The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-05-02
SISSY" ROSS'S DEATH.
The Manner othiS Taking on at NonnoEe.
SomethlnE OF hla Carer.

The remains OF "Sissy" Ross, who VS.
murdered at Roanoke, Va, last Tues
day evening by Nick Flood, arrived a
Martins Ferry yesterday and gill be in
tered at that place from the Hotel May
wood to-day at 1Oa. m.
Ross came 10 his death in the wa,
that all who knew him expected h
would. He was shot down in his track
by one Of his own ilk, and about mat
Ter that interested them professionally
Ross was the proprietor OF a poker room
and Nick Flood, though the son o
a wealthy 'tobacconist Of Lynchburg, Va
is one Of the most depraved ana con
scienceless men in his business, Ros
thought himself an expert gambler anC
had not, till he met Flood, come across
anyone who was his superior in the
business.
Some time before the tragedy FlooG
went into Ross's gambling house anC
showed skill in the manipulation o.
the gaming devices that drove other lea
expert custom from the place. Ross
with all his skill and experience, wa
not his match, and he asked Flood tc
stay away from his place. Flood was
practically boycotted by the gamblers
and either had to leave town or find
some other place to play. Ross's request
that he stay away from his rooma caused
hard feeling aud harsh words, and the
Ill feeling was kept up by Ross refusing
to rescind his order.
On last Tuesday evening Ross was sit.
ting in a restaurant at Roanoke, and
Flood entered the bar. Rosa went in a
few minutes later, and the minute they
met the shooting began. Flood emptied
his revolver, but only one shot took
effect, that one entering the right breast
aud cutting two arteries and the wind
pipe. Flood was shot twice, one ball
entering the eide OF the abdomen and
the other striking the middle Of the
breast bone aud detecting under the
skin. Flood was not seriously hurt, and
is held for murder.
Ross began his career ever in Mar
tins Ferry little more than twenty
years ago. He was then little more
than twenty years old, a son Of respect.
able people and q nlasterer by trade.
He got the notion that he was a good
card player, and before long proved by
his work that he was fitted for such
life. Besoon grew too expert and too
prosperous for small town and came to
Wheeling. He stayed here while,
being most Of the time the proprietor OF
q faro bank and poker room, which was
o headquarters for the leading sports Of
the city. He took an active interest in
sports Of all kinds, and was the promo.
ter OF many projects that proved paying
ventures for him aud hia Co.workers.
Ross had several brothers, and they
all went on about the RamO line. They
broke their mother'a heart, and she was
confined ia the Ohio IusGne Asylum
&c verSl years before her death.
Ross was well known in Wheeling.
He has the reputation OF having been
one OF the "sQuarest" gamblers In the
country, and was known everywhere.
He ran faro room hero for years, and
in the Grat term OF Jim Sweeney as
Chief Of Police was the central figure in
several sensations. One night Police.
man Martin Maloney arrested him on o
charge OF having stolen watch from
woman in an Eotf street house. He was
taken to the police headquarters in the
old "Ark" on Market street, and after.
wards the officer started with him for the
lookup on Chapline street. The charge
80 incensed him that he lost his usual
clear head and became Involved 10 a
difficulty with The officer, and finally
started to run, but Maloney was too
quick for him, and drawing his revolver
cred, the ball taking effect in Ross's
right leg. The subsequent develop.
ments showed that there was no evi.
dence to connect Ross with the robbery,
and he was discharged.
A prominent Wheeling gentleman, in
those days inclined 10 be sport, says
he was once throwing dice with Ross,
and everybody in the party was strapped
but him and Ross. He had one dollar,
and Ross had one hundred and Atty.
The gentleman proposed that they throw
one dash out Of the box TO decide
whether he should take Roses $3.50 or
Tsoss should take his 81, Ross agreed,
and the gentleman who tells the story
WOus ne OueIeu W ulNluo Will SSGS5t
but the latter refused, sayinG the money
was fairly won ard belonged to the
winner. Th.a ia said to be only fair
specimen Of the game" and square"
disposition OF the murdered man.
Ross was we'll known not only 10
Wheeling, but to many Of the most prom.
ipent men in West Virginia. at sever.
al Sessions Of tho State Legislature at
Charleston he was present in the ca.
pacity Of an entertainer and enllghtener,
and the members and hangers on who
patronized his games always spoke OF
him as honest aud reliable. A we'll.
known sporting nan OF Wheeling said
lsst night shat Rots was as brave as he
was square. He was even bold to the
point oi EeCklessnsas. The speaker had
known him 10 sit at table with re.
volver In the drawer under 1t, with pIen.
ty OF time to take it out, and yet he
would allow the other man to draw hiS
revolver and cover Him, and take his
chance9 rather than take out the pistol,
a nSmber OF ROSES irlendN from this
city will take charge OF the remains aud
see them deCently Inferred to-day.
There will be a number OF the boys as
the obseQuies thie morning,