Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1886-07-22

heard deceased calling for help. ran down and
with others helped him out. We picked him up
and carried him into the road; had no CONVEX
sation with him before he died; had heard of
no threats.
Urias Rankin-I run coal for the Union coal
works was on my way up this morning about
o'clock. l beard the explosion at Thompson's
gate: in a few moments | heard a man CRY for
help; he said, "For Gods sake take me out OF
this firel'' l ran up to Campbel's house, where
| saw the store on fire; saw ne one at Camp
bells house. 1t was dark, and none of his fam
lily were out; stayed with the deceased until
death ensued; deceased said he had been blown
up.
Randolph Rankin-Deceased came to his
death by being burned by fire in the eompany's
store room. The fire was caused by the explo-
sion of powder; did not talk to him after the
explosion. The house was set on fire; was there
while the building was burning; saw the de-
ceased there. He was standing inside the build
ing with his head out of the broken glass in the
door.
A. o. Fowler-Was acquainted with the de-
ceased; am bank boss at the Union coal work;
was with the deceased until 1890 O'Clock this
morning; parted with him at nv gate between
ent at the time; passed Henry Campbell at
Thomas O'Brien's lot; spoke to him but receiy
ed no answer. Deceased was with me at the
time; Campbell was about thirty yards from the
store. 1t was about one and three-quarter hours
from the time l saw Campbell until the explo-
sion occurred; was raining at the time / saw
Campbell. Wm. Rankin came up the bank from
the river and got a lantern from deceased, who
at that time was standing at the store door. |
aske the deceased to stay all night with me-
but he refused, saying he had good bed in the
store.
Q-Why did you ask Ramage to stay with
you? A-There had been ill feeling between
Ramage and Campbell, and l thought it would
be safer for him to stay with me.
Odd you ever hear Campbell make any
threats toward the deceased? A-Never heard
any direct threats, but have heard indirect
threats from Pat. Henrietta; heard no one else
say anything.
Samuel Kincaid-I supposed deceased came
to his death by an explosion of powder at the
store building; think the store building was set
on fire; have heard no person make threats to-
ward the deceased. talked with the deceased
after the accident; he was in his right mind; he
said he thought the building was set one fire,
but did not know who by.
ward the deceased; had no conversation with
the deceased after the accident; saw Henry
Campbell and spoke to him before the explo-
sion; had no conversation with him About the
time of the explosion, when went to the store
room, saw heavy set man run across the
road into the weeds; do not know exactly who
he was. There was no one at the building ex-
cept the man saw run across the road.
Pat. Henretta-Saw the deceased about 9
O'Clock last night, but had ne conversation of
any Importance; suppose he came to his death
by the explosion of powder; saw Henry Camp
bell going towards the sore about 9 o'clock;
he asked if had any money; told him had
fifteen cents. He said he wanted to ''buy that
of a-out; Cd d-n him, l will kill hm!''
Suppose he meant the deceased, Bruce Ram
age; he said he was the whole cause of the
trouble between him (Campbell) and Joe Ram
age.
Thos. O'Brien-Saw the deceased between Z
and o'clock the night of the accident: saw
him after the rccident, while living; had no
conversation with him; heard of nothing against
the deceased, but heard some one say that they
had heard that Henry Campbell had threatened
to kill some one, but cannot tell who it was
my opinion is that he came to his death by dy-
Mantle or powder; my opinion is that some one
set it on fire.
This ended the essential part of the
testimony, and its conclusion Coroner
Girls ell rendered verdict that the de-
ceased, Robert B. Ramage, had come TO
his death by an explosion of gunpowder
in the storeroom where the deceased
was sleeping. and further. that from the
evidence, there WAS probable cause to
hold Henry Campbell on the charge of
arson and murder.
A warrant was at once issued for |
Campbell, and he was taken iuto custo- |
ny by Special Constable Henry Day. |
The prisoner was found at his house,
where he had physician attending him,
and at his earnest request was allowed
to remain there last night, under heavy |
guard. 1t is probable that he will be
taken to Bellaire or st. Clairsyille to-day
and locked up.
The popular idea of the methods pur
sued by whoever caused the explosion
is, that a can Of nitro-glyeerine was
placed beneath the floor of the store and
some crude arrangement rugged up by
which a stone or other weight was drop.
ped upon it, This caused the first sharp
explosion, while the dull and heavy one
which followed in moment came from
the eleven kegs of fguDpowder, the light
or ones, heard later, being caused by
fire reaching the two barrels of oil.
Mrs Ramage, mother of the dead man,
reached Moundsville at o'clock last
night, and his wife is expected this
morning. Tie deceased leaves family
Of six children to mourn his loss. He
was about 40 years of age.