Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-08-28
THE TRAGEDY.
IN WHICH PORTER BUFFNLE LOST BIS LIE
AT wAYNEBURa.
Important Developments in the Case = Evidsncs
Tending to Show that the Deceased
Was q Thief.

A telegram from Waynesburg chroni-
cles important developments in the
tragedy at that place, last Saturday
night in which Porter Huffman was
killed by w. S. Pipes. brother of DIR.
J. II. Pipes, of this city. The telegram
is as follows;-
"Was Port r Huffman thief?
"This is an important question now
agitating the minds Of the people of
Greene county.
important developments made in
the case yesterday has disclosed the
fact that the man Huffman was a
thief.
1t has been discovered that the har-
ness stolen last winter from Jeweler
Pipes was stolen by Huffman, and it is
now also believed that when Pipes shot
Huffman he had entered his stable for
the purpose of committing robbery.
The missing set Of harness that was
stolen has been found, and the county
Is in possession Of positive evidence that
the harness was disposed of to Geo. Orn-
dorf, who lives about four miles back Of
this place.
THE bitter feeling that has been
manifested against Mr.. Pipes has died
away, and since last evening public SYM
pany has been generally expressed for
him.
1.-THE story Of the affair is this: Last
Tuesday, the day OF the funeral, several
parties who watched the funeral process
sion saw the set of harness on horse
that was being driven in the procession.
1t is a most singular fact that this
should occur, but the parties who recog-
nized the harness kept quiet and placed
the matter in the hands OF the proper
persons.
yesterday afternoon Geo. Geyer was
sent out TO the farm of VIM. Gordon,
where young Huffman had been en-
pIoyed, to investigate the case. George
Orndorf is q son-in-law OF Mr.. Gordon.
He was known to be in possession Of the
harness. When Mr.. Geyer arrived at
his farm he found the harness. He re-
ported the matter TO Constables Allison
and Redick, and they are now in posses
sion of it.
sit has been positively identified by
James Mahon, the saddler Of this place,
who made the harness for Pipes. 1t was
also identified by Mr.. Pipes as the one
stolen from his premises last winter.
''Orndorf says that he traded young
Huffman sleigh for the harness last
winter. Mr. Gordon, with whom young
Huffman was employed, is completely
dumbfounded over the affair. He says
Huffman was one Of the best young men
he ever had He was sober and indus
trieus and his honesty was never ques-
toned. Huffman's character here was
irreproachable and he was considered
one OF the most industrious and honest
young men Of the county. The al
fair has created the utmost ex-
element, and nothing but the
Pipes tragedy is talked Of here. On
the night of the tragedy Pipes fired two
shots at Huffman. The first shot took
effect. The second shot flew wide Of its
mark and lodged in stable owned by
man named Donney, some 100 yards
distant The bullet was discovered to-.
day by some men who were making re-
pairs to the stable. Pipes is still In
iail and refuses TO talk on the subject.
Mr.. Pipes was to have been given a
hearing yesterday, but on account OF
some reason which is only known to his
friends, the hearing has been postponed.
He will likely be given hearing some
time this aftern DON, and at that time it
Is the general opinion that Pipes will Go
admitted to bail.
Another telegram from Waynesburg
says Scott Pickens, the boy OF whom 1t
is said the harness was bought by
Huffman, has not been found
by the officers who are on the look
out for him. Pickens' statement in re
gard to his connection with the harness
will be an important factor in the case,
and tbs next development is looked
forward to with great interest.
Everybody is on the qut vive
of expectation. for things sensa-
tional in regard to the case may
occur at any time, and the prominence
of the parties and the mystery surround
ing the affair make people 10th to stop
talking of the awful occurrence. Many
visitors come to the jail each day to see
Mr.. Pipes.