Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-08-18
FOR LIFE.
THE END OF THE COE MURDER CASE IN
WEBSTER.

The Brumfslds Declared Not Guilty by Jury
Strange Story Of Pet Snake.
Accidents and Incidents.
William Coe was tried in Webster coun-
ty last week for the murder of Mel RAIDER,
which occurred in July last, and convicted
of murder in the first degree with the
recommendation that he be confined in the
penitentiary. 1t was claimed by the prison
err on the trial that he had gone to the
house where his wife was staying, she
having deserted him and taken up her
abode at her sisters, and found her and
RAIDER in a compromising position. That
he (Coel said something 10 RAIDER, who
drew a pistol and pointed it at Coe, when
he (Coe) pulled out his pistol and shot
RAIDER This statement was in effect
substantiated by Goes wife, but
there were contradictory circumstances
which evidently caused the jury
to disbelieve their version OF 1t,
as their verdict inticts the punishment Tor
unprOvoked premeditated killing. 1t was
fully proven that there were grounds Tor
suspecting RAIDER Of undue intimacy WIN
Goes wife, and that when Coe found them
his wife and RAIDER were in the room alone,
but it seems the jury discarded the idea
that there was anything improper at the
| time. The case was giyeu 10 the jury on
| Friday and not having reached verdict
on that day they were adjourned over until
the next. On Saturday morning the or
ders Of the preceding day we read and the
! Jury called and sent out to their room,
when il was observed that the prisoner
/ had not been brought into Court. When
the Jury brought in their verdict counsel
| for the prisoner moved the Court TO set
aside the verdict and grant "a new trial be
cause of these alleged irregularities and be-
cause the verdict was not warranted by the
evidence. The Court refused TO disturb
the verdict and the case will go TO the
Court Of Appeals. 1t is the general express
sion of those who heard the evidence that
the verdict was very severe, but i, was
case of Just such character as to warrant
the jury in finding any kind of 4 verdict
from not guilty to murder in the first de-
gree, depending entirely upon the credit |
given to the varied testimony. COe was |
sentenced to the penitentiary for life.
Our readers will remember the shooting |
from ambush of Allen Brumiield and wife |
in Harris Creek, Lincoln county, on a Sun !
day, over year ago, the subsequent arrest |
of Green Mccoy and Milt Haley, charged |
with the crime, and their being wrested |
from the officers while on the way 10 Jail,
and killed. 1t will also be remembered |
that following these events, Paris Brum-
field, John Brumfeld, Allen Brumfield, Jr.,
Charley Brumfield Morgan Brumield.
Frank Brumfeld, Burwell Farler and
I 1 Ts.rrs a..N Iftstr ind nI OF
next succeeding term of Lincoln
Circuit Court, in three several counts,
charged with conspiring together and muir
dering the said Haley and Mccoy, and
held for trial in 5000 each. Tuesday Of
last week the case was called for trial.
The prisoners were ably defended by Glib
son, Niche, Wilson X Wilton, j. 5. Mar
crum and j. II. Ferguson, while the prose
cution was conducted by Assistant Prose
cutting Attorney j. +. Chiffon. After ex-
aiming number Of witnesses for the
prosecution and defense, both sides sub
mitted the papers TO the jury, about 1
o'clock, without argument and after short
retirement the verdict of not guilty was re-
turned The prominence of all the parties
in the case, made it one of much interest.
Thus ends the last chapter in IA celebrated
case
Thomas OXley is a substantial farmer
| living few miles above Grif1ithsville, Lin
coin county 4 constant habitue of his
barn the past twelve years is a blacksnake,
which by actual measurement is feet q
inches in length This uncanny pet has by
frequent contact with the family and the
animals about the barn become quite gentle,
and appears as grateful for any little atten-
tiOns as a dog or cat would. He is entirely |
docile. and has yet attempted to harm
man or beast The family has cultivated |
the snake on account of its ability to destroy |
rats, mice and other rodents which infest |
barn. Annually at a stated period his |
snakeship divests himself of his last years
suit and appears in glossy new one.
This thrown-off clothing, though well
worn, is free from rents, and has been care
fully preserved by Mr. OXley, and the
collection would make fair beginning
for museum. Jim as the reptile IS
called, can generally be found about the
barn, winter or summer, and comes readily
at the call Of bis name. His owner values
him highly and will on no account allow
him TO be mOlested.
The Milton star says: "a weakly speci-
men of quite innocent looking negro stop
ped here last Sunday TO await his opportu-
nifty TO catch freight going East, which
he had not succeeded in doing up to late
hour last night, when some young men
drove him away, and when little above
the main part Of town commenced rocking
him, and whether from being hurt or
alarmed or both. ne commenced crying
murder, g., and aroused and excited many
of the citizens. Mr.. Emery FASTENED
TO his aid and brought him back, and soon
after a freight came along, which he mount
ed but he was so ne said soon rocked of
again by one of the same party. Last win
ter negro waited here under the same cir
cumstanceS until after night for train,
but whether he ever succeeded IN getting
one is not at least generally known; but in
the morning his mangled corpse was found
about the same place where this latter one
was rocked. Each one can draw their own
inference"
A deal in coal has Just been made on the
west side OF the river at Morgantown that
has considerable significance 1t was the
purchase of $500 acres Of coal near the
river in Monongala and Marion counties.
The territory includes many farms among
them those Of John 5. Hood, Silas Wisman,
lack Morgan, Henry b. Morgan, David .
Morgan Frank Hood, Gus Low, &. G.
Markly, Brown Wisman, 5. G.. Morgan,
NJ. ID. Shaffer. Dennis Trickett, Abe Wis
man, Dennis Thope, Shelby Cox, Thomas |
Arnett, B. r. Smith, Philip Heck DR. |
CLAYTON, r. b. Tibbs, A. &. Barker and |
price was near S23 per acre. The surveying |
will be commenced at once and as soon as |
completed a large part of the purchase
money will be paid. The deal is a very |
significant move on the part Of the capital
lists in il.
Mr.. Bonnafeld, Clerk of the County
Court of Tucker county, w. Va, who died
few days ago, was born without legs over
| fifty years ago. Bonnafeld took apromin-
ent part in political and civil life. He
served in several official capacities in the
county, and was one of its most popular
citizens. When the civil war began Bonna-
| field, who was an extreme Southern man /
| in politics, enlisted in Il cavalry regiment |
as private soldier He attended TO his /
horse. fed, ourried and kept him in as fine
condition as any other horse in his com |
pany. Herequired no assistance in mount |
| ing, and when in his seat is said TO have
| been as firmly fixed as any member of the |
celebrated Fourth Texas Cavalry. As an |
active soldier he had no superior. After
| the surrender BOnnaheld returned to Tuck |
er county. He was seven years ago elected
! Clerk of the County Court, and was serving
in that capacity when he was taken i'll.
Last Tuesday afternoon Judge Hoke