The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1883-08-14
Tie Matamoras sensation.


As considerable currency has been
given to the reported killing of stran-
ger, near New Matamoras. some years
since, We deem il just to give the fol-
lowing contradiction from the Bellaire
Tribune of Aug g.:
We had q call this morning from An
drew Kirkbride and J. w. Ward, OF
Matamorss, accompanied by their at
torney, J. N Richardson, Esq. Mr..
Kirkbride is the gentleman who was
charged with cutting the throat of an
oil speculator. while the father OF j. w.
Ward-J. NJ Ward, deceased-and q
gentleman named West held him Judg
ing from the general appearance of Mr..
| Krkbride it would be hard work for
hIm TO cut the throat OF calf. let alone
tina, OF q human being j W. Ward
informs as that the we'll into which il
was alleged the murdered man Was
thro Rn is still on his property, and that
any one who wishes 10 examine 1t may
do so, and that he will assist them In
the search.
TIE story, which We are sorry TO say,
& s, appeared in the Tribune, was pub
Ilished by US in good faith. A reporter
for this paper hearing the matter dis
cussed on the streets. naturally made
inquiries in regard to it, and was direct
ed 10 DR. Martin, now Of this city, but
late Of Matamoras, who bad received q
letter from his wife in relation to the
/ matter, in which the facts as stated IN
1.-The Tribune were set forth. Col Dave
johnson, OF Long Reach, W Va, q
/ prominent politician, had also heard the
story, which he, told circumstantially, to
] reporters OF tho Register and Inteiligen-
Ger. Col. Johnson's story was publish.
ed by the Register, but being doubted
by the Intelligencer, a reporter was sent
to Matauoras to investigate the truth
OF the account. The obi ct of this mas
to obtain the bottom facts II there were
any 10 obtain, and to avoid nee'ilessly
il,jur,ng the parties connected with the
rumors, IL the charges were untounded
The reporter visited Rev. Thomas Cline
the Methodist minister who had beer
with Mr.. George West in his last hours
when be was alleged to have made tht
confession to Mr. Cline. This ministe'
is an old gentleman. reliable in the high
est degree, and highly esteemed hy th'
whole community. He said Mr.. Yves
had never made any confession OF an!
, kind, nor had be intimated anything tha
could suggest suspicion that he haf
any burden on his mind. He was
consistent Christian gentleman, AMI hsf
died the death OF . Christian at peac
with God and man. A rumor was en-
countered that it was not Mr.. Georg'
/. West. but man named James West
! living Ia another part Of the county
who had made the confession, and tha
he had made 1t to another minister. In
vesiigation OF this rumor showed th
james West 10 question to be living, I
n have been stranger to the other gen
: tleman connected by runor with th
!. crime, and this story to be as false an
!. groundless as the other. The atatemer
o that Mr.. Andrew Kirkbride, Of Matt
J. moras, the only living party to the trag
Q edy, had been arrested, vas so Tar fro'
true that he was in this city Saturda
0 and Yesterday, accompanied by the 80
q OF Mr.. Ward. also named in the rumoi
!. as an accomplice, an | the son-iu.law
d Mr.. West. They were accompanied b
i: an attorney named Richardson. Thes
!. gentlemen were justly indignant ft tt
t. publication Of the outrageous slander
3. and we're determined to ferret out tt
E, person who was responsible for II
J. falsehoods. In this laulable purpos
:, the Tribune hopes they will be success
N fal. Hsw q story without anv found
Ih4 ton in fact could have originated is
mystery but that it was without pa
a. ticle of truth for basis the report
e. who visited the scene was satisfied
n There is no reason to believe that al
Df man was ever murdered under the CT
D cum stances given; it was an impos'
o, hility that M'ssrs. Ward. Kirkhrfte al
y, West should have BEEN implicated In
OI bOxctuCts tOi tuOy oSNO' 'uNS $3.50
i, teen years after the crime was alleged
of have been committed: aad no c,ntessit
n or statement was ever made on the 81
X. iect. More than this, at the time give
seventeen years ago, there was no spe
ulation in oil lanis or options in tn
or vicinity, aud consel iently no such pc
no son as the m.n reported to have be-
in murdered was in Washington County.
N. The whole story is false, aui so utter
,'s groundless that one is at loss to ev
q. conjecture how it could have originat'
es The gentlemen implicated all sta
N. high in the community in which tn
M reside, and what the object OF these h'
IN ISLANDERS can be Is matter OF conf
Il: ture. Tney express determination
n thoroughly slft the matter and bring
n guilty parties to justice, 10 which
90 wish item success.