Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-07-12
HAD A NIGHT OF IT.
EDITH METzGER TELLS HOW SHE P5RAM-
BULATED ALL OVER TOWN.
Tie Case Of Abduction Before Squire Arkle.
The Girl Tells Story Of Adventure.
The Mother Of the Girl Suddenly Taken
Sick and the Case Postponed.

There was case of abduction before
Squire Ankle last evening, or rather this
was what the defendant was charged
with. The defendant in the case is a
fellow by the name of Edward Skinner
and he was arrested yesterday morning
by Officer Ritz on a warrant sworn out
by the mother of a 17-year-old girl
named Edith Metzger, charging him
with trying to lead her away from home.
1t seems that Skinner has been
paying attentions to the Metzger girl for
some time much against the wishes OF
her parents. Last Friday the girl start
ed out from home, and was not seen
again until yesterday morning. AT the
time Skinner was arrested he was stand
ing on North Main street talking with
Edith and another girl, wondering
whether or not they should go home,
When the case came up for trial be-
fore Squire Ankle last night there was
a large crowd in attendance, and the
Railways becamesso packed with people
that it was necessary to clear them.
The mother of the girl seemed TO be
considerably agitated over the case, and
soon after entering the room had
several brisk conversations with her
daughter, who was seated beside her.
The mother Of the girl first took the
stand. She said that Edith would be
Il years old the 18th Of next December.
81 hoA 20 q
TO her daughter, but she had warned
him time and time again not to come
near the house, but he persisted in his
attentions. Last Friday she disappear
ed from home, and l started to see il l
could find where they had gone, and l
learned they had been seen walking up
the railroad track. I walked up the
track for mile aud half, but could
not get get any clue as to where they
went.
Mr.. Metzger, father Of the girl, then
took the stand, AS soon as he was
seated he said (pointing to Skinner),
that gentleman right there is the ruin
alton of my daughter" He said be last
saw Edith on Friday, just before she
went away. He corroborated the state
the house several times, and also that
Skinner sent notes TO the house by small
boys to make arrangements to meet him
at various places. Don't remember just
the year Edith was born, but anyhow
she's II years old, or will be next De-
cember, land that's the man right there
who is the Fuination of my daughter, "
he repeated.
At this junction in the proceedings,
the Squire asked Skinner if he desired
to ask the witness any questions, to
which he replied that he did, but hest
tated, as he said his counsel had not yet
arrived. He despatched messenger
for Col. Arnett, and he soon appeared
on the scene.
The next witness on the scene was
Edith herself. She was attired rather
neatly, and wore jaunty hat, and is
tall and 1.-the in form. Her general APP
pearance bespeaks maiden Of over sew
enteen summers. she said she left
home on Friday last, met Skinner, and
went over to Martins Ferry, and on the
way back met another girl by
the name Of Elsie Works
and fellow named Rhodes. The other
girl, Elsie, was sitting close to Edith all
through the trial, and she appeared to
be one of those irrepressible beings full
of FRANKS, all the time laughing and
wlnking at the boys around the room.
While Edith occupied the witness
stand she told quite story Of romance
and adventure. After she had wan
dered around awhile on Friday night
she said it was so late that she was
afraid to 60 home, as her mother had
given her a whipping only the day be-
fore. She concluded to stay out all
night and walk the streets, which she
did most effectively, The party of
four were together most Of the time and
they visited several saloons, and had a
night of il. In explanation Of where
the girls spent the night they said they
found a small tool house between Sew
enth and Eighth streets unlocked, and
they went in and passed the night.
This was after they had left the fellows
down town. She said they also stayed
in the tool house on Saturday night, and
all day Sunday, coming out about day
light on Monday morning The only
things they had to eat were oranges,
and Edith said she had twenty cents in
her pocket. When they came out on
Monday morning they met Skinner and
was talking to him when he was ar
rested.
At this point the mother Of the girl
was recalled to the witness chair, but
she was suddenly taken with a sick turn,
heart trouble she termed 1t, and was UNI
able to respond. The case was accord
ingly postponed until , o'clock this
afternoon. As the Works girl appear
ed to have no home here she was placed
in jail to await the trial to-day.