Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-04-05
THE SECRET OUT,
AS TO WHO MADE THE MURDEROUS As
SsULT ON JOHN PARKER,
OF Pleasant Grove, Belmont County-Fivs Arrests
at Martins Ferry, Ysstsrdsy-A Confession
Giving Details Of the Job.

At last we have the true story OF the
murderous assault and robbery OF John
Parker. OF Pleasant Grove, Belmont
county, on the evening of February ed,
last.
Five arrests were made at Martins
Ferry, yesterday afternooD-ior which
Officers Westwood and Och deserve a
great deal of praise for working up the
case and one Of the persons confessed
to the job, giving all the essential de-
tails, his story being partially corroo'
Grated by another of the prisoners.
Officers Westwood and Och have been
working at the matter for long time,
and yesterday afternoon they found
things in shape 10 warrant them In
closing the trap. They accordingly
wentsto the Belmont brick yard, about
half-past five, and arrested Joe Taylor,
and followed this up at once by arrest
ing Joe Hanson, at his home in the
First ward OF Martins Ferry. A
short time afterwards Ed. Hoover, Fritz
Weazey and John Monahan were ar
rested, and all were locked up.
Later Hanson and Taylor were taken
to the Bridgeport lookup, to keep them
separate from the others. Taylor's
home was then searched, and In the
back of the stove the officers found a
pair OF Eyeglasses belonging to Mr..
Parker and also a bunch OF keys taken
from his home. Parker had the eye
glasses on when he was assaulted.
The officers told Taylor one OF the
gang had squealed, and thus encour-
aged, Taylor told the story Of the rob
berry. He said that on the evening OF
Washington's birthday they left Mar
tins Ferry by the Colerain pike, max
ing the start before dark. In the par
ty were Hoover. Weazsy, Taylor, Mono
han aad Hanson. They reached Par
ker's about o'clock 10 the evening,
and finding the family still up they called
the old man out, pretending TO want
to enquire the way TO some point. Al
ter talking to Parker for a while Weazey
pulled a gun and told Parker TO throw
up his hands. This Parker didn't do,
but on the contrary he reached for his
own gun, when Hoover hit him with a
club and knocked him down, and then
struck him twice while the old man lay
upon the ground. Weazey and Mono
Ian then tied Parker with some rope
they had brought from the Elson glass
house for the purpose. After tying
Parker, all but Taylor went into the
house and ordered Mrs. Parker to get
them a meal. She did so and the
men ate it, taking something to
eat out to Taylor, who was guarding
Parker. After the meal the mea carried
Parker into the house, and then pro-
ceeded to go through the premises in
search of valuables. They broke open
a trunk and chest, but found nothing
OF value excepT some jewelry, re-
volver and some other small articles
Weazey then searched Parker and took
nine dollars out OF his pockets.
After this they left the house, going
to Barton, and then walked 10 Bridge
port, getting there about daylight. The
street cars were running, and the men
rode TO Martins Ferry on an electric
motor.
A REGISTER reporter saw Hanson at
the Bridgeport lookup, last night, and
he said he had nothing to do with the
job, but later he said that about the
first Of February, he, Weazey and Hoover
went out TO Parker's, intending TO rob
him. They called Parker out, just as
Taylor says they did on February 22d,
but after he came out Hanson says he
held back, because Parker knew him
and would kill him, and then Weazey
and Hoover weakened, and the job was
not put through. Hanson said he used
to work for Parker, as did Hanson's
wife.
Taylor claims that Hanson and his
wife spread the report about Parker
having money and thus started the plot
TO rob him. Taylor also claims that
Hanson robbed Parker OF $40 some time
ago. Taylor says that Hanson told
him about this theft and also told him
that Parker kept his money in his barn
and that he had seen him going to the
barn for money.
The whole plot seems to have been
thoroughly concocted by tho gang,
who were entirely willing to XIII Parker
II necessary to go to that extremity.
As a matter Of fact Parker was nearly
killed and he may yet die OF the serious
injuries he received, his skull being
fractured and one arm broken.