The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-02-28
ACELEBRArEDcAsE
To be Gone over Again In the Courts Of
Grant County

Sheriff A. Q. scherr,. Esq, and Jailer
Peter Bauer, Of Graat county, arrived in the
city yesterday forenoon, for the purpose Of
removing William Douglass, the famous
murderer and mail robber, TO Petersburg,
Grant county, Tor trial In the Circuit Court
OF that county at Its March term. Douglass
was once before tried, CO. yicted and sen
fenced TO imprisonment for life IN the Peni-
Tertiary at Moundsville. He was taken
there, but after hsying served portion OF
his sentence be was awarded new trial by
the Supreme Court OF Appeals in this city
last fall, on the ground Of gross irregularities
in the record Of his former trial. He
was brought to Wheeling TO be kept In the
county jail here until wanted for trial at
Petersburg, as the jail there was not con-
sidered secure enough TO hold him. While
confined there prior to his former trial Doug
lass escaped aud went TO Texas, where he re-
manned some time, and was married. He
was finally recaptured and brought back.
At his trial no record was made OF bis plea
TO the Indictment which was in itself sutfi-
cient to vitiate all the proceedings.
About o'clock yesterday afternoon an
IHrELLIeENczR reporter called at the Jail and
was shown into the waiting room. Here sat
Sheriff Scherr and Jailer Bauer, " lille leaning
carelessly against the wall beside the fire.
place was Douglass, lighting very long
briarwood pipe. AS the reporter entered Doug
lass nodded in u very ponchalant manner, that
was fully In keeping with his appearance.
He was neatly dressed III suit of black, was
clean shaven and his blond head OF hair and
natty mous,ache were both sombed and curl.
ed carefully. After lighting his pipe he sat
down aud slowly blew clouds OF smoke to-
wards the ceiling as the Others talked. On
table beside him were two paper bundles and
q small blue painted wooden chest, which
contained bis clothes and the other possess.
ions allowed him in prison. Soon after Sher-
If Brown aud Msior Mitchell entered, fol-
lowed BY J. n. Cnarnock, the blacksmith,
who carried two sledges over his shoulder,
and at the same time an omnibus drew up In
front OF the door.
Sheriff scherr picked up small black
valise, aud took from 1t q pair OF extra heavy
leg.irons. There were five links TO the heavy
twisted chain. ''fm sorry, Doug" said he,
"but III have 10 put these on you"
."oh! that's all right" said Douglass, as
with smile, be jumped up and pulled up the
leg of his pants. Placing one sledge on the
floor and resting the two ends OF tina clasp on
them, rivet was showed through and with
clinkety. clinkety.elink, the point was fiat
tened down. While the iron was being thus
securely fastened, Douglass continued to
smoke and watched the work very closely.
Afterwards he bent over and examined them,
fitted them around his ankle, first with the
shain in 'front.' then turned them so that II
was behind, took few steps, shook down bis
parts, and said "Well?"
"You may as well sit down." said Sheriff
Brown; THE train doesn't start until after g."
Douglass relit his pipe, and picking up q
newspaper commenced reading.
He's bad customer, aud propose taking
no risks. Forthat reason had those irons
riveted on instead Of locked. bought a
pair OF the latest aud best bracelets this
morning, and those Ii put on whenever we
change cars, and when we drive from Keyssr
10 Petersburg. We reach keyser at la. n,
spend the rest Of the night there and In the
morning drive twenty-eight miles The
Grant county term of court commences
March %. Yes, he looks harmless; but tell
you, he has to be watched"
Atafew minutes before five O'Clock, the
party proceeded to the B. & o. depot In the
omnibus and Sheriff Scherr, with his assist
ant and their prisoner, were seen safely
aboard the train by Sheriff Brown.
The most striking fact in connection with
Douglass new trial Is that II may result In
his conviction OF murder in the first degree.
and sentence TO death by hanging. He said
10 nn ISrELIIvEEcER reporter. when brought
TO the city TO appear In the Supreme Court,
that he had come 10 the conclusion that this
risk was to be preferred TO prison life for IN
indefinite period, and no hope OF release
except by death.