Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-05-08
FOUND GUILTY.
william &. MeDouEIass Convicted OF
the Aurder o. David Heiser. at Pc
tersburE, Grant County.

Nltiih4n u. sIcUOuktass SontIete0 OF
the Aurder o. David Heiser. at Pc
tersburT. Grsss County.
The trial of. William c. McDousiass,
charged with the murder of the mail car.
rier David Heiser, at Petersburg, Grant
county, ended Saturday evening in yer-
dict Of guilty. the jury fixing the punish
ment at imprisonment for life. This was
McDouelass' second trial. The jury on the
first ballot after they retired stood eight for
hanging, two for penitentiary for lie, and
two for acauittal, but after much consider
alton compromised on the verdict rem
dered. The finding OF the jury did not
give entire satisfaction to tire Grant county
pablo. there being a widespread belief in
toe quilt Of the prisoner, and as a conse
qutnce an almost unaniVous demand for
the death penalty.
The prisoner all through the trial exer.
Cised the utmost courage and fOrtitude,
maintaining his entire innocence OF the
crime. When asked by the court why SEN
tence should not be pronounced against
him, the prisoner made an extended and
most pathetic speech, detailing his past
HE from childhood up 10 the time of the
nLIueT. ne Sldltu tDdl MS early training
had been al that could be desired. but that
he had left home while quite young, and
falling in with bad company, had entered
uLon acareer of S'n which had eliminated
in his present position. His life, he de-
cla-ed, had been an utter failure, and ne
counseled his hearers to profit By his down
fall and endeavor 10 avoid the pitfalls into
which he had fallen.
Referring to his trial, he said that SO far
as he knew, no one had testified 10 an TN
truth in his first trial. but in the present
one no less than six witnesses had perjured
themselves He said: II have been twice
tried: have been pressed by the multi.
iUde; have been prosecuted with ygOr
almost unknown in the history OF jurIs
prudence; the crime alleged sgainst me is
one OF the most monstrous in the annals of
the world, and if had been guilty would
certainly have been hanged, but an over
ruling Providence has twice saved my life
and this should demonstrate to the world
that am an innocent man."
The trial lasted fourteen days, and was
conducted by the following legal gentle
men, its progress being watched with ab.
sorbiNg interest by the public OF the neigh.
borho0d For the State MesSrs. w. F.
Dyer, OF Petersburg, F. VI. Renolds. OF
Keyser, and G. W. Daily, Of the same place;
q
ney, \. 3. Pew, OF Petersburg, and Col.
Robert White, OF this city. In all about
eighty witnesses were examined.
summary of the theory OF the prosecu'
ton and the.testimony OF the witne: ses is as
follows: Previous 10 the murder Nc.
Dou glass was known 10 be without money.
On the morning of the murder he went
20 tie house OF Mr.. WcltOn, and inform
Ell ! i'm that he wanted 10 go 10 Petersburg
to get i couple of checks caShed, and Dor
rowed horse from him TO make the rip.
ITiser, the mail carrier. arrived Just before
McDOugiass departure, and they journey
ed together until deep gap in the noun.
tairs was reached, when McDouglasS drew
his revolver and suddenly fired at Hiser,
striking him in the arm. The latter drop
ped his mail sack and plunged into the
stream, when MCD0uglasS fired a second
and third time, hitting his victim in the
hat and under the shoulder blade. DIzcd
and almost dead, the miserable man re-
gained the bank, when McDouglass fired
fourth shot at his breast, the weapon be.
ing so close as to burn HiSer's clothing.
Hiser expired at once, and McDouglaSs,
after stripping the body OF overcoat, coat
and vest, threw il into a deep hole filled
with water. He then crossed the river,
where he cut the mail sack opened re-
moved the letters, and threw
the sack into the river. And
Mounting his horse, be proceeded about
three quarters OF mile to 4 secluded spot.
where he examined the letters. afterwards
tearing them up and burning the irag.
ments. The next day Heiser was missed
and search was instituted, in which Nc
Douglass actively engaged, attempting to
lead the quest away from the locality
where the crimes had been committed, but
which effect did not prevent the discovery
OF the body.
During the progress OF the trial it was
proved tnat previous 10 the murder Nc.
Douglass had fired TWO shots from his four
barreiled revolver. When arrested all Tour
barrels We're empty. The tracks about the
spot whore the tragedy was committed
we're made by a pair OF box.
toed shoes, badly worn OIL one
side, and the prisoner possessed the
only pair of boX-toesin the vicinity, which
exactly fitted the tracks. The shoes OF the
horse which lie rode were also of peculiar
shape. corresponding perfectly to the tracks
made by the ANNA. rode by the murderer,
ana these circumstances, together with 9th.
erS, fastened the crime upon McnoUglass
utthput a shadow Of dOubt.