Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-12-24
THE INQUEST.
CORONER BOYD TAXES EVIDENCE IN THB
COTS SHOOTING
At Martins Ferry, Yssisrday-Elsvsn Witnesses
Examined, but Nothing Especially New IS
DsyslOpsd-The Verdict

The excitement in Martins Ferry over
the Cotts' murder, Saturday night, has
some what worn away, but the deepest III
terest in the case and oil that pertains
to it is still manifested, and the general
topic of conversation on the streets is the
unfortunate and sad affair. Opinion seems
to be pretty well divided, aud no one has
vet been fouud, outside of the parties di-
rectly interested, who saw the act commit
ted.
Coroner A. NJ. T. Boyd came up from
Bellaire, yesterday, and held an inquest
in Mayor Mitchslps office. Toe inquest
began about 10 80 o'clock in the morning
and it was o'clock in the Afternoon before
il was flushed. There was little new
brought out in the evidence, although
eleven witnesses were examined, as fol-
lows:
THE WITNESSES.
Charles Moore, LoriDg Hobbs, Roscoe
Ong, Adam Werning, John Selby, James
Shrodes, James Bay less, Howard Gibson,
Gid. McCord, Thomas Green, Marshal
Burns and Officer Westwood.
The testimony of Werning, S-lby and
McCord was to the effect that they were in
the neighbOrhood when the shot was fired,
and that they ran to the spot Immediately
afterwards, but ON account Of the darkness
they secured q lantern, and then found
Colts lying on his back in the gutter with
his feet on the pavement. He was not
d ute dead, but be never spoke. He "a ped
two or three times and then bscame still.
They carried the body into the house.
Howard Gibson who saw Colts, Mrs.
Kelly and her daughter standing together,
testified that Colts was standing near
enough TO have placed his hands on Mrs.
Kelly, but he did not have his hands on
her when he saw them. AT the time the
daughter Ella was standing seven or eight
feet away from COtts and Mrs. Kelly. He
was ore of the irst TO arrive on the scene
after the shot was fired.
Thomas Green testified that little be
fore G:3O o'clcck he was going up street on
his way home in tbs orchard and when
passing Walnut street he met Walter
KELLEY standing at point just opposite
where
THE SHOOTING OCCURRED.
Green asked Kelley what he was doing
there and be answered:
keep quiet; | am watching some par
ties"
Kelley then asked him to 20 across the
street and ste if there WAS man, wo
man and little girl standing there. Green
answered Kelley, saying he did not have
time to 20 over and passed on up the
street to his home.
LorinR Hobbs testified that he was pass
ing along Fourth street about 6;3O O'Clock
Saturday evening, and when be reached
the corner of Walnut and Fourth he Incl
Kelley who asked hm if he would do him
! (Kelley) a kindness, by crossing the stree
to see il man, woman and little cir
were standing there. Hobbs replied IN
would accommodate him, and passed ovel
the street to where the parties were stand
ing. be then returned aId reported Il
Kelley that man, woman and girl wer'
standing there, and that iudging from thu
mans voice he thought il was Colts. Kelley
made no comment when this information
was given, bat the two walked up Fourth
street to Jacobs store, one Pquare away
and crossed Fourth street to the pump. A
this point
HOBBS LEFT KELLEY
and went down Hanover street, but ha(
not gotten down more than half a square
when he heard report which sounded Il
him like that OF iire-crscker. That Wal
all he actuslly knew of the occurrence.
Officer Westw0Od, TO whom Kelley gav'
himself up, testified that be was standing
at the corner OF Hanover and Second
streets when Kelley came up to him anC
ssked to be locked up. stating that he hAc
shot Dick Colts, and handing the officer
revolver, said that Was what ne shot hin
with and that he would have no farther
use for il. He also asked Westwooi to g
10 Colts house ard see bow badly be wa
hurt.
Marshal Barns stated that he was stand
ing at the corner Of Hanover and eec0nc
streets when Officer WestwOod and Waltel
Kelley came across to him. Kelley asked
Burns to lock him up, stating tina. he hat
: shot a man. Burns ssked who, and Kel
lev replied that he would tell him al
about il after he was locked up. Aitel
they reached the lookup. Kelley said Dics
Colts was the man he bad shot.
"You remember" he said to the Mar
shal. "the letter | shove you some tim
ago, and you kUow something about pJ
trouble"
At this iunoture Barns left and went Il
Colts house.
Charley Moore testified that he WAS 20
ing home about $50 o'clock, and that h'
met Kelly standing at the corner OF FJurtl
and Walnut str, ets. Kelly asked him /
he would 20 across the street and see if
man, woman and little girl were stand
log there, and il they were, 10
COUGH AS HE PASSED.
He went across, saw the persons, cOughe'
and went on up the street TO his home.
The testimony Of Ssrode', Bayless and
Ong had no bearingon the case, aud neitht
Mrs. Kelly nor her daughter were calltt
upon to testify, and after considering tn
evidence the coroner rendered verdict t'
the ff,ct that Henry Colts came to hi
death from shot from pistol in tn
hands of Walter Kelley on the evening o
December Dist,
Ootts has been called Richard in all th'
articles referring to him and by sll th
people mentioning his name, bat 1t /
learned that his propsr name is Henry
His faneral took place from bis late resi
deuce on Fourth street yesterday Afternoon
at . o'clock, and it was very largely at
|, tended. The services we're conducted b.
t: Rev. Winters, Of the NJ. r Church, snt
were very impressive. The iniefmen
took place at Mt. Wood Cemetery, on lhi
side OF the river.
The preliminary hearing Of Kelley vii
take place before Mayor Mitchell at II
o'clock this morning. 1t was reported las
evening tina. Mrs. Cotts, who is quite III
had died, bat the rumor was false.
a Kick on the Street Cars
Said an indignant citizen last evening