Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-03-06
A KNOTTY QUESTION.
THg COMMITTEE on CLAIMS HEARING
EVIDENCE
Upon Which to Base an Award Of the SLOUU
offered BY The City for Officer
Glsnas E8rtsrers.

~ -
Clsims. 10 which hsd been referred the
oe,itions Of the persons laying claim to
the reward of one thousand dollars, offer
cd by the city for the arrest and conviction
Of the murderers of Officer Glenn, met in
,be chamber of the First Branch OF COun-
Gil. pursuant to notices published during
the uas. week, and proceeded 10 hear the
evidence 10 be submitted by the respective
claimants. Chairman Ellingham presided
over the committee, and there were pres
emit. beside the membership Of the Com
mittee CITY Solicitor Robert White, J. W.
Keller. il Meredith, Eli II. Davis and
George W. Mcfarland, Of Newark and Mt.
Vernon. o.. some Of the claimants, ES-
chief Of Police Porter Smith, Judge Hun
Ter and S l. DAVIS, counsel OF Newark
Judge Jacobs, Captain DOyeaer and Ii.
NJ. Russell. Of this city, also counsel ana
, pumb.r Of interested spectators.
AT ths opening of the session. d
lively little debate WAS inaugUrated ny
the suggesfiou from Col White that the
claimants as preliminary, onght to sign
,p agreement binding themselves 10 sub
NIT without appeal to any division OF
ward of the money which Council, after
hearing the report OF the committee, might
see fit to make. During this discussion a
resding OF the original action OF Council,
Iauuary II. 1855. a.d the subs quent pun
LEGATION ofthe terms OF the reward, showed
nat claimants we're required to agree to
such q condition.
After "a good deal Of spalring about, aud
af.er long private consultation by the
c,o,milt.e. during which the c'aimsnis
and their counsel withdrew, the commit
tes sdepted formal resolution insisting
upou such an sereement fer the protection
~ the CITY. and instructed City Solicitor
White to draw up the document, which Is
to he signed bv al the claimants before
any award has been made by the city
This matter disposed OF, the committee
proceeded 10 ascertain who the claimants
were. and the list Submitted embraced the
following. David Moore, J. W Keller e.
a.. H. J. Ricksnbaugh, W q. handisn
et ST.. J. l. Meredith, Ell h. DAVIS
George W. Mcfarland and Porter Smiin.
When the committee announced that II
was ready 20 receive testimony, Judge
Taeob counsel for George W. Mcfarland,
rrad the petition Of that claimant, and
Fben he had concluded Judge Hunter,
mis- co-counsel. took the floor 70 read Mr..
wcF.rlsnd's anidavit Mr. Russell OBJ
is,,sd 40 the affidavit. and thought such
evidence ought 20 have bseu II the form
eff deposition, with notice to the other
side that they might take evidence IN re-
initial His argument was replied to by
Ns.srs Hunter ard Jacob. who thought
tie nature Of the proceedings and tne cir
.cumstsncas entirely precluded any sucn a
course and claimed that Mr.. Russell s ar
goment lacked merit Retortlng, Mr..
RasseU said it seemed to be the ldea
of the gentlemen on the other side that
the hest way to advance Their claim was to
r,lv upon evidence which would be mad
rissshls ia any court Of law. BIT. Dow
eoer also took q baud In the oiacussion'
saving amOng other things that Whatever
tho committee decided was right, IN the
matter OF evidence, would have to govern
counsel and claimants.
The committee decided TO hear ali avail
able evidence, of whatever nature, ana
Tnsge Hunter procse- Cd with his affidavit
TIE statement read was pretty rough on
Mr.. Keller. one Of the claimants, II cou-
ts;rinr among other things, the assertion
tbst Keller hid given Kelley, while IN ISL,
money 10 buy diamond saw with which
10 make MIA escape. and that Kelley, IN
ask.ap Keller tor this money, had told MN
he did not care I. the Mt Vernon robbery,
bat that he had rope hanging over MS
bead for completely in murder IN Wheel
inv This affidavit was followed by the
petition and affidavit OF En- n DAVIS, ior
whom Messrs Hunter and Jacob we're also
counsel. The statement was pracucaily
the sameas thai of Mr.. Mcfarland. Meth
er of these claimants had fl ed petition
with the Board of Commissioners or mace
al,y ATTEMPT u obtain part OF the county
reward. alleging in their statements tPat
they were poor and ignorant, and did not
know what they ought to do IN their own
interests, az that time.
Their afidavits concluded, Captain
smith was put on the stand snd TESTIFIED
10 the great value OF the evidence gwen
him ard Sheriff Haudlan by Mcfarland
and Davis, bat had nothing especially
new 20 tell.
Captain Dovener presented the sfhdayits
Of Kelley and others, which were more
severe upon Mr.. Keller than those OF Nc
Fsrlaud and Davis had been. Wien the
reading Of these documents had been con
cludsd, Mr Russell presented strong evil
dence in rebuttal, but before he had con-
cluded the committee adjourned until
Friday night, when the hearing Of testi-
mouy will be concluded.