The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-12-13
THE KINNEY CASE.
SONG EcnoLs oF rAE LArE TRIAL
The rs.llnE at west ualou-Ths People Patient
bat In Rarnsst-BeiI,f that Both the KInnsys
HuiYst bs Hubg-L Dramatic Episode
at the TrIal-LIttle nlrJ Doyle.

dressed and rough looking man was loung
ing awkwardly on chair without back
not speaking to any Of the crowd abou
him, but unconcernedly chewing tobacco
His high cheek bones, unshayen face, keen
deep Set eyes, receding forehead and loni
narrow head, would attract attention any
where. Shortly he rose, and ! saw that ht
was fl4ndcuffed. He mus! be six feet and
quarter In stature; wiry but far from
graceful, with noticeably large feet and
hands, and peculiar bess.ly expression
such is Big Bill Kinney, the murderer, ioI
this was he. Behind him, on wooden
bench against the wall, their hands fettered
together, sat Little Bill Kinney and Aaron
swigert, two other murderers, unlike Bill
AID unlike each other in everything but
the striking brutality Of expression.
FRELrEd IN REGARD TO THE KINSKYs.
Hound the feeling in the community in
relation to the two Kinneys much misrep-
resented in current reports. There was q
deep and implacable resentment against
them and the other criminals who have
recently done 80 much-more than the
world at large has even heard hinted-to
give this community bad name. Bot
doubt whether the feeling was at any time
hot enough to have made lynching posi-
bic. The citizens as class are law abiding
people, and though they have been sorely
tried, 1 find commendable disposition to
leave vengeance to the law. II this fails to
do justice, who could blame human nature
for appealing 70 the higher law, Natures
frat law, forBelf preservation 2 Acomtnu-
nifty OF human beings who can see such q
crime committed, and suffer from It's ef7
iects upon the general good name as they
have done; who can see q bright, pretty
little child Of ten years, with cruel scars
upon her face, and rememberthe sweet
child OF ak who was murdered in cold
blood without pretence Of provocation;
who can recall the atrocious murder OF
Barney Doyle and bis child, the most
atrocious, perhaps, that has ever blotted
the fair name OF the S:ate,-and then see
the self confessed murderer let ctf with q
verdict Of murder in the second degree
people, say, who can stand all this aud
let the law take Its course, can never be
censufed for want Of sslf-control.
WHY THEY ARE PATIENT.
Bat the people here know both the Kin
neys are guilty, and they believe the law
will do them justice. Little Bill has been
tried on the indictment for the murder Of
Barney Doyle, and found guilty Of murder
in the second degree, and the jury in Big
Bills case failed to agree. But Little Bill
10 yet to be tried for the slaughter Of Annie
Doyle, and Big Bill again for that Of Bar
ney, and the best citz.ps have an abiding
faith that they will be convicted. II this
faith should prove 10 be unfounded, the re-
suit would not be easy to foretell. There
is limit at which forbearance ceases to be
a virtue. ss s"
The trial Of Big Bill was the most dra-
matte which ever took place in the State.
When he himself was on the stand, Col.
Ben Wilson took the ak with which Doyle
was killed, and gave 1t to the prisoner.
The giant trembled and grew pale when
he felt that bloody weapon again in his
hands, and his confusion and terror when
Col. Wilson irssted upon his going
through the motion OF striking down man
with the ak amounted to confession. Said
be, weakly, while his bloodless lips shiv.
cred, "I-l-never struck man william
-sx In my-ny lifew
Perhaps, after all, letting the cowardly
wretch live little longer is not mercy.
DESTROYING EVIDENCE.
Big Bills conduct on the stand was not
the only act Of bis which virtually amount,
ed to confession. When he was arrested
and confined in jail, he heard allusions
made to some large tracks on the creek
bank, which did not tit Little Bills boots.
He at once proceeded 10 cut his boots into
small bits and thro6 them into waste
pipe. This was in itself damaging evidence,
and the fact that he was allowed to
do II illustrates how buuglingly the
investigation OF the crime was at first con.
ducted. The men were not even searched
1t Is alleged, for twenty four hours
after their arrest, and were allowed TO com
municate freely with relatives and friends
with no official surveillance.
The fact has already been referred to that
the written confession OF Little BIZ dis
appeared from court during the trial
The Judge expressed some pretty vigorous
views on the subject, but 1t WAS not until
after the trial that the paper was found. II
had been laid between the pages OF law
book belonging to Judge Q. j. Stuart, ol
counsel for the defense Of Big Bill. OF
course this may have occurred acci.
dentally.
The report that Big Bll would probably
get change Of venue to Tyler county IL
not correct. He has not asked for It, nor
have bis attorneys declared any intention
to ask for It.
THE PERJURRD JURORS.
The impression ia strong here that q.
least two otthe three jurors who voted for
the acquittal Of Big Bill committed perjury
| in swearing that they had formed no opin-
ion, and even graver crimes, duplicating
other people, are limited at. One Of the
jurors one day prior 10 the trial said; "Il
heard positive proof that Dig Bill had
murdered that man, ! wouldn't believe II.
II little Mary Doyle says she saw him kill
her father l will not think he 10 guilty"
Yet this man on bis rJir dire swore he had
mot expression formed an opinion. The
dissenting jurors will probably all be pre-.
sented TO the next grand jury on a charge
Of perjury. II they had II TO do over l do
moi think they would vote for acquittal, fol
the citizens have poured ont vials Of wrath
on their devoted heads continually. at'
tempted to interview one Of them yester,
day, but he took refuge In q meat shop
where he hid behind door. I found
afterwards he thought ! was detective
looking up evidence for prosecution fol
perjury. His guilty conscience needed nc
accuser.
ltTTLR MARY DOYLE.
talked last night to little Mary Doyle
who was irightiully wounded and left iol
dead in the burning house when her iathel
and younger sister were murdered. Will
her hat nm abe shoved no aipns al her In