Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-06-29


| morning, and seached the house; after
Thatcher left, saw Eugene coming around
it; Eugene went away, and came hack in
the evening wringing wet; Mrs. johnson,
while Thatcher Was taking her through
the yard, would beg Thatcher to let her
90, and would then call him names; she
had no chance to get to her feet; he slid her
along.
To Dovener-Mrs. johnson said if
Thatcher would let her up she would go;
he would not let her up; he screwed the
nippers up on her wrists; Mr.. Blakemore
said he picked them up; she screamed about
her arm; my wife begged Thatcher TO let
her up; Mrs. Johnson's dress was torn;
some one came TO the house about IL or II
o'clock on the night before; my potato patch
had been robbed, and rs | heard johnson
in the house, | thought ! would look after
my potatoes; looked out of the window and
saw two men; ;one said, Did YOU get him."
and the other said no; the next morn
ing about o'clock Thatch-
or came to the house and
knocked; they would not let him in, and
heard noise like the door had been
broken down; in the evening he came
again; | heard another noise like the
breaking in of a door at this visit; at the
time of the struggle Thatcher WAS very
much excited and white; he told witness,
his wife and Alexander johnson Ia stand
back, when they begged him Ia let the
woman he: no one intcriered with hiM: he
dragged the woman twenty yards.
W. P M'pONALD.
Saw Alexander Johnson about fifteen
minutes after the shooting; met johnson
on the way TO where dead man w.lS;' he
heard us saying Thatcher WAS dead, and
sud, II reckon, by God, he'll stay out ,f
peoples houses after this"
JAMES RLAKEMoIE
Saw Thatcher going toward Johnson's
house on the evening of the shooting; told
his wife he believed he would 90 down and
see the fun; witness detailed the tusscl he
tween Thatcher and MrS. Johnson, and
said Eugene came out with the gun; Eu-
gene said, "let her % or I'll shoot
Thatcher changed his hold and reached
down, and when he Strengthened up Eu-
gene fired; when witness first saw Eugene
he had the gun up to his face ready 10
shoot.
ELIJAH BLAKEMORE.
First saw Thatcher on JOhnson's door
step; witness went inside the gate and saw
Thatcher drag Mrs. johnson out Of the
gate; there Thatcher put the nippers on
her; Eugene Johnson came out and spoke
to Thatcher twice, and maybe three times;
he thcnii red; witness found the nipperS on
the ground; Alexander Johnson came down
the dug hill and up 10 Thatcher; hc said,
"I.ct her looSc-what are YOU d0ingy'
Thatcher shook his fist and said, stand
back" Thatcher put his hand back TO his
pocket.
To Dovcncr-Gave the nippcrs 10 Ed-
wards; nippers produced and identified by
witness, who illustrated how they were on
Mrs. .JohnS0n's wrist
CLYDE PTLE,
Saw Eugene Johnson on the morning oi
the murder; he said he was hungry; hc
! talked about the iinc and said he would
shoot Thatcher before hc would bc taken.
TO Justice Edwards-Saw Johnson after
the shooting; he saidI "Niy God, Clyde;
| I've shot him
| The State here rested.
MIR. MARTIN RECALLED.
Joe Tomlinson told me he didn't like
johnson, md wouldn't do him any good
if put on the stand.
MRS. MARTIN
who lives in the same house with John
son WAS called for the defense. Witness
heard Thatcher at the door on the morning
of the murder Mrs. johnson wouldn't
let him in, and heard the door break.
In the evening Thatcher came hack;
looked out of The window, and 0w
Thatcher standing on the porch, lie said
"Open the door, Mira. Johnson said: II
won't do it.n Thatcher then jumped back
and kicked the door in. There was n
scuiilc inside and then they both came
out and rolled of the porch. Thatcher
''chugged" her upon the ground several
| times; he then took her 10y the arm and
started down the hill; Thatcher had
her by the back of the neck when he 'Nlug.
ged" her on the ground screamed "a
him TO let her go, but he paid no attention
10 me; ! then called for my husband; the
ground over which he dragged her was
pretty steep and he dragged her head firsi
| by the arms; when they fell of the porch
| he fell on her; caught Thatcher by the
! arm, and he ordered me Ia stand back;
/ nv husband pulled me back ! was right
at Eugcne's side when he shot; before he
| fired he called TO Thatcher twice 10 let hcI
up: saw Thatcher feel for his revolver,
] ri 4. 4 L. I,hn hat atst t.t
at him; hatchct produced and identified.
MAYOR PrRpY
recalled. Thatcher was about six feet high
and would weigh ls0 or 100; hc had the
reputation Of being one Of the best men,
physically, in Moundsyille.
JoHE MARTIN,
son of Joseph Martin, boy Of about H.
detailed the visit Of Thatcher TO Johnson
and the shooting Of the former. There Wa
nothing new or novel in his story.
HENRY GOODWIN.
Was at camp ground hotel on day oI
shooting with Mr.. Hastings; witness and
Hastings were on the y. & o. switch when
they heard screaming and saw man
dragging q woman along; the man va
| Thatcher; the woman said: "Hy God,
you're breaking my arm" Witnea de-
tailed the shooting substantially n by
other witnesses, Eugene johnson telling
Thatcher three times to let the woman ~
and Thatcher putting his hand in his hip
pocket, when johnson fired.
MISS BELLE L1rY.
Witness saw johnson shoot Thatcher,
after he had told him three times to r.
lease Mrs johnson. She told the same
old story, with the important addition
that Eugene johnson came out Of The from
door Of tho house before he shot, she beiDs
the first witness who knew where Gen.
came from.
HANSON RIGGS.
The first question johnson asked, wher
we captured him, was: is Thatchel
dead?"
sHFnlFf sItowAcRE
aT.Sted Afrs. Minnie johnson; Idres
produced;l can't identify the clothes n
being those Mrs. johnson had on; II VA
dark
MRS. JOHNSON