Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-05-29
TWO PARDONS
Granted by His ExCsIIsncy, Gov
ern0r Wilson,
One to Joseph Paul, Convicted of Murder,
and One to W. w. Adkins, Con-
yicted of a Felony.

leases from the penitentiary a criminal
the circumstances Of whose crime and con-
viction are well known in those counties
bordering along the river from New Mar
tiusville to Pt. Pleasant On the 10th dsy
of Mag 1882, Joseph Paul, a citizen Of
Wood county, murdered Reuben Marquis,
a citizen OF the same county, the provoca-
lion being the seduction of Mrs. Paul, wife
of the murderer, and the consequent deg
radiation Of his family and the destruction
Of his bone. Paul was at once arrested
aud confined in the county jail, and was
indicted at The July, 1882, term Of the Cir.
cult Court for murder in the first degree.
The trial came on in the latter part of
February, 1888, and on the second day OF
March in that year, the jury returned
verdict as charged in the indictment.
On application OF council for the
prisoner, the court set aside
this verdict March 9, 1883,
ard awarded new trial. On con-
fession By the prisoner of the killing OF
Marquis, and the reasons thereiorf submit
ted TO the Court in writing, the jury, on the
occasion of the second trial, December IL,
1888, rendered verdict o! mot guilty Of
murder in the first degree, as charged 10 the
Indictment, but guilty Of murderin the sec
ond degree as charged in the Indictment"
Upon this verdict the Court sentenced the
prisoner to confinement in the State peni
tisry for the term OF sixteen years.
Application was lately made to Governor
Wilson for the pardon of the prisoner, and
in support OF said petition were filed afi-
davits of NJ. L. Jones, John Rost, l.. b
Parker, A. G. Csplin, II. q. Whestlay,
VIM. Buck, Sarah G. Stewart, T. b. Par
ker and G. N Riddle, setting forth facts
and circumstances Of the most material
character as to the cause of the killing, the
said sfhdsVits being certified to By Judge
J. NJ. jackson, Judge of the Circuit Court
of Wood county, who presided at the trial,
aud by ]. G. Mcclure, the Prosecuting At
torney of the county, not to have
been given in evidence on the
trial. The Judge and Prosecuting
Attorney also certify to the scredibility Of
the atlantis The recommendation of many
citizens of Wood and other counties were
also filed with the Governor.
In the pardon issued His Excellency
ssys;-
II do not deem it necessary to enter in
to a critical analysis OF the evidence. 1t is
plain tlat under the mental condition nat
urally resulting from so great calamity
the prisoner killed the seducer Of his wife,
and had the evidence contained in said
affidavits been presented to the jury there
would have been very different verdict.
This is, therefore, in my judgement, q prop
er case for the exercise Of the psrdoniDg
power.
at is ordered that q pardon do issue re-
leasing the said Joseph Paul from further
confinement in the Penitentisry upon the
sentence of the Celrt aforesaid and that
the Superintendent OF said Penitentiary do,
upon receipt OF this order, discharge him
from custody upon said charge. But upon
condition that petitioner shall forthwith
surrender himself to and be placed under
such guard as the Superintendent of said
penitentiary may appoint tor the purpose,
to be conveyed TO Writ county, this State,
and delivered into the custody of the
Sheriff or his deputy thereof, to await and
abide by the action of the Circuit Court Of
said Writ county, upon any indictment
against him there pending. And upon the
further condition that petitioner, or some
one for him, shall deirsy all expenses nee
esssry in conveying him to Writ county"
The Writ county case referred to is the
murder of a citizen of that county, By
Paul, during the war. This case will pro-
badly come up at the next term OF the
Writ County Circuit Court and will be Of
considerable interest.
The history OF this long ago crime, as
nearly as can be sscertRined, is briefly as
tollows:-
Houtchin, the murdered man, and
Paul met at little GROCERY
near Burning Springs. Paul was q
Union msu and Houtchin sympsthizei
with the South. A quarrel between the two
men arose, in the course of which Paul
stabbed Houtchin twice with large knife
which be had under his coat, cutting his
heart in two. Houtchin was large man,
weighing about 300 pounds and was con.
sidered quite an inofensive individual
Immediately after the murder Paul enlist
ed in tie Union army and left the country.
The other pardon issued BY His Excel
lency was to W W. Adkins, indicted and
convicted in the,Circuit Court Of Writ county
for felony, in thst he had embezzled GER
tsin goods and chattles OF the Singer Man
utacturing Company He was convicted
at the September term, 1885, of said Court,
and sentenced to two years at Mou0ds-
vile. He is psrdoned owing to ill.healrh.
Our Mems fine lace and Congress a.
81 so, are cheap at 81 90.