Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-28
AFTER MANY MONTHS
4 Young Man Is Charged With the
Murder of His Companion.
liz TALKED WHILEHE WAS ASLEEP
Cut Ills Friends Throat and Put Him on
the Railroad Track.
SAYS HE is THE VICTIM OF SPITEWORK

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPArCH.l
NEW CASTLE, July 27.-Wednesday morning
about O'Clock April 3, 1859, the remains OF
William Risher, citizen of Wampum, were
found strewn along the Pitts5urg and Lake
Erie track, at Il point a short distance above
Newport, this county. At the Coroner's in
quest held the same day, navid Newton and
James Boohcr testified that they had been
with Newton the night before at Wampum;
that Risher was drunk when they boarded
the midnight train coming north. Finding
that the train did not stop at Moravia, where
The men were working, the train stopped
and they got Off Mt Newport. Risher was too
drunk TO walk and Booher and Newton
dragged him away from the track and left
him.
Constable r. c. Douds of Beaver Falls, has
made information before Squire Leslie,
charging Newton with willfully and premed-
itately numbering Risher and the facts
that led to the information being made are
rs follows: Shortly after Risher's body was
found Newton went to Beaver Falls to work.
For q year past those with whom he has
worked and boarded have noticed that he
has appeared abSent-minded and melan-
chOly many times. and has often talked to
himself. At night he would lay in his bed
awake, tossing to and fro, and when he
would sleep would start to talk in ram
bling way about murder and cutting some
ones throat.
ONE BOARDER DEPARTED.
One young man where he boarded left the
house rather than remain and witness the
mental suiierings of the unfortunate man.
4 short time ago Newton went to board at
Euwood and rooned with young man who
took Gil interest in him, and the two became
warm friends. His roommate noticed the
terrible condition of Newton MS mind and one
night asked him to tell him his trouble. The
roommate SAYS shat Newton told him, after
some talk, that he had killed William
RiSher.
With Booher and Rishcr, Newton went to
WanlpEm. where the two discovered that
Elsher had some money. A plot was laid to
rob and murder their companion, but
BCuher got too drunk to assist IN the killing
and Newton decided TO dc it himself. Ac-
Cordngly the three men started to walk up
the Pittsburg and Lake Erie track after
midnight on the Sd of April, and when
they came to point near Newport, Newton
struck the fatal blow, afterward cutting
RisheTs throat. After securing $25 from
Risher's pocket the body was placed on the
railroad track and at least one entire train
passed over it. Constable Douds hunted all
over Lawrence county for Newton but could
not find him. The warrant was placed in
the hands of County Detective 5. b.
Marshall yesterday afternoon, and late
last night in company with George NJ.
nouse and on knocking at the door was ad-
mitted.
SAYS IT Is SPITEwoRK.
Newton at first refused to go with |
the officer, remarking that he could not be |
taken, but ascertaining that the officer had |
assistance close at hand, consented to dress |
himself and return with the men. The party |
reached the jail about o'clock this morning. |
Newton, in talking, stated that he is innocent |
OF the crime charged. This is all spite |
work, he said, 'and was first started by a |
man named Lowe, in Beaver Falls. 1 owed
this man board bill of few dollars, and |
being out OF work there / went elsewhere to |
board 1t was then that these charges were |
made against me. l never thought of COM
mitting such a deed, and could not have
done ii. did purchase half pint of whisky
for Risher the evening before he was killed,
and that is the only thing connected with
his death for which / have any reason to
blame myself. / am innocent and can easily
prove myself so, and am not alarmed about
sny arrest" Newton is but % years of age, |
and is the son of q prominent farmer of
Shenango township. At the time Risher
was killed there was some tallc that he was
but the CoToner's inquest resulted
in the verdict of acciden tai death. The hear
ing will take place on Wednesday or Thurs
day.