The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-06-30
THE MASKED ROBBERS.
10 DOUBT ABOUT TaEIR auIIrl

NO DOUBT ABOUT THErR GUILT,
But Considerable as to The Abtlityze OF siie
Aa,horltiss 10 Convict Ihtm-Ths 10.
fornatlon on which They Were Ap.
prshsndsd-writ ofHassas cOrpas.
The arrest by Sheriff Hsndlan on Sun
day Of. Thomas and William MCGOWAN,
Ed. Angus, John Culver and his son
George Culver, on the charge Of commit
ting the atrocious robbery and maltreat-
ment Of old Elijah MArling last December,
was the main topic Of conversation about
town yesterday. In official circles there
has bean an impression for some time,
which has gradually become ! moral eer-
tainty, that Tom MCGOWAN, Angus and
Kincaid we're connected With the rob
berry. The only difficulty has been to
secure tangible evidence 70 justify their
gffest. Sheriff Handlan still declines 70
say on what information be took the I've
men into custody. bHtthere are reasons TO
believe that ElijRh MRrling himself was
irStTumental In causing tie. step TO be-
taken. Il was believed all along that he
could identity the three men who were in
This houss that Monday night and who
we're engaged In torturing and robbiDg
him, and that all that deferred him from
making positive statement VIVA tho lack
Of corToboaliye evidence and the fear
that the men would be acquitted and
ETeak Vengeance on him.
It Is known that Mr. MgTling and
! Sheriff Handiau we're In secret consulta-
ton last week, and it Is believed that
something which has lately come to
light has encouraged him 10 tell all he
knows, ~
a IAEEAs CORPUS Issued.
AZ stated yesterday, the five men were
separated as widely as possible when
lodged in the county Jail Jasper Kin
caid, who Is believed TO have been present
at tie robbery, "a in jail al New Martins.
vile, accused Of smother crime. A rumor
lis current that he or another member OF
1.-THE party has given his confedeEates
taway, but this is not probable, so thor.
0u2h was the discipline Of the gang, and
80 shTewd were its leaders.
Yesterday Messsrs. Dovensr & Elson,
attorneys for tho prisoners, alter con-
sultation with them and their friends, ap.
piled TO the Circuit Court Tor writ OF
hqbs1i eoFgl1, which was issued, return.
able Wednesday at i0A. ".
The ave men logged in tIil by Sheriff
Handlan Sunday were arrested without
warrants or other process OF law. Yester.
day, however, Sheriff Handian swore out
warrants before Squire w. "a. Caldwell.
The law allows the justice ten days after
Issuing warrant ia which to liold the
preliminary examination. Its expected
THAT these warrants will be sufficient re.
turn to the writ. The time for prelini.
nary hearing has not yet been named by
the justice.
While those who bave any information
| in regard to the robbery are coutident that
at least part OF the gang has been cap.
tnred, the lack Of knowledge "a 10 what
evidence theS Sheriff has causes some doubt
as to his power 70 bold them upon the
hearing before the Circuit Court.
SOME roIxrRss.
Recently an IsTELLIGgScgRre porterhad
| a conversation with Jasper Kincaid, while
| he was in the county jail here. While he
successfully avoided saying anything that
would 20 to convict anybody In court, he
dropped enough hints 70 satisfy anybody
that be knew all about the robbery. Be-
ing told that q member Of the gang who
was not named had made certain admis-
sions, he s8id:
Sid heG Thai must haye been -
- naming suspected party.
"Nby?" he was asked.
This confused him, and he refused to
Italk further. But later he said 10 another
party, in referring to this conversation,
ut looks like the whole thing was going
to come out, don't it"
Kincaid may have made a statement to
the Sheriff q iailer, Atany rate Meow
au's friends denounce him Toundly,
assuming that he did 90. Thisin Itself is
| a pretty good pointer. The fact that they
jump 1t tho conclusion that Kincaid has
turned iniormer leads 70 no possible infer,
euce but. that he could do 90 II he would.
PsRsoxsEL or the GANG.
1.-THE Sheriff Is acting on definite intor-
nation Of course he is az sure Of the guilt
Of each OF the gang Is pl any ather mem
Der. There are certain facts, however,
which lead, neighbors Of tho Culyers TO
bElieve in their Innocence. John Culver,
the father, ia Fifty years old. Neither he
nor his son have been In trouble before
40 far as known. Tom MCGOWAN must
be nearly II not quite forty years OF age.
He Is a shrewd, cool headed man, whose
Hooks betoken that II he Is guilty, and can
.the convicted, it will be case oil "catch-
ling a weasel asleep.D 4 poLcemen told q
an, also arrested Sunday, could be proven
to have been at work In glass house
on the night Of The Marlipg rob;
berry. He did notsay what was the goptra
OF his information to this effect. Angus
formerly lived at Martins Ferry, and
worked Of the LaHghliH mill, but since
the mill suspended operations he has lived
at MEG owan's honse and done tarIp work,
Even before that he was frequently at
NfcGowan's house.
Kincaid Is credited with being the dull.
est man in the party. When on thestand
at NcGowan's former hearing he IRE.
auentIy eonttadieted himself aud tho
other witnesses for the deiense, and bis
mannef on the stand was more damaging
to the defense than anything Offered by
the prosecution.
i ~%s<-Ez- a. 2.
THE I4IHsLY INSTITUTE. =
SIR. j. O. Orr chosen Principal by the
Trustees.
A well attended meeting Of the Board
of Trustees Of the Linsly Institute was
q. - RIg4I H.. q