Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-06-25
ON JOHNSON'S TRAIL.
THE MURDERER SEEN NOT FAR FROM
BRIDGEPORT.
Marshal McCOnnaughsy in Hot Pursuit
Along the Old Cadiz Rke--A
Clue Which May End
in Capture.

OANO "AN |
in Capture,
At last there seems to be some reason TO
zone for the speedy capture oil Eugene
johnson. the murderer of Marshal Thatcher,
f Moundsyille. Marshal Joe MeCon-
,ouuhey. Of Bridgeport is hot upon the
rail of a man who answers in every delall
The published description of the murderer
and il IS expected by those familiar with
NcConnaughey's energy and shrewdneSs
in such matters, that before tonight he
will have overhauled the chase and brought
him back to face an inquiry. as to his
identity.
The facts which led the Bridgeport Off
Ger TO Join in the quest for Johnson, are
rs EnIIows: Between ) and6 o'clock we'd
neSday evening John Young, q farmer VINO
lives ON the old Cadiz road, a thoroughiare
much Travelled a generation OF more ago,
hut which has not been used by the gen
eral publie for twenty-five years past, re-
eeived a call from a stranger, who asked Ii
he Suld get work. Mr.. Young SAD he
had no work ut present, but asked wnat
sort of work nc preferred to do, TO when
which the stranger replied that he WAS not
PARTICULAR about anything ut present, bu
would like a Job at harvest time. Mr..
Y,upu asked the stranger his name ana
where he WAS from, and in reply the man
"a ha WAS from Moundsville, but gave no
name. Mr.. Young said:
..Moundsyille! Why, that's where the
murler was committed, at which eXcla-
motion tine stranger became vislbly eN-
r;ted. He said he knew all about the
crime. however, and in answer to an III
,niry from Young ~ to whether the muir
derrr had been captured or not, SAID ne
wos p~OsitiYe h. was still ut liberty. Inc
stranger was familiar with the Johnson
E,miIy. and related the killing OF Great
bouse by Alex. Johnson ten years ago. All
duriuu the conversation he seemed her-
vons and excited, and after staying about
fin zen minutes departed, continuing north
,lnpo the old road toward the residence ol
Mr.. Albert Brown. -.
Mr., Young thought little about the visit
until Yesterday morning, when he saw the
description OF the murderer ~ the papers,
and then mentioned the matter TO young
man who works for him, and the two came
10 the conclusion that their visitor oil the
NIGHT before WAS the murderer. Mi.
Young came 10 Bridgeport during the day
and relating the adventure Of the evening
bafnre WAS induced to call up Sheriff
Sboyacr.. mt MoundSville by telephone.
The sheriff and Marshall McCOnnauShy,
,ybn had also been notified Of the matter,
,gr,,J that the stranger answered
the description 0f Johnson, and the
Marshall determined ~ start on his
trail. Before leaving, however, MI aiDert
Brown, toward whose house the stranger
went after leaving loung'S, came
into Bridgeport. and stated that the same
man. answering the description OF Johnson,
had ulssed his house ab0ItGqsE on WedneS-
d,y evening. Both Young and Brown de-
scribe the man as closely resembling john
son. and SLY he had on an old coat, the
sleeves of whiCk were three or four inches
too short for him. wi,i!e Johnson had no
coat when he left MOundsvi;ie after the
murder.
Last evening Marshal M~cComaughy de
termined to look the stranger up, about
half-nast seven o'clock started on his tran.
From the general direction the stranger was
taking. he is thought 70 be heading between
Portland and Mt. Pleasant, keeping away
from the towns to avoid capture. Belmont
county people say this stranger, should he
nroyr to be Johnson, could very easily have
reached the locality in which he was
seen without attracting attention.
Crossip0 the riyrT at Pultney
Bottom he could have gone back ln the cOun-
try. and crossing McMechen's creek about
three miles back Of Bellaire, and followed
a run which would have brought him out
ON Indian Wheeling creek, near theWhecl-
ing Coal Works. Crossing the hAilGpal
road there, he would naturally have taken
the old CadiZ road to- avoid being seen and
kent on north. parallel with the river, thus
noSSinr the residences OF McSsrs. Brown X
Young. as stated. Whether this stranger
is Johnson OF not, will probably he made
known when Marshal McCOnnaughy next
reports.
News of another man, supposed to be
johnson, was brought to Bridgeport and
Martins Ferry last night. Harry Wctchrel
and several cOmbanlUiis E'ere fishing about
sixteen miles back of Bellaire, anu III. We'd
neSday. Wctherel, being in campal one ut
the time, had his attention attracted
to n baTpiooted and mud-stained man,
without shoes ~ coat, sitting on a fence.
The man mt the camp had net heard of the
murder, and the stranger maintained his
position until Wctherel CHANGED to blow Il
bicycle whistle which ne had with him to
cali his companions to camp. No sooner
had the whistle sounded, however, than
the man Jumped from the fence and ran at
breakneck speed into the woods. disappear
ing from sight. The description OF his
man also tallies closely with that OF John