Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-02-22
A CONFESSION
MADE AT NORGANTOwN, BY NOsBY WELLS,
YESTERDAY.
His Story Of How Miss Robinson Was Murdered
He Says HsSaw Henry Black Choking the
Wouan-His Life Threatened
IL Hs Peached.
Speqal Ttlearam % tae Reqlaer.

Special Ttisgraa 10 ne Register.
MoRGANTowN, w. VA, February 21.-
The tedious and uninterestiug proceedings
in the trial of Hen Black for the murder
of Miss Robinson were changed this morn
ing to the mpst interesting and exciting by
the testimony and confession Of Moses
Wells, arrested and now confined for the
same murder.
For some time rumors have been afloat
that one Of the prisoners would or had
confessed, but they were suppressed by the
attorneys for the defendants, and in the
last few days little was said of this. Thus
the confession Of Wells came like 3 thun-
der clap from clear sky.
Moses Wells is a roughly dressed, white
haired old man of - years Of age, tolerably
respectable, his face indicating that he has
done himself more harm By the free use Of
whisky than he ever did others intention
ally. The following is the substance of
HIS CONFESSION.
am seyenty-two years OF age, aud have
always lived in and about MOrgantown; my
wife died about six years ago. Shortly be-
fore the murder | worked for Mr. Boggess,
of Clinton District; after his barn was fin
ished | came to town; l was with Nick
Madara and Hen Black on the night
of the murder; sent Madsra after whisky,
which Was drunk near Bebout's hardware
store; there was little trouble there, As
some Of the crowd were feeling good. From
half TO three quarters of an hour after
ward again sent Madara after whisky; l
must have given him fYe-dollar note,
rs had thirty-five dollars in my pocket;
nsxt morning / missed FIVE; Nick went up
Long alley and turned off the next corner
to 20 after the whisky. lie neither returned
the money nor whisky. | saw Mr.. Allen
der in the city bakery. After leaving the
bakery stood against the house near
DawsOn's blacksmith shop. Isaw Madara
and Black passing Geo. Smiths house,
cross the street toward Mrs Shisler's, thence
to the bridge. followed them in order to
get my money and bottle. At the far end
of the bridge | heard dogs bark. l went
to the door of Emma Robinson's house.
See was on the floor, with
BLACK CHOKING HER.
Madara WAS going toward the next room,
in which there was light, but know not
what kind. was so scared left. Madara
and Black overlook me on the bridge.
Black seized me and told me that he would
kill me, too, if I told on them. Black went
toward Durbannah. Madara and came
one square up lower street. tried Geo.
Smiths door, it being locked, while Ma
dara passed up on the other side toward
his fathers store, after which / went to
sleep on the Court House pOrtico. Black
told me at Sinclair's house three or four
times that he would kill me if any harm
would some to him.
Daring cross-examination it was shown
that he had. under oath, sworn as wit
ness before the Coroner's jury that he knew
nothing of it, and had not been on the 9TH
er side of the river. But the old maa said
he did il 80 that ne might not be kicked
around like Ga old shoe and killei like
Emma had been, "a ut this time Black and
Madara were still free.
"Do you expect 10 get off easier by cor
fessing?'
"I don't know. l don't know into
whose hands l may fail"
Many other questions were asked wheth-
er or not he had spoken to various parties
about his being innocent, and being out
in three or four days, making it hard on
them, or that he wouid be free while the
others must suffer, most OF which he de-
MED.
He did not remember whether any one
advised him to confess, so that he might
get of easier. He told his son and daugh-
ter-in.law he was innocent, and also the
jailer
The old man was
VERY NERVOUS
while making hi7 confession. Apparently
he looks hardy, but his days are numbered
and few.
Boardman Harris, a young colOred man,
10 years of age, who lives with his parents
next door to the house in which Miss Rob
insOn was murdered, testified Immediately
after the confession of Wells that he saw
the three men the afternoon of the muir
der; noticed their dress; saw them near 10
o'clock that night near the Robinson
house, it being bright moonlight; noticed
their dress then, and also the next day,
they being dressed the same rs on tine
former occasions. Wells, in his confession,
stated he saw some one come out OF Amos
Harris house. Young Harris, on cross
examination, stated that he told George
Gamble and might have told others, that
he did not see them nor knew anything
about il, saying that he was not on oath
then. He also passed Black the following
week and Black
SHOOK HIS HEAD,
which the witness may have interpreted to
mean that it would &c hest for him 10 keep
mum.
Murder will out, and it will require much
strong testimony to refute the statements
made by these witnesses. Further pro-
gress of the trial is looked to with consider
able interest. Your correspondent was In
formed that Black had said be would new
er 90 the penitentiary or gallows, that ne
would take his own life.
The two young Sinclairs testified this al
teruOon that they heard Black the morn
ing after the murder say, in their presence,
that old Wells had hlowed on them
Wells had said that Black and Madars had
murdered Emma, and that they intended
TO kill him, too, and he was going to de-
Eend himself and started for chiSel at
Dawson's shop. The testimony given
since Wells confession, in main, eorroo-
crates his statements.
Fire At Parkersburg.