The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-10-09

FAYErTE COUNTY.
Circuit Court SattSrS-N Determined Raid
on Crime and Criminals.


on Crime and Criminals.
Correspondence Of The IE'slROeaeer.
FAYETTEVILLE, W. Va, Oct. 3.-The
term Of our Circuit Court, which closed
to-day, has been a memorable one. At
the beginning OF the term, two weeks ago,
there we're thirty-seven persons in our Jail
charged with crime to be disposed Of, be.
sides others out on bail. Almost the
whole term has been taken up in criminal
cases, but It's good effect has been to rid
the above institution, 80 that only two re-
manned to be tried next court. Judge
Holt has determined to check the rapid ad.
vance OF crime here, by passing an order
compelling the prisoners who have been
convicted OF misdemeanors to serve their
term Of itnpr'sonl .eut out at hard labor.
AS consequence there will be four 10 go
on the "chain gang" from two to three
months. This Is the first time in the his
tory OF Fayette county such thing has
been done, but it is hoped that it will
have most beneficial effect.
THETA six days Of the term was taken
up in the Parker murder case. Your
readers will remember that case. James
A. Parker was charged with having MUIR
dered John Golf on Saturday before
Christmas, 1877, eight years ago. Parker
was not apprehended until February,
1881, when he was arrested in Montgom.
cry City, Missouri, where he had married,
bought himself n home and settled down.
He was brought back to this county and
committed to jail. His vile and little
baby folio we'd him here and have remain
ed ever since, she living with the neigh
bors and doing such work as would sup
port herself and baby, and occasionally
buy some little delicaCies for her husband.
During the term OF our Court last May,
Parker was tried and convicted OF murder
in the fist degree. But this verdict was
set aside on account OF the officer allow
ing ore Of the Jurors to separate, and
fine placed on the officer. 4 few days
after the adjournment OF the Court, while
the Sheriff was carrying some prisoners to
the Penitentiary, Parker, with five others,
including the notorious Joe Reese, broke
Jail and escaped. Parker being in very
bad health was not able to get out OF the
county, and in one week. Joe Reese be-
trayed his whereabouts to ALI Burnett for
hundred dollars and the privilege to
leave county without being disturbed by
him (Burnett), when Parker was re-
arrested and brought to jail. Ever since he
was betrayed by Reese, whom everybody
considered a far worse man Of the
two, even il Parker WIS guilty, there bias
been growing a sympathy in Parker's IA
vor, and to-day, after going through a
long, tedious trial in which the b!eached
bones OF the man supposed to be John
Golf played a prominent part, and after
examining from fifty to severty.6ve wit
nesses, the jury, after being out about two
hours, brought in verdict OF mot guilty."
which wa7 received with cheers by the
crowd who have watched the trial for
six days. Thus ended one OF the greatest
trials ever had in our State, in which
thousands Of dollars OF the peoples money
was spent.
The following five delegates will repre-
sent Fayette ut Moundsvilie from this
term of court: E. ]. Martin (colored) gets
two years for grand larceny; Parson
Flood, burglary, three years; John Will
liams, burglary, three years; Henry Mum
sey, burglary, five years, and Joe Reese,
ielonious house breaking, five years.
The joke has turned on this fellow
Reese, After betraying Parker into the
clutches OF the law, when they were fell
low prisoners, he was recRptured after al
most being outlawed, and now he stands
convicted and Parker acquitted. A good
turn OF affairs for both. A stay OF sixty
days has been granted him for his counsel
to apply for an appeal on bill Of excep.
tons.
The man Henry Munsey has been be.
fore this Court three times. Once for grand
larceny when be got of; another time for
committing crime on little S.year.old
girl when his age saved him, and this time
for breaking into railroad shanty and
stealing pistol worth only one dollar and
fifty cent?. But our worthy Judge re-
numbering bis history made up by giving
hin q pretty steep sentence. Munsey Is
only about eighteen years old.
Captain Joseph L. Buery, who was 30
murderously assaulted about month ago,
il. we are glad to say, nearly well again.
He is thorough business mau and one Of
the largest coal operators in the New river
region. His ssssilant, a negro named
Greer Nickel, has been captured and
lodged in jail here. He was caught near
Pocahontas, Virginia, and his captors were
compelled 10 knock him senselCss and
handcuff him before he would surren-
der. T.