West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1893-03-02
BANK ROBBERS CAUGHT.
Three Young Men Of Kingwood Ar
rested for Robbing the Bank Here
the Night Of January 31st.
One OF Them. Charles Norris, Tnrncd
States Evidence and Makes
Clean Breast or IL.

The latest sensation in Kingwood
is the arrest of three young men of
the town, charged with robbing the
kingwood Bank and w. Posten &c
Co.'s store on the night of january
3lst last. The youngest one OF the
crowd gives the whole business
away and tells very clear and
straightforward story, and sticks TO
it under oath.
1t was generally agreed at the
time, by those familiar with the
circumstances, that the work was
that of some local characters and
suspicion pointed to the parties who
are now in Jail for the offense. Ex-
Sheriff Dan Jackson and Dan Faw-
cett have been working the matter
up quietly and following several
clues. One was. that Sheriff Leroy
Shaw was going home from Attor-
ney James A. Browns office, the
night OK the robbery, between eleven
and twelve o'clock, and passed
three young men between tho Bank
and Voltz's corner. 1t was dark
and he did not recognize tile parties
at the time, but after the robbery
he studied it over and was pretty
sure of at least one Of them, and
then some Of the Morris BOYS talk
was suspicious, and he was finally
cornered up and persuaded to con-
fess, which he did Tuesday of this
week, and said that he and Arthur
Elbon aud John II. Shrout were
the parties who committed the rob-
berry. The last two were arrested
and lodged in Jail at once, and
Morris taken before Justice j. NJ.
Godwlnand States Attorney ID. NJ.
Wotring, where he made q detailed
statement of the whole affair. Yes
terdaY morning all three were given
n hearing before Justice Goodwin in
the Court House. Mr.. Wotring
represented the State, but the pris-
oners had no counsel. Charles
Morris was sworn and placed on the
stand, and detailed the robbery.
lie said that on the night of the
robbery, Arthur b. Elbon, John IL.
Shrout and himself were at Bla.
ker's store till it closed, and then
all went to the Preston House,
where they boarded, and went 10
their rooms, but did not go to bed.
When everything was quiet, they
slipped out and went to the old
Murdoch Blacksmith Shop, where
he (Morris) had been working at
the trade, and here got tools to
break in with. They went to the
Bank soon after midnight, and
while he stood guard on the outside
to give alarm, Elbon and Shrout
pried up the window and entered
Posten & Co.'s store, and were at
work about two hours. He saw
them, through the window, work.
ing on the safe and heard the ex-
plosion. Finally, about 3 A. ~,
he heard noise down about John
IL. Browns corner as though some
one was coming up street, and gave
the alarm. The others came out
the front door of the store, which
they had opened from the inside,
after getting in the window, and
they all ran away and returned to
the hotel and their rooms. Morris
claimed he did not know how much
money they got, as the others had
it in their pockets, and the under
standing was that Shrout was TO
hide it away somewhere till the ex-
element died down, and then it
was to be divided lie says no did
not see any Of it and does not know
where IL 10 hidden.
Elbon was also put under oath
and denied The whole story and
claimed that Morris was crazy.
Shrout said he had nothing to say.
The Justice held Elbon and Shrout
under 81 900 bond each for appear
anoe at Court, and they went back
to Jail and will likely remain there
awhile, as IL is very doubtfnl If they
can give bail Morris WAS held un.
der $500 bond, which no secured
aud was released. His brothers
went on tho bond, and TIE young
fellow himself has an interest in
the home farm, down on the river.
worth more than that amount. He
is twenty years Of aye, and is son
OF the late Reuben Morris, and be.
f...... - 800. A..