The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-10-20
Camo up Yesterday for n Hearing
Before Squire Arkle.
A STRING OF WITNESSES EXAMINED.
A Baskctful OF Shoes and Other
Plumber Identified, but tho Owners
Can't say Whether they were Stolen
or Not...Thc Defendant Held.


rictta Blstol, Mary Campbell, Ida and
John Miller. Henrietta Bistcl was tho
only ono OF the defendants not present.
The desk at which Squire Arklo pre-
sided was covered with packages OF dry
goods, alleged to have been stolen by
tho defendants, and on the reporters
table was big basket filled with shoes,
in different stages OF wear.
The witnesses were directed to come
forward as their names wcrc called, and
Squire Arklc commenced reading them
Oft. There were two or three men in
tho lot, and tho remainder, married
women, gathered III Il scmi-circlc in
front Of the desk, with their hands
folded. At the word Hold up your
right hands" they all raised their hands
aloft, and the resemblance to n country
school spelling class was complete. All
hands were sworn and the hearing COM
mcncCd. .#4
There was some talk OF having sepa-
rate trials OF the different cases, but it
was finally decided to try all together.
John A. Howard represented the State,
and Col. W. W. Arnctt and Capt. B. B.
Dovcncr the defendants.
Mr.. Joseph Hasonaucr identified two
packages and baskctful OF shoes as
having once been in his store. lie also
stated that Mrs. John Bistcl had come
to his store one day and offered him S.
for two pairs OF shoes
SIZE ADMITTED HAVING STOLEN
short time before. Mr.. Iasenaucr re
fused to settle OH that basis.
Mr.. Henry Jacobs identified pair OF
towels rs having once been in his store,
but he did not know whether they were
stolen or not. ~ get them," said Capt.
Dovcner.
Asa Booth identified some small
spoons as belonging to him, and said he
had not given thom to John Bistel.
Mr.. !. G. Dillon identified cream
ladle, OF the value OF s., rs having once
belonged in his. store. lie did not know,
however, whether it had been bought or
stolen. II get that, too," Captain
Dovcner; clay it aside with the towels"
Mrs. Haberlield had bought Il few
tulllSS lIOlll OllC VI luc CllllulOll. 1HlS
witness was asked about the two chill
dren:
"Why," said Capt. Dovener, "arc
these children arrested Pr sG.-7 =
"They are," replied Squire Arkle.
"That little girl hasn't sense enough
to be tricd," rotortcd the captain.
"We'lltry her, anyhow" said Attorney
Howard.
Mrs. Habcrfcld told how the children
explained being in possession OF the
goods. They would say that their
mother was poor and received the ar
ticlcs from storekccpers ior half price
or gratis. Mr.. Howard insisted on
knowing whether the children had ever
said anything about their father. "No,"
she replied, mot unless asked them
ii their father was not working; some
times they replied ho was, and some
times that he was not"
amined: Mrs. White, Mary Glenn,
Annie Jones, Mrs. Smith, Mrs. ?. Far
rell, Mrs. John Koch, Mrs. Hawthorne,
Mrs. Adams, Mrs. Goehring, Mrs. Nor
gan, Mrs. Jackaway, Mrs. Nelson, Mrs.
Moore, Mrs. Murphy, Mrs. Birch, Mrs
Davis, Mrs. Bond, Mrs. Ritz, Mrs. Cum
ningham and Mrs. Gosney.
THOUGHT THEY WERE rEDDLERs.
The witnesses all testified 10 the same
sort OF facts. The children would come
to their houses and offer shoes, dress
goods, towels and otherarticles for sale.
They had been doing this for the past
two years, and the purchasers had con-
ceivod thcidea that they were the chill
dren OF pcddlers.
When Mrs. Hawthorne came to the
stand she was questioned closely us to
what she had purchased, and how often
the children had como to her place. On
one occasion, three years ago, she an
swered in reply to Mr.. Howard, she had
bought q rusty poker and an old pair OF
tongs, for which she had given Il loaf
OF bread and five cents s.
"Would you know that loaf OF bread
again ii you were to see it?' asked Cap
tain Dovcncr, "and," continued he sar-
castically, did the children ever bring
any washstands, bureaus or pianos to
your house" S..
The price asked by the children ior
most OF the articles offered ior sale by
them iuctuatcd considerably; thev
were firm OH the price OF shoes, how
ever, almost invariably asking $3.50 per
pair. All the witncsscsagreed that the
children always had plausible cx-
pianation to give rs to how the articles
had come into their possession.
Mrs. Morgan was the first witness
who testified tonot having bought from
the children, but from John Bistel's
wife. She had got 4 dress pattern and
some other things, but rs most OF these
charges were not specified in the war
rants Mrs. Morgan's testimony was not
admitted. and she was discharged.
Mrs. Jackaway told the story OF the
gold pin she had got from the girl Ida.
Ida had told her that she had found the
pin, and as it was dirty and looked like
4 secondhand one, she supposed tho
girl might be telling the truth, and
gave her quarter for it. The next
day the officer came with the little girl
and Mrs. Jacl;away gave him the pin.
Mrs. Nelson had bought Tin pan,
but was unable to state, in reply 10
Capt. Doyener's question, whether il
was American tin or not.
Mrs. Moore denied having purchased
q silk cap from Ida.
Mrs. Birch's testimony caused goot,
deal OF amusement, Sho was very
willing witness, and told naivcly how
tho little girl had insisted on crtrying
on u pair Of shoes, and that they were
such nice fit, and tho price so low,
that She purchased tho shoes. The lit
tie girl had told her that her mother
worked at places and got her pay in
shoes and othcr articles.
oFFiCEIts LuKENs ASD TERRlLL