Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-02-06
THE MURDER TRIAL
AT NEW MARTlNSyILLs EXCITING A GREAT
DIAL OF INTEREST.
The Confession Of William Main Allowed 10 90 ia
Evidence BY the COuri-Ths Story q III,
Eilling-keMaslsrs Says that
Main Did the Killing.
sseaai T.leora,n 10 n, Reois,er.

SPECIAL Telegram 10 TIE Register.
NEw MARTINsvILLE, ". Va, Febrn-
AIRY Sat the Higgins murder trial to-
day the State attempted 10 Introduce
an alleged confession made by William
Main to Justice Connolly, at Littleton.
on the night OF October 2ith last. The
defense objected 10 its introduction on
the grounds that il was obtained under
dureSS. After the facts surrounding
the confession had been adduced from
witnesses, the objection was argued and
the Court decided the paper could 90 in.
The confession was read in full. ltwas
signed by William Main. and attest
ed by J. l.. Newman, w. II. Kimble
and |. w. Beatty, and properly certified
| by Justice Connolly. The paper is very
circumstantial, and goes into the minute
details Of the murder. After describing
the visit TO Littleton on the Wednesday
before the murder, with James McMas-
terS, and the poker game in which Jas
McMasterS. John Buck, jas. Little.
Benson HugginS and Main took part,
the affidavit told OF the search for Hug
gins, over the hills and along the roads,
and then said
II said was going homc-to let him
go. McMaSterS said: i won't. ! came
back TO where a girl had been 40
spring, and asked her II there was a tiu
down there; she answered, yes sir ]
got across the fence and went % the
spring. He came with me. We got q
drink; went back up into the road aud
started home, and met Mr.. Hopkins. /
was still ahead and McMasters behind
me; passed Mr.. llEgginS McMastcrs
said, 'Bill, hold on there bit After
going some farther he caught up with
me. That was at house ON the ridge.
he said. come on Bill. and started up
through a wheat field. lie went rum
ming and was some dis
tance behind him; We went
ont into the woods into au
old road on the ridge and crossed the
fence into the road, turned 20 thc lcft
and went out the road beyond the place
where Higgins was killed. ! said Co
him: Let us go back home lie said.
No, sir ] started for home, and wc
saw man lying by the roadside. W.
passed him; went ahesd and never DEC
on ! saw him. McMasters caught up
20 me after had passed the man aud
said: Let ms have our money ]
said Let him 60 with it.
he has only got a dollar of
mine anyway he said. Il am going to
have my money asked him how hc
was going to get IL, aud be answered.
by God, | will have it, lie pulled
two standards out OF a Sled and said.
Here, BILL take one OF these. lie
offered me the big one. would not
take IL. lie started back toward the
man. followed him. When W. got
near the man he stopped aud again
offered me standard. refused to
take il, and he reached me the small
aud dared mo to take it. llo
went in front of the man aud was
still behind McMastcrS. We stayed
there a little biz and said would not
hurt the man. lie stepped to-
wards the man and ! stood
still in the road. lie walked mp to the
man and stood there a little biz. a dog
began to bark and ! looked down TO-
wards house over the hin from where
the man lay and heard a Noise like
striking. When looked
around McMasters was apparently
searching the mans pockets. !
started and he followed me J said.
How much money did YOU get.
Jim2' He said: 4 don't know
was ahead and heard noise like
being thrown and threw the
standard away that had. We went
back through the same wheat field that
we went through In going While go
ing through the wheat field McMasters
said, here goes the chain, aud threw
away. We came ont past the house on
top OF the hill and on down the road aud
went home. did not get any of the
money or see any watch
Dennis X. Mcghen lives boz Penny'-
yania, testified that James McMa,ter-
told him a; the Keller House boo Little
ton that Main had asked him 90 go up
On the tunnel hill. he went up with
him: did not know where Main intend
ed 10 go. They went mp the uunr.
hill. came 10 a sled: Main took Out
two standards: Main asked him tO take
one and he CMcMasters) refused. after
wards took the small standard. they
went up to where lluggins was lying aud
Main struck him with the standard,
then Main took his watch and money.
he (McMastcrj did not get the watch cor
any money; he thought that Main had
put the watch In the woods, believed he
coald find it; they went together
(Meighen and McMastersl 10 the woods
indicated and found the watch.