The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-12-15
Tn killing OF R. r. ArDrasoN,

The KILLING or r. r. ANDERSON,
OF Marion CouNTY-ANpERsoN's An
TIE MoRrEM STATEAExT-THE AccUs-
ED PARTY RKLEAsED.-Fairmont West
Tirsinian: We briefly stated in our
last issue that on the morning of the
goth ult. r. T. Anderson, of Worth
ington, had received a mortal wound
at the hands of Ambrose Griffin. Our
information at that time was very
meager, but we have since been able
to CLEAN the following facts concern
ing the tragedy which resulted in the
death of Richard I. Anderson: 1t
appears that young Anderson, who
was about twenty-five years of age,
had some traps set to catch wild An
finals, and on the morning in ques-
ton was on the rounds visiting those
traps, which were located some two
miles south Of Worthington, near the
Harrison county line. 1t seems, also,
that number of men had organized
for q ring hunt, among whom was
Ambrose Griffin, young man of
that neighborhood. Anderson had
caught skunk in one of his traps,
and, after skining it, he started fer
his other traps and met Griffin, who
asked him where he got the skunk
skin. He answered at the "Buzzard
Rocks" Griffin then told him that
those were his traps, but Anderson
insisted that they were not, and
called Griffin liar and struck him
in the face, at the same time grab
bing Griffin's gun from off his shout
der, Andersen himself being un-
armed. They struggled fer some
time for the possession of the rife,
when finally Anderson jerked the
weapon through Griffin's hands, and
it was discharged, the contents TAX
ing effect in Anderson's left side just
below the ribs, and he died from the
effects of the wound in the evening
Of the same day. The above is the
history of the affair as told by Crit
fin himself, corroborated by the tes-
timony OF two reliable young men,
Arthur Stumm and Seigler Sanders,
who were close by and witnessed the
struggle for the possession of the gun.
Anderson made an ante norton state
ment, under oath, which is directly
in conflict with the above. We here
append it.:
AHDERsoN's DYING STATEMENT.
STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA,
MARION COUNTY, TO WIT:
This day came personally before
me in my county this affiant, and be-
ing duly sworn. deposeth and saith
On the morning of the 10Th day OF
November, 1888, l arose early and
started to go around my traps. the
same being ON the lands of Levi Mar
tin and perhaps others. was on the
ridge between John Hardcsty's and
Jack Sturm's, and while there came
across Ambrose Griffin, who swore
that ! had his "ponlcat," and cursed
me to everything he could. did
not say much to him.. ! told him ]
did not have his ''poulcat.' Said
Griffin loaded his gun and swore he
would shoot me. He kept cursing
me, and I told him to go away, and
he swore he would knock my brains
out with his gun. Igrabbed the gun
to keep him from hitting or shooting
me. He still held to the gun and
wenched it from my hands and then
and there with the gun did shoot me,
the ball taking effect just below the
ribs in the front Of my body. The
gun was rife. Griffin told me he
did not go to do it. / teld him be
did it purpose, and that he knew
he did. started home Immediately
afterwards, and in a short time Crit
FIN said he would help me to the
house of his brother, Geo. Griffin. At
the time Griffin shot there were pres
ent Seigler Sanders and Arthur
Sturm. Ambrose Griffin tried to
strike me I time or two, and did hit
me once or twice on the head. had
had no difficulty with him before this
time. Griffin tried to strike me with
the gun before / grabbed it, and !
wanted to get the gun to keep him
from shooting me. The "poulcat''
that was under the trap was mine; ]
had set the trap some time age and
baited it the day before yesterday.
He wanted the "poulcat," and said
had been taking others that be-
longed to him, all Of which ! denied
to him. his
RICHARD r. n ANDERSON.
mark.
Witness: G. T. Martin. O. Randall.
Subscribed by his mark and sworn
to before me this 29th day Of No
vcmber, 1883.
JAMES FOWLER, N. P.
An inquest was held on Friday by
Justice MILAN before the following
Jury: III. b. Bruno, F. Parish, T. f.
Stumm. Taylor Martin, G. E. Parish,
r. M. Fortney, r. F. Sharpe, NJ. c.
Cochran, Oakley Randall, D. D. Sni-
der, Frank Sandy and Geo. w. Martin,
After hearing the evidence adduced
the jury returned a verdict of acct
dental shooting. Griffin gave himself
L. l. II