Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-01-31
PARKERS BURG.
Court Matters-A Slick Thief Caught-Th'
Farmers Institute.


PARKERsBURG, w. VA, January 30.
Thomas Sherman, Of Roane county,
was found guilty of perjury and subOrn-
ing witnesses in an application for an
increase OF pension recently made.
Sherman was sentenced to one year
in the penitentiary.
Charles Reed, witness in the Sher-
man case, confessed to having COM
mitted perjury in making affidayits, and
was sentenced to eighteen months in
the penltentiary Reed also admitted
that he had two wives living in Roane
county. His behavior on the witness
stand convinced everyone that he was
either lunatic or most eonsummate
william.
Alonzo ShufTelt and William Myers,
two well known gentlemen who boarded
at the American House, were robbed
last night while asleep Both men lost
| fine gold watches and considerable
sum of money. A young fellow named
William Carr, moulder in foundry,
was suspected. Carr was seen to board
train for Chilicothe to-day and was
arrested. Both watches and money
were found on his person. Carr broke
down and confessed and was sent To
Jail.
The Farmers Institute began It's ses-
sion at the Court House to-day with
President Seldom 5. Stone in the chair.
Col. Dan. johnson delivered an address
on Agricultural Science" The ques-
tion of soil fertilization and rotation in
crops was discussed interestingly this
afternoon. The attendance tomorrow
promises to be large.
The noted case Of the United States
against Lorenzo ). Clagg, after Il long
siege of eight days, ended at / o'clock
last night in verdict OF guilty on one
count OF the indictment charging him
with receiving illegal fees in the pension
case of Mrs. Turner. Clagg was also
charged with receiving and Withholding
something like 81, 900 of the old wOman'S
pension money. The case has attracted
more attention than any during the
present term. There forty-eight wit
neSses for the government and defense
and both parties were represented by
strong legal talent. The government
by L. :. Attorney SturgiSs and Assist
ant Attorney Elcnton. The defense by
Capt. w. X. Green and John NJ. Gibbens
lof Point Pleasant. The court room ha'
been crowded during the entire tria
land the incidents connected with the
lease have been OF an exciting and inter
eSting character. Clagg was arrested
August 3Oth in Mason county, neal
Glenwood, by Capt. A. w. Roome
special government agent. The pen
sioner, Mrs. Turner, is Clagg'S mother
in-law. who received pension of abou
3. GOO. Clagg assisted her in getting
the pension. and is charged with taking
about s., 900 of the money. a fire, II
which the house was robbed OF 81 ,OO'
figures prominently, but the govern
ment failed to connect Clagg with th'
fire, as was attempted.
False certificates figured prominently
and witnesses Of dubious character wer'
quite numerous. Two OF the govern
ment's witnesses. who were policemen o
GallipOlis, were proven to have been ex
convicts OF the Ohio penitentiary. !
leading defense witness, James Canter
bury. is now in jail charged with at
tempting to bribe government witnesses
Canterbury was proven to have been
penitenliary bird, having served sever
wears for murder in the Ohio peniten
tiary. A number Of witnesses were i'm
peached. The case was pioneer cas-
case of its class and was fought through
out in a most able manner Messrs
Gum and Gibbons. the attorneys, 10
The defense. made most able defense