Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-11-07
THE MURDER TRIAL
The Dsfsnss Takes up Yesterday With It's
Testimony.
LARGEGROWD OF PEOPLE PRESENT
The Arguments Expected to Commence Tues
day Morning.
SYMPATHY FOR MRS. THATCHER.

luc JOuISOu ululuCA liz "oS
at Moundsville, yesterday, the defense pro
ceeding with the rebuttal of the States
evidence. The attendance was very large,
the interest seeming to grow with the
progress of the case. Several Wheeling
people went down, among them ]. D.
Ewing, Esq. Mrs. Thatcher and her ehll'
dren. eleven in number, have been in daily
attendance at the trial, and much sympa,
thy has been expressed for them by the
population. 1t is thought the testimony
will be concluded by tomorrow, and the
arguments commenced Tuesday. Hon. }.
A. Hutchinson left for home last evening,
but will return to Moundsyille tonight.
The first witness yesterday was Joseph
Martin. He stated that he lived III part
of the house occupied by Johnson and that
Johnson had lived there for the last SIX
months. He stated as TO what took place
Monday night preceding the murder, and
said that Mr.. Thatcher came there between
8 and 10 o'clock. Witness was asleep IN
bed at the time. Thatcher told Mrs.
Johnson to open the door. She said she
would not do it, but finally she yielded
and Thatcher searched the house. he
heard other men with Thatcher, but
did not know who they were. He also
saw Thatcher there the next morning 1.-THE
day of the murder.) He came to Martins
window and asked if he had seen Johnson,
to which Martin replied Yes" He asked
if he was in now and he replied that he
did not know. He turned around to the
corner of the house. The next thing Mar
tin heard q noise and screaming. The
noise sounded like Thatcher was going
through something like Il door, or what he
supposed to be the door. 1t sounded
something like a door being bursted open.
On the evening of the murder he was
called by his wife. He went out and saw
Mr.. Thatcher dragging Mrs. Johnson. He
went up and asked him to let her go and
he said II have q right to arrest her, she
drew a Ratchet on me-" Mr.. Thatcher
then put the nippers on her. Gene john
son came out and asked him to let her 90
three times. The third thine Thatcher
changed hands on the nippers and put his
hand back to his hip pocket. johnson
then raised his gun to his shoulder and
fired.
George Marpole, the next witness for
the defense stated that he knew Mr..
Thatcher from a boy up to when he was
twenty years of age. lie testified to Mr..
Thatcher being a boy and man of quick,
passionate temper. He had not seen him
in the last three years, and could only
state rs to what he had heard. ,
LOrena Gilmore stated that she was a
step-daughtcr of Joseph Martin. She also
confessed as to Mr.. Thatcher's coming TO
.JOhnson's house on the morning of the
murder, her testimony being the same rs
Mr.. Johnson's.
Dora Thatcher was recalled by the de-
Tense. He was asked if he told all he
knew. lie replied yes
Did you tell all about where your
father was that morning.
'Yes, rs far as | know"
He also said that he was only at John
sons home with his father, and that his
father went one way and he went another.
His father came home shortly but did not
say where he had been.
Mrs. j. Clark, sister of the defendant,
stated that Mr.. Thatcher had called at her
house on Tuesday morning before the muir
der between five and six o'clock. He
asked her if Gene was there. She said that
he was not, and said that his face colOred
and that Thatcher put his hand back, mo-
tioning to his pocket. He told her that
the best thing Gene could do would be for
him to give himselfup to Mr.. Purdy. She
said that she would do it. He said, "All
| want is t. get my eyes on him. with
that he departed.
George Hastings stated that he resided
in Wheeling. and that he was staying at
the Camp Ground ut the time ofthe muir
der. On the evening of the murder he, ac-
companied by Harry Goodwin, also of
Wheeling, were on their way down to
town. He then gave a description OF the
murder rs stated by other eye witnesses.
Mrs. Belle BlakemOre stated that she
saw Mr.. Thatcher with Gene J0hnscl's
wife out by the gate. He had her by the
hand standing up. She was about twenty
yards away from them. She heard Gene
Johnson tell him to let her 80. Mr..
Thatcher said nothing nor did anything at
rnat time. IN uross-eXamination she
stated that she saw Gene Johnson before
the murder. He was standing about in
the middle of the yard belonging to the
house.
John Martin, son of Joseph Martin, CO.
robOrated his fathers testimony.
Mrs. isabel McKerson testified that
she lived On the opposite side of the rail-
road switch from JOhnson's house, q dis
lance OF between seventy-five and one
hundred va Dis. She heard the screaming
of TIE woman, and also witnessed the
shooting, her statement being similar to
the other witnesses.
William Welch stated that he arrested
Mrs. Johnson that night and took her to
the Mayors Office and left her in charge
Of Esquire William Edwards. lie stated
her dress was torn and soiled.
W. H.. III. Showacre, Sheriff of Marshall
county, testified that he thought the
dress was in the same condition that it
was on the night of the murder, and that
she changed her dress in the Jail the next
morning.
Hanson Riggs stated that'he assisted in
the capture of Johnson, and that Mr.. Fran
els had nothing to do with the capture.
II. T. Anshutz stated that Mr.. Thatcher
was a man of quick temper but was not
acquainted with his general reputation.
John Morris stated that he was &C
quainted with J. p. Thatcher before his
death, and was only aware of his general
reputation by what he had heard said.
Alex. johnson the father of the defend
ant, stated that he saw Gene between 3
and 4 o'clock in the afternoon OF the muir
der, and told him to go home out Of the
rain, and that if Mr.. Thatcher came for him
to 90 with him and board il out with the
county. Gene said that he was afraid Mr.
Thatcher would shoot him. He told him
not to be afraid, but to 90 home
and act like o man. He was
accompanied at that time by Mr. Nicker-
son. At the beginning of the tragedy he
was on the Dug Hill. He heard the wo-
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