Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-12-09
JACK RAMSEY ON TRIAL
Testimony that Made the Prisoner
Feel Very Uneasy.
MRS. KEENER'O FUNNY RECITAL

OF the Occurrences When Her
House Was Robbed-The Pr1s-
oner's Uncles Testify Against
Him = Positively Identified
While at His Work Of Plum
der and Torture-The Common
wealth Closes and the Prosecu-
ton Opens-Scenes in the Court
Room.
UyIoNTowN, December S.-Y Yesterday the
first of the Cooley cases was when Cnarles
David was brought in charged with Dres4-
ing into and stealing from the house OF MS
brother, A. j. David. This had been a ven
ture which the outlaw took ION his own
hand.n and was not in any way connected
with the now notorious gang. After the
evidence for the Commonwealth the Jury
were sent out and the court adjourned over
the dinner recess On returning at two
O'Clock the Jury brought in their yerdlct,
'apd found the defendant not guilty on the
chan "a of breaking in, but guilty OF ROD
berry. AE the defendant had been staying
in his brothers. house the charge OF break
ing in could not very well be proved.
Considerable excitement was caused IN
court at this time by the entrance OF Mrs.
Cooley and her two daughters. All were
dressed In deep mourning. Mrs. Cooley
was heavily yelled and her face could not
be seen. The two girls are very mucn
alike. They are tall girls with masses OF
auburn hair coiled behind their neaus.
They cody surveyed the Court ano occa-
sionallv whispered together aud laughed as
they compared notes OF tolks IN the auoi-
dence The opinion is that they are hand
some girls. who, if well dressed, would at
tract attention anywhere.
Jack Ramsey's sister was with them:
AS Mr.. Tom Marshall had not arrived. and
was not expected until late, other cases
were taken up and that against Jack
Ramsey was deferred. The Judge chafed
under the delay and threatened 10 go on
without Mr.. Marshall, but eventually SAID
he would have to give way TO 'age and
dignity.n The Grand Jury meanwhile,
had brought in true bills on some further
charges of larceny against Lutte Cooley
and others.
On the other side of the table from Mrs.
Cooley sat Sheriff Mccormick, who hunt
ed down her son so persistently. In con-
nection with the charges against Ramsey
it may be interesting 10 give the following
particulars:
Jack Ramsey comes of one of the oldest
families in the county, his grand.
father, Mr.. Rifle, being one OF
the original settlers. The Rifles
were one of the most respected and
one of the best known households in Ger
man township for two generations. Old
Mr.. Anderson, his schoolmaster, whom 1t
is alleged he tortured that night in March,
1889, when the gang visited his house, IS
actually related to Ramsey, being the out
laws uncle on his mothers side. Thls,
with the charge against David OF larceny
from his own brother, shows how THESE
men were Ishmaels, with their hand
against every man, not even excepting their
own kin. There is considerable feeling
here over the acquittal Of Mrs. Martin, on
Tuesday night. Why the feeling is so
strong against the woman connected with
the gang is explained thus: The outlaws
were kept Informed Of every move
ment made against them. How
thew got their information is
now pretty well understood The wo-
men acted the part Of what IS known as
"bush telegraphsn They came into town
ostensibly to make purchases There they
got information and secured the news
papers. These were read on the railroad
trip back and the news sent of to the out
laws in their mountain haunts without de-
lay. Hence, although these women may
not directly have been implicated In the
doings of the gang, it is thanks 10 them
that the authorities were batfled for such
time.
THE JURORS AND THE PRISONER.
1t was O'Clock yesterday afternoon be-
fore-Mr. Marshall having arrived from
Pittsburg-the trial of Jack Ramsey could
be proceeded with. Two hours were con-
sumed in getting jury. The panel was
exhausted and only eight had been secured.
The others were challenged by the Com
monwealth because some were related by
marriage to the accused, and the great ma
jority were cast by the edefenSe for avow-
ed prejudice
There is great curiosity to see "Hand
some Jack, " as the outlaw leader has been
nicknamed. He certainly does look like
the ideal outlaw and sits at the table with
frowning brow, very alert TO assist his
counsel with advice. He looks like man
not to be trifled with but his iailers say
that he is not so plucky as he looks. That
he will take advantage OF anything, man,
woman or child, if he has the upper hand,
they acknowledge, but they very much
doubt his pluck. There is another who
doubts him, and that is Ida Pastorious,
or. as she demands to be called, Mrs.
Frank Cooley"
OPENING FOR THE PROSECUTION.
To-day, owing to the lack Of space in the
Court room, only jurors, members Of the
bar and witnesses were admitted. Conse-
ouently there was all the more curiosity as
Ramsey was escorted from Jail by Sheriff
Mccormick.
When the trial opened d. NJ. Hartzog, at
one time District Attorney, opened for the
prosecution. He told the jury Of the attack
on Mrs. Keener's house; how five men stole
all the money she had, twelve cents. and
threatened her with a revolver They
asked her if Mr.. Anderson had any money
and she told them that he had not. They
went over to Mr. Anderson's house, one
hundred and fifty yards away, burst in
and demanded his keys. Mr.. Anderson.
she said, was Ramsey's uncle, and the out
law when a boy made his home with him,
and later, when grown up, came 10 him,
for advice. When a boy Ramsey knew of
a secret drawer where Mr.. Anderson kept
his money, and the night of the attack
Ramsey went right TO the drawer which no
one else knew. One hundred dollars were
stolen. They tied the old man to the floor,
poured oil on him, and held q lighted
torch, threatening TO burn him to death.
The prosecutor also said that he would
bring a relative forward to swear that
Ramsey admitted being cut at Groves's
house that night with the gang.
MRS. KEESER's STORY.