Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-04-24
IN THE COURTS.
TIE MCOY CASE IN THE U. S CIRCUIT COURT
YESTERDAY,
An Unbroken Eight Hours Session, but the Case
Nat Disposed Interesting testimony
Circuit Court Proceedings.

Through an unbro5en session Of eight
hours yesterday, the I :. Circuit Court
labored with the iAtricacies Of the famous
case against Dr. J. W. Mccoy, Of the
Eighth ward When the distinguished
Court decided to take rest and refresh
ment at 5 p. m, the prospect for another
DAYS work at the tangled skein Of evidence
was very good The peculiar circumstances
that surround the prosecution made II OF
especial interest TO the public, and the
Court room was thronged during the great
er mart of the day. Residents of the sixth
and Eighth wards were especially numer-
Gus. and frequent discussions about the nall
WAYS indicated that they felt more tnan
passing interest in the result IL Will DC
remembered that the charge against Or.
Mccoy is that he retained the mail OF Mrs.
Johanna Specht a resident OI the EiEhtn
ward. and by this means eXtorted an
Illegal pension fee from her. The charge
was preferred over a year ago, but the case
has been DELAYED from time 10 time until
the present
MRS. spBCHT's EVIDENCE.
The case was the first on the calendar,
and IL was begun without delay when the
Court met. Hon Alfred Caldwell ana
Mr. W. II. Hearne appeared for the oe-
Tense. and District Attorney StWgiss con
Quoted the prosecution IN person. a Jury
was empannelled. consisting of MeSsrs y.
\. Noble, Jason Hail. :. G. Brock, Wesley
Bowman. 4. J. Miller. David Debolt G. W.
Anderson. II. W McC0naughey. James
Clifford. IL. W. Sine. G.. w. Fresh
water, and Frank NJ. Ashcroft.
Nearly fifty witnesses We're called
and sworn, the large majority OF them pc
ing for the defense. Special Penson Agent
A. W. Roomc was the first to testify IL
was on his complaint that DR.. Mccoy was
arrested. and he briefly related the oifciaI
information on which he had acted:
The next and most important witness oil
the day was Mrs. Johanna Specht herself.
Her story was a matter of intense inter
est C all IN the court room.
Mrs. Specht briefly reviewed the crcum-
stances attending her effort 10 secure pen
sion. She said she first asked Dr. Mccoy
TO appearin the case as a witness. lie pro-
posed that she apply for pension as the
widow of Henry Specht and she then told
him that She would give him 500 If he
would secure the pension for her. DR.. Me.
Gov agreed 10 this. and was instrumental
in securing the pension lie had oeeh re-
ceiving her mail while the application was
peuulug. anu Wltu tut Atl@A 'llSN "A vas
her il was handed 10 him. He brought IL
over 10 her house The amount was 81. she
cashed Il at Ratcliffe's store, and gave nun
$40 out of il. At this time, the witness
said. they agreed that she should pay nm
only 500. instead of the 500. In the FOL
lowing June she received another check Tor
Sl5O1. She endorsed it and turned Ii over
10 DR. Mccoy. He insisted on retaining
IS out of ii. but after some controversy he
rave her all the money except SO. Ii was
agreed then that she should pay him 50 IN
September. but before this payment be
came due the matter was investigated ana
charges preferred against the Doctor.