Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-06-14
WHO KILLED DAVID wEAvERr
An Aged Farmer Found Dead I'm a
Field. His Hands in his Pockets and
n Ballet in his ssraili-A Cookbook.
ing Woman i'm the Case-A Mystery.

An Aged Farmer Found Dead I'm a
Field. Ezis Hands in his Pockets and
a Bullet in his ssraiEs-A -Goed-LoOk.
ing Woman in the Csase-A Mystery.
Steuben Corners is little settlement seven
miles northwest of the village of Trenton
Oneida county. New York. The larger part OF
the people OF the village and town are Welsh
Seven miles from railroad, without telegraph
or telephone connection, they have tie to do
with the outside world. but work steadily upon
their farms, mind their own business 90 to
church regularly and enjoy life. 1t was reported
On Friday morning of last week that the body Of
David Weaver. a lifelong resident of the town
mad been found dead in u field with a bullet
hole in his head. David Weaver was GO years
OF age, and resided witt. his wife of the same
are, ard four children on II small farm QUAR-
ter of a mile north of the Corners His children
are Granville aged about 40; Willard. aged 81:
GEORGE aged Is, and Anna. aged ID. Mr. aad
Mrs. Weaver have always resided within mile OF
the Corners. When asked Saturday as to whether
or not their married lite had been q iappy one
Mrs Weaver said to Utica Herald reporter
that she guessed it had been as happy as the
average Weaver was large, powerfully built
man. weighed 2l5. and was about 6 feet tall He
was always in trouble with his neighbOrs. As
several said. he was always having" At the
time of his death he had a suit pending with
John ID. Baker Some years ago Weaver had
trouble with girl named Rudionr and for a
long period his wife refused to live with him.
On the same road with Weaver and about an
eighth of IA mile south. lives Richard Jones, well
known throughout the town as dick Sixty"
Mr. Jones is about forty years of age. and has
wife and four young children. Mr.. and Mrs
Jones are also natives OF the town. and have
always resided there He has a quick temper.
and gives vent to it easily. His wife is fairly
good looking. Their married life is said to have
been happy one until several months ago. At
that time Mrs Jones became acquainted with
Weaver, and since then the tongue of the gos-
siper has been kept going constantly over the
actions OF the two. On one or two occasions
Jones caught his wife walking with Weaver and
demonstrated with her. 1t is also said that on
one of the occasions he took down his rifle, and
but for its having contained no bail would have
shot Weaver.
per at home and during the afternoon he was
seen talking with airs. Jones in front of the
latter house. He appeared more quiet than
usual, and soon after o'clock retired. One of
the sons returned home about 81 o'clock. and,
before going up stairs remembered distinctly
hearing his father snoring. Some time after.
how long he does not know. the son thought he
heard his father go out Upon arising in the
morning nothing was seen of Mr. Weaver. Be-
fore any one OF the family had time to inquire
around if anything had been seen of the old
man, news was brought to them that he had
been found dead in the meadow of Charles
Maydole, who lived on the same road, nearly
opposite the house of Richard Jones. He was
lying upon his face. his legs drawn out. and his
feet close together. His hands were i'm the side
pockets OF a short coat which he wore Exam
nation revealed bullet hole in the back of the
head near the base of the brain.
Theories to account for the killing were nu-
merOus. 1t was ascertained that Richard Jones
mad started Thursday morning for Remsen
where the Welsh gymanfa was to be held.
Weaver, knowing that he had gone from the
conversation he had with Mrs. Jones in the at
ternOOn arose after his family were safely asleep
and went to Jones house. While mere it was
concluded that Jones arrived home and. dis
covering Weaver in the house. crossed the road
and secreted himself near Maydole's BARN. Al
though Weaver and Jones lived on the same
road. there was an Obtuse angle between the
two houses. making the distance across May
doles meadow the shorter way home. 1t was
Tor this reason that the people concluded that
Jones had secreted himself in the meadow On
the end of MaydOle's barn nearest Jones' house
was the COW stable. The doors at each end were
open. and it was concluded that Weaver in
going home. went through that part of the
barn. 1t was supposed that after Weaver left
the barn Jones followed him until he was about
one hundred feet from the building, and then
shot him.
The ball was found to have entered the back
OF the head near the base of the brain, and
passed on slightly inclined plane to a point
u.
the brain and the skull. 1t was of thirty-two
calibre. and disigured simply on the pointed
end, showing that the shot was square one
The Inquest was begun on Saturday. Jones
was examined. He said that he slept at Bris-
tOls hotel, in Remsen, on the night of the
murder. and did not return until subppnaed
This he claimed he could prove by Chidlaw
Evans, with whom he slept Thursday night
Officer Latham found Mrs. Jones living on the
bed. She complained of feeling i'll, and when
or tn
minutes she relaxed somewhat and began talk
ing about the affair. at this point Jones entered
and told her to keep still, as she was not obliged
to answer such questions as were put to her
She admitted that her husband had revolver
and that it carried 80 ball. She claimed that
the last time she saw it was on Thursday. After
ward she admitted having seen it on Friday, but
where it was at that time she pretended not to
know. Jones did not hear this conversation,
and denied, when questioned, that he had a re-
volver. When told that his wife admitted the
ownership or one he owned up, and took the
officer to the place where the Weapon was kept
1t was not found there. Jones told the officer
that he did not commit the crime, but was Ger
tain ne knew by whom it was done.
AS Officer Latham was about to start for Rem
sen to hunt up Chdlaw Evans the young man
put in an appearance. His story cOrresponded
closely with that Of Jones. Mr. Bristol was
afterwarCi communicated with and he claimed
that Jones spent Thursday night there This
threw the officer off the track. and made the
case more mysterious than ever The most
general belief is that Mrs. Jones and Weaver
had row at the formers house Thursday night,
and that when Weaver started for home
the woman followed him and fired the shot
Weaver was quite deaf. and so could not have
heard any one following. Another theory is
that Jones hired some one to kill him. Num-
Der three is that he was killed by one of his own
boys. This is founded on the assertion made
by the young man warning his father to keep
away from the house.
The cOroner's jury returned verdict that the
deceased came to his death at the hands of some
person unknown.
Saturday Smiles.
'The oldest inhabitant is usually man"
says an exchange. But it needn't be SO if
women would only stand I'D to their ages
burlington Free Press.