The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-01-10
nEIeHBoRHooD HEws.


Acase o. more than ordinary interest was
last week tried in the Court Of Common
Pleas Of Belmont county. In the spring Of
1870, the people Of Belmont aud Jefferson
counties were greatly surprised 70 bear that
Joseph 1ddlngS q prominent real estate and
stock dealer in these counties, residing near
81. olAlnyllle, had failed, with liabilities
amounting to about 81, 900, and had fled the
country, leaving but little available assets.
Subsequent events fully confirmed the
rumor. The liabilities were principally In
notes, bearing the name Of Joseph IddInRs,
and those Of bis three brothers, Henry, Isaac
and George. In the course OF time these
notes were presented to the brothers for pay.
ment,. and the holders thereof were con-
sideIa6ly surprised to pe informed BY the
brothers that their names thereon were
forged by Joseph. Some Of the creditors did
not think Joseph guilty Of forgery, and suit
% compel payment by the brothers was In.
Tttuted: The first case tried was that Of
James hlakemore, since deceased, who held
Two notes calling for 81 100 This case was
tried at the fall term Of court
eleven Of them being for The plaintiff and
one sticking for the defendant. However al
the same term OF Court, before special Jury,
Robert Thompson, who also held one OF tie
notes, obtained averdict for the full amount
OF note and Interest, but the verdict was, on
motion Of counsel for defendants set aside BY
the Court and q new trial granted. At the
spring term OF the Court In 1879 the Blake.
more case was again tried to q special Jury,
and was, by order OF the Court, required 10
be kept together in the custody Of the Sheriff
aS In criminal cases, and a verdict for the
tull amounto Of tue notes and interest award.
cd. This verdict was also, on motion OF coun.
sci for defendants, set aside and new trial
granted. The creditors then turned their At
tention to the apprehension and arrest Of
Joseph and employed detectives 10 hunt him
up, and IN March, 1880, he was arrested in
Indiana while driving q flock Of sheep to
market and returned TO Belmont county and
lodged in jail. He positively refused 70
permit ball, which was freely offered
and at the summer term OF Court in 1880 he
was Indicted by the Grand Jury for the high
crime Of forgery, and at the same term put
upon his trial. Joe admitted that he had
signed his brothers ftahes to a number OF
notes, but claimed that he had their consent
and general authority TO do so. The trial
OF Joe Iddings will ever remain memorable
In the annals Of Belmont county criminal
trials on account Of the deep interest taken
BY bis many fFieRds A large array OF Wit.
nesses were called by the State, and also BY
the defendant, and the case contested only
equaled by Observation-Disclosures cases.
The state was represented by Prosecutor
Mitchell and ex'Prosecutor Eaton, who were
aided by the suggestions and advice Of the
able counsel for the three bFothers in the for s
mer civil cases. The prisoner was represent.
ed by Judge Kelly and Hon. L. DanIord, Win
were fully equalto the emergency, The trial
occupied several days, during all OF which
time the Court House was crowded to Id
utmost capacity. Joe was nearly day in
giving bis testimony in chief, and one full
day under very rigid cross examination,
and his straightforward and concise man.
ner OF stating his business trans.
actions covering twenty-five wears
years Of his life, backed up by a great bundle
OF notes, receipts, checks and memorandas.
&c, convinced nearly every one present what
the. verdict would be. He gave as reason
for leaving the scenes OF his transactions that
he did 1t upon the advice and at the urgent
request OF his brothers, who promised that
they would compromise with the creditors
and settle up all OF the indebtedness and he
could then return. He claimed that the
brothers had received the proceeds or bene.
fit Of the notes and should pay them, but
after they got him away they pronounced
them forgeries, and would do nothing towards
adjusting the indebtedness and that when
he wrote them appealing to them to settle IN
the Indebtedness, so that he could return 10
his motherless children, they answered
him, proposing to send him means to take
him to Australia or some other foreign mort.
but not one dollar looking 10 his return.
After able arguments from the counsel
engaged and lengthy charge by the court.
the jury returned and in few minutes
thereafter announced that they had agreed
upon a verdict, and were returned to the
jury box. The clerk propounded the usual
questions: Gentlemen Of the jury, do You
find the prisoner at the bar guilty, as he
stands indicted, or not guilty?" The fore
man arose and said Not guilty" A shout
went up from those present, followed BY an.
other which was suppressed with difficulty
by the officers OF the court, and Joe arose
free man to meet the hearty congratula.
lions OF many friends. The civil cases have
remained ItGtu quo until last week, notwith-
standing the plaintiffs have insisted upon
trial, when the case OF Blakemore was again
tried to special jury, who on last Saturday
evening returned verdict for the plaintiff
to the sum OF GA, whereupon the counsel
for the defendants gave notice OF a motion
fort new trial, which Is not likely TO be
granted, as In the trials already had, fifty.
nine OF the sixty Jurors, including the State
case, have said by their verdict that Joe
lddingS had authority to sign the names Of
his brothers, and that they must pay them.
BELLAIRE
Mr.. J. N. Maring was able to be at his Office