West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1891-03-26
MURDER AT NEW BURG.
Mrs. Celia WEIGH, an Aged Woman,
Found With Her Prainr Beat Out.

| HuTuer MAO Dcen committed an their
midst. II was found to be- too true,
and on inyestig ation Mrs. Celia
WEIGH, woman near sixty years Of
age, was found in her home stone
dead and circumstances pointing
strongly against James II. Wclch,
her husband, as the murderer. -
Squire Dave Gibson fastened to the
scene Of crime aud placed Mr..
Welch under arrest.
1t seems that Welch himself had
summoned the neighbors TO come
and sec about his wife and bring
lights. as he had none in the house.
On arriving they found the woman
lying on the floor dead and cold,
with her head and face beat into a
jelly with some blunt weapon
States Attorney n. j. Fortney and
Sheriff Jackson were telegraphed
for and went up next morning The
prisoner was given a preliminary
hearing before Justice Gibson, who
sent him to Jail hero to wait the
action of the Grand Jury. Sheriff
Jackson arrived that night with
him, and although it was wet,
dark night. large crowd gathered
at the depot here to see the prisoner
arrive. We talked with the Sheriff
that night, and he said the evidence
was strongly against the accused,
although his making no attempt TO
escape was somewhat in his favor.
He did not hand cuff him or have
any trouble whatever in bringing
him to Jail. Said further that the
mans clothes were all bloody when
he went to start with him, and that
he had him to change his clothes,
and that his hands were all bloody
yet when they went to eat supper at
the hotel in Tunnelton while wait
ing for the train. and that lac had
the prisoner to wash the blood Of
his wife of his hands before eating
supper.
Next morning we visited Mr..
WEIGH at the Jail, and found him a
small like man, about 80 years of
age. with white hair and beard. and
looking anything but bad man.
Rather mild looking old gsntIe-
man, and one you would never ex-
pect TO be guilty of murder. He
was nervous and smoked away very
hard at his pipe to quiet himself.
He talked freely to us, and stated
his case in a very straightforward
manner. Claimed that he is inno
cent and had no idea who commit
ted the crime. Siys that during
the fatal day Thursday his wife
wrote letter and mailed it. Went
down street again to get some small
onions and came back with = pint
bottle of liquor. That he took two
drinks With her and she drank the
rest. Says she went out again and
he went to bed, and about 8, p. NJ.
she came in and seemed to stumble
and fall to the floor. where she Law
till he, after calling her to come TO
bed, got up to help her in bed, as
he had done before when she was
drinking. Took hold of her head
to lift her up and found it slippery
with some liquid substance, he could
not tell what in the dark. lie then
examined her aud found the body
stiff and "cold as charity" to use
his own expression. Becoming
alarmed at her condition. he hastily
summoned the neighbors.
lie declares that he heard no
screams or struggle Of any kind.
That his wife came in and appeared
TO stumble and fall just inside the
door and lay there, drunk Us he
supposed. Says he called her to
bed. and receiving no answer con.
cluded that he had better get mp
and help her in the bed and found
her dead, etc. While there seems
TO be no positive evidence that he
killed her. the circumstances arc
very stroug against him. It seems
that there Was pool Of blood ON
The bed and indications Of struq.
| gle. and brick vas found here
evidently the weapon used By the
murderer. Her head and face WIS
beat into an unacceptable condi
ton and presented a sickeuing sight.
/ Tue remains h ID not been disturb. n