Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-07-04
BONDsMFN FOUND
BY Iohh Culver and His Son
George,
And They are Released From the Custody Of
the Sheriff - General Gossip
Concerning the Case.

Two others Of the FIVE persons charged
with the robbery and torture of Elijah MARI
ing were set at liberty shortly before eight
o'clock last evening, they having furnished
the bail demanded by the Court at the close
of the hearing on the writ of habeas corpus.
They were John and George Culver, father
and son, and their bondsmen were c. j.
Rawlings and Wesley Bowman. These
gentlemen, with Clerk Mitchell repaired to
the Court House about half past seven, and
the prisoners having been brought in by
Turnkey Quigg, they were admitted to bail
to appear on the second day of the next
term Of Court, September 9Th, to answer
ANY INDICTMENT
which may be found against them. Mr..
Bowman and the prisoners at once took the
eight o'clock motor on the Elm Grove Road
Tor their homes out on the pike. While in
the office Of Clerk Mitchell awaiting the ap-
pearance of the prisoners, Mr.. Rawlings re-
ferred to John Culver's services in the war,
and said he was noted for his bravery. 1t
was his particular business to drive the re
serve ammunition wagon. and he often fol
lowed bis regiment, the First West Virginia
Infantry, into the hottest places with load
of powder, which spark might have ig-
pited. The release Of these two men leaves
but two of the fve-Edward Angus and
John McGowan-still behind the bars.
A REeIsrEs reporter talked with large
number of people regarding the robbery
case, yesterday, and found many
WIDELY DIvERGING VIEWS
regarding the connection of the accused
with it. Scarcely anything else was talked
of about the Court House, lawyer and JUS
tice offices, hotels, and other places where
men do most congregate. A large major
ity of the sentiment was untsyorable to
the accused. The testimony given BY
the witnesses for the defense was sharply
criticized, and several inconsistencies were
found, as, for instance, where Thomas Nc.
Gowan swore he paid Angus the 81 to send
to his wife down the river, while Angus him
self swore his wife was at Martins Ferry
when he went for the money. One gentle
man, well known, who lives near Markings
and who knows Ellis Bowman intimately
said to a reporter yesterday that he hao
asked Bowman about
COPPER KETTLE
which john McGowan testified he had got
en- from Bowman aud hid for him in TIT
loft of his house, and which Bowman told
him (McGowan) he had stolen from Mar
ing. Bowman said he had lost sledge
and ArmfeId had come to him on one occa
sion and said: "Mr Bowman, if you vii
lend me dollar l will tell you who stole
your aledge" He gave him the dollar, when
re said: Tom McGowan has it." Arm
field then said: NOW give me FIVE cents
nd will tell where Markings copper kettle
is" He gave him nickel and he said Tom
MCGOWAN had it. A warrant was issued for
MCGOWAN and also search warrant. His
house was visited, and there they found the
.sledge, the kettle and also butcher knife
the two latter belonging to Msrlng. Nc
Gowan heard of the warrant and never came
back to the house, going clear out of the
country. Some time after a neighbor no
ticed large fire near Markings. Hejumped
on horse and rode over, when he found
that three large stacks of hay belonging to
Msrling were
MCGOWAN had been seen within eight or ten
miles of the place that day, and was at once
suspected of the crime. For a long time
after that Marling was afraid to go out OF
his house, and was in daily dread Of being
shot or his home burned. Neighbors would
60 and knock at his door but he would never
answer, being afraid it was a ruse to gel
him out and shoot him. The same gentle
man said Marling had not sleptin his house
since the night OF the robbery. Every even.
ing he would go over to Wharton's and
sleep in q chair in bed room, going back
to his house in the morning. He believed
himself in daily danger, and was in con
tinual state ofterror.
There is much doubt in the minds Of
many citizens living in the region around
Markings as to the completely of John Cal
yer in the crime. Several reputable gentle
men, who were talked TO yesterday, said they
could not for a moment believe him guilty
of such an act; the most that had ever been
said against him was that he had liking
for liquor and
A PROPENSITY FOR FIGHTING.
In their estimation, and they hsd
known him for twenty or twenty-five
years, he was the wrong man. Others
again, who claimed an equal knowledge,
alleged the accused had sort of dual ex
istence, and while on the surface he was
fairly good citizen, beneath there was some
thing entirely different.
There was also great mass Of rumorS
Aoa'ing about regarding the other men &C
cused and particularly as to the abb in the
case Of William MCGOWAN, and to his char
acter, but there was nothing tangible or any
more reliable than heressy. Some interest
ing talk by persons who knew what they
were saying, was also picked up regarding
the state of panic into which the femalt
members of Tom McGowan and Culver't
families were thrown when they first heard
of last Sundays arrests, it being alleged
that there was much excitement and dejec |
tion and that there were remarks dropped |
which led those hearing them to believe
THE RIGHT MEN
had be en- caught.
The belief in the existence of large auc
well organized gang of thieves, having it.
headquarters either in Wheeling or Martins
Ferry, and members scattered all over thif
part Of the country, is growing in the minds
of many, and there is q general demand for
the permanent employ OF detective by the
city or county, whose specially would be the
working up of such cases as the Workenour
and Marling outrages. 1t is estimated that
from seven 10 eight thousand dollars worth
Of property have been stolen in this county
in the last year, and large additional sum
in the over-the-river towns, and the jobs are
so neatly executed, and they conceal
their identity so completely as to create the
wellfounded suspicion that the rascsls sre
well organized professionals. The men
charged with the Msrhng robbery may or
may not be guilty, but whether they are in
nocent or not has nothing to do with this
beliefin the existence of large and organ
ICED gang.
N