Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-10-29
THAT DARK DEED.
MORE LIGHT THROWN on THE RECENT LIT
TETON TRAGEDY.
Where the Murder Took Place and Who Did It
The Confession Of Main-Rssult Of the
Preliminary Hearing.

The Litteton murder, which causeu
such a sensation in that community, IS
one of the few deeds of darkness that
has not until to-day been shown up IN
print as regards the truth OF the CIR
cumstanccs and the awfulnesS OF the de-
tails. Although the murder occurred
on the evening of the 22d OF TINS month";
the matter of getting at the exact CIR
cumstanceS has been attended with al
ficulties. and description OF the trag-
edv has not heretofore appeared IN us
true light.
Constable d. NJ. Keffner, of Littleton,
called at the REGISTER Office, yesterday
afternoon. and gave us the story OF the
tragedy and the subsequent preliminary
hearing.
The murdered mans correct name
was Benton Huggan. who was 81 years
OF age, and lived with his brother on
what is known as Sugar Run, southwest
of Littleton about two miles. The sup
posed murderers are William Main,
aged a. and James McMaSters, aged 20,
tenants OF d. Il. Meighen on his farm.
The brutal affair took place two
miles south Of Littleton, on the
Gilleham ridge, near the home
OF a Mr.. Murray. The murder was
committed between 8 and e o'clock In
the afternoon. The circumstances OF
the killing are that Huggan was struck
terrific blow in the back OF the head
with a heavy sled standard in the hands
Of James McMaSterS. The discovery
of Huggan's remains shortly after the
deed was committed created great eX-
element, and in a few moments the
town OF LittletOn was in an uproar.
BY hastily gathering up a chain
of events suspicion was fastened
upon the men in question, and Consta-
bic w. ii. Kimball on the same evening
Of the murder went TO the house OF
Main and McMaStor, and summoned
them as witnesses, the men not think
Ing they were suspected. This was
clever ruse Of the authorities, as in this
way they were held in guard until Sutii-
cient information could be procured to
warrant an arrest. The next day Smith
Harmon made information and Consta-
BILE ID. VI. Kcifcr arrested them and took
them before Justice j. \. Connolly for a
preliminary hearing.
At this hearing William Main, one OF
the accused, testified that he was east
as far as the bridge across Fish Creek, !
and that he started home at dusk that ,
evening. arriving there at 7:30. He said |
he was no further south that day, and !
knew nothing about the affair.
Mary Kimbail testified that she saw
two men going through Gilleham's or
chard at about the time the murder oc-
Cured, and Carr Kimball cOrroborated !
this statement.
Mary Albaugh said she was at the !
spring about $50 in the afternoon.
Main and McMasters came along. Main
asked for drink. She gave it TO him.
About that time Mr.. Huggan came
along the county road, and as he passed
by. the two men started up through the
wheat field, Mr. Huggan going by the
county road. and the two men going to
the top of the hill and taking short
cut to the county road opposite Mr..
Murray's house, whore the deed was
committed.
James McMaStcrS, also one Of the &c,
cused, took the stand. Said he was no
further south that day than the grocery
store of Carney & Bros Made a blank
denial of the affair, and said he could
prove by his mother and sister that he
did not kill the man. Belle Blake also
testified that she and her sister. Ellen
Blake passed the two men at the bridge
at Littleton.
Sufficient evidence was adduced az
the hearing TO warrant holding the men
and they were bound over to the Janu-
airy term of Court at New MartinSville.
There was a good deal OF interest man
ifested in the trial.
A singular fact connected with the
affair, when cOntraSted with the teSti-
mony at the trial, is the complete
confession OF Main on the night OF
the 23d to T. w. Batty. Mr.. Batty
went to the Jail, and after
talking persuaSively to the prisoner for
awhile, succeeded in getting him to
make clean breast Of the affair. He
said that McMaSterS struck him with
standard pin and killed him, and that
the deed was actuated over the fact that
had lost 50 in game OF
cards with lluggan. lie afterwards saw
grab the watch of the vest.
All the details Of the tragedy were re-
cited by the man, evidently with the
idea that he was to be freed.