The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1889-06-22
FOR HIS LIFE.



Andrew Shanks, Of Clay District. ION
Trial for the Murder Of His Wife.
The Famous Case now Being Tried.
This case is one which is sur
rounded by peculiar circumstances,
and to give our readers a clear idea
Of it we will present what is known
of the case from the beginning.
On Monday, April 90, 1883, Ma
ria Shanks gave up her lease of life
and on the day following the remains
were inferred in the graveyard near
her home in Clay district She was
the wife of Andrew Shanks,who now
stands indicted by the grand jury of
this county for her murder The in
dictment took place at the June term
following her death, but the trial
had never been called till now, over
year having elapsed since the for
mer events.
The neighbors supposed that the
death occurred from no natural
cause, so on the Monday following
the body was exhumed and a post
norton examination held, which was
conducted by Drs. Courtney, of Mt.
Morris, LIE Blond, of McCurdeysville,
and Strosnider, of Blacksville. The
examination revealed a very ugly
wound in the lower part of the abdo-
men, made by q blunt instrument
that from all appearances caused her
death. On the Thursday following
the coroner's inquest took place,
conducted by Justice Emrod Ten
nant with jury of twelve of Clay S
most reputable citizens who found
that maria Shanks come to her
death by kick and a blow in her
side inflicted by Andrew Shanks
sometime previous to her death
1t was also reported that several
days previous to her death Shanks
came home drunk and violently beat
and kicked his wife, which fact help
ed in the finding of the verdict OF
coroner's jury. The woman's maid
en- name was Rogers, and she had
borne unto the world nine children
Shanks was soon arrested and
brought to Jail here, but subsequent
ly entered into a recognizance fol
his appearance at the term of court
Monday afternoon the case was call
ed by his Honor, Judge Hagans, and
a jury impanneled, whose names are
Rufus Bell, Clay district
Geo. c. Brand, Cass &c
Jacob Dalton, Clinton district.
Joshua Haigh, +"
Arthur Fields, Union r..
2, r Low, Grant
Noah Ridgeway, Grant
w. NJ. Shaffer, Morgan .
Elias e. Tenant, Clay
X. C. Ross, Union
Frank Sennett, Morgan
S. G.. Hess, Grant
Messrs. Moreland and Cox appear
ed for the State and Messrs. Keck
Berkshire and Baker for the defen
dant. Mr. Moreland made the state
ment for the state and Mr.. Keck fol
the defense.
The state has regular army Of
witnesses, only a few having been
summoned by Shanks.
The defendant appeared calm and
collected when he came into court
and looked as if he felt confident Of
getting out of the matter all right
but whether he will remains to be
seen. If Shanks is guilty at all he
is guilty of one of the most heinous
offenses that ever disgraced the pure
soil of Monongalia. There is moth
ing more awful in crime than the
slaying of the wife of ones bosom
and in this case one who had been
true through many tribulations and
much strife, who had borne and was
raising large family of children
and who to the many abuses inflicted
by the husband never faltered in hen
home duties nor was anything but
cheerful and obedient and devoted
to him. If Andrew Shanks is guilty
of this awful crime we hope TO sec
him punished, if he is innocent, re.
leased from both bondage and con
domination.
At the time of our going to press
there have been several of the state s
witnesses examined, but the evil
dence has not been of direct nature
enough to merit its publication in
full Many of them told of Shank :
harsh treatment of his wife, some
thinking this treatment the result OF
unadulterated cussedness and others
that it was caused by a jealousy he
had of his wife. The most damag-
ing testimony was of the physicians
who were present at the post morten,
examination and one of the physi-
clans said. in substance, that hen
death was from peritonitis, brought
bya blow from some blunt instrument
at the lower part of the abdomen pro
ducing ecchymosis ofthe peritoniem
1t could have been dore by a kick
from tall man. Then there were
technicalities regarding the nature
of the wound, proving nothing di-
rectly against Shanks. Many other
bruises were found but none other
that would produce death.
MissVictoria Shanks said that even
four years before her mothers death
her father had threatened to kill her
mother; had pointed gun at her,
cursed her, beat her and kicked her
She said that since her mothers
death she had had no feeling for her
father; that he was a cruel husband,
and that her mother was good wo-
man. She was questioned about
several matters of lesser moment, to
all giving satisfactory answers, but
all damaging to her father She was
the last witness examined till Tues
day night. More of the testimony
could be given, but all that is really
interesting is here given. Next week
we will give II complete resume OF
the case. AS it now stands, nothing
could be more in doubt than the
fate of Andrew Shanks
TOPICS TALKED ABOUT.