Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-03-11
THE TRAIN WRECKeRS.
Detectives Track the Williams Down and
Force Them to Confess.
Al.


CLAREsBURG, W. Va, March lO-Gen-
esal Agent Harry Wilson at this place, and
the Baltimore aud Ohio railroad detectives
Messrs. John Lloyd and William 7. Wirts,
have been actively engaged in searching
out the perpetrators OF the horrible attempt
to wreck the passenger trains on last MOI
day night, one week ago. Tney have suc-
ceeded remarkably well. When No. 684
pulled in thst night it was stoned about
800 Yards below the station here, the
conductor reporting the fact at
once to Agent Wilson, who Immediately
sent two men down the railroad, who
met John AID Charley Libb5 and John
Murphy uear the watch house, coming
from the place at which the train was
stoned. A. about s o'clock these facts
were reported at the depo:. Mr.. Wilson
and the police pursued the boys through
the town, losing the trail, however, after
hayiog gone to the Red Bridge, north Of
this city. They upquestionsbly identified
all the parties. The testimony developed
the circumstances that the boys had run
most the way from the depot, and perhaps
at the time the officers were at the Red
Bridge, they were near the Barnes
crossing, from which place they
went in a westerly direction, stopping,
at the whistle post, so that engineers would
not whistle on approaching the bridge,
they attempted its destruction. At this
iuucture Charles Libbs suggested the
wreckiDg OF the train Large rocks were
placed on tbe south side of the track for
some distance, and q cross.tie on the
north rail. They then crossed the bridge,
and in the interior Sam McCloud, who had
been talking to Wa'chmsn Furbee at the
watch box started tor his home through
the cut in an easterly direction, discover
Jog the obstruction and reported the same
10 Mr.. FGrbee, who promptly removed it
The three perpetrators of this attempted
horrible crime, having crossed the railroad
bridge went to a switch near ksrlsnd q
mines where they placed in the frog four
iron coupling liGks and three pins and
started back toward the bridge, stopping
at the first switch east, aud there placed
similar obstructions in the frog. They then
proceeded to place almost directly oppo'
site their homes, and again placed another
rail, about FIVE feet long, so that one
end rfsted under Q CROSS
tie, aud portion Of on another crosstie,
the raised end being about two feet
above the rail, and opposite from
the approaching train, thus forming O
wedge shsped obstruction upon which the
passenger train, No. COL, west bound
would have run and unquestionable been
wrecked, had it not been that evening pre-
ceded by freight train in advance, which
was wrecked, and many persons saved
from horrible death
Early on the morning of March Sd De-
tee,iyes Lloyd and Wirts arrived in this
civ and began q careful investi cation,
resulting on the same dsy IN the arrest OF
Charles Ti55s, and on the following day OF
John Tibbs and John Murphy. At the
nreliuiuary examination before Squire j.
D. R,po today the prisoners were con-
fronted with overwhelming evidence, driv-
ing them to voluntary confession in open
Court, and they we're held to await indIc'-
ment at the May term of Court, and re-
msndsd TO iail. Public sentiment demands
the severest punishment. 5,
On March Sd John Boy!e' was arrested
upon the charge of burgsliziug the watch
hox psar Wolf Summit. There will be q
preliminary hearing to morrow before the
same Justice, and therefore the result can,
not be reported at this writing. Boyles
father ia an excellent man, and the shock
to him is very great. The same detectives
worked up this case. The prosecution
will be vigorous and every effort will De
made to punish the guilty. The railroad
will do everything 10 inslre safe travel to
the public.