
Justice Arkle. The interest OF this article
might be highly increased by a graphic and
sensational account OF the midnight pur-
suit, lighted by the glare OF the blast fur
naces at the Top and BenwoOd mills, but
time had already dimmed the recollection
OF the exploit, and besides, II has already
been recorded in history.
The hearing OF the Beals, on the charge
of ~felonious Shooting was set for yesterday
at go O'Clock. and at that hour there was
a motley gatheringin the OLD debtors room
AZ the Jail. Justice Arkle held court, Pro-
scouting Attorney Jordan was inquisitor
and Col. Arnett and General
Caldwell appeared as chevalicrs
Bayard in the defense. There was some
DELAY, over the fact that II Of the Seign-
ors Beals declined TO appear without his
foot gear, probably with the Texan idea OF
diving with his boots on, but this small OBJ
lection was o%verruled and the illustrious
trio appeared. In the oubliettes they have
rotted without ransom. since December ),
and they wore the lily paleness born OF the
dungeon. The room was very warm, from
the fire, but was soon made warmer by the
eloouence OF the counsel, over a question
OF waiting for q witness, who was in OHIO.
But the Justice decided TO proceed. and
after separating the witnesses and eXamin-
ing them separately, the following story
was drawn out:
Tom Brannon and Billy Detibaugh went
hunting up the riverand on returning met
Paxton Just above Slacktown coming along
together. Eaxton tried to buy a 'possum
from them. He has i loud voice, and the
OF the Beals. who had come
out OF their house, near by, to
get coal from the adjacent chute. Some one
lad been stoning their house, and believ-
ing il to have been done by this hunting
party (which il was not they picked a
quarrel with the Wheeling trio, %stoning
them. killing their dog and finally shoot
ing Paxton. The only retaliation by Pax.
tons party was by Brannon, who fired
three harmless shots after six had
come from the aS~SailantS. PaS-
tons wound caused a cessation OF
hostilities and Paxton was brought to his
home. ,
OF course the Beals had their side and
told OF provocation by stone throwing at
their home and bowling at them, but the
Justice deemed probable cause shown and
held them each in the sun OF $1,000, in
default of which they were sent to Jail.
These three young gentlemen are very
hard looking customers, n as they were
in the habit Of carrying revolrers Slung to
their backs, perhaps this may teach them
a needed lesson,