Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-03-01
A HARD FIGHT
BEING MADE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VII
SON CASE
The State Rested Yesterday at Noon, and the
Defense Taking Evidence Summary
Of Yesterdays Work.

saw mdu CHASE q poy NoWu tAo "a ~ ~
and saw the man shoot up in the air,
aud then shoot up the track. He
identified the prisoner as the man who
did the shooting. He did not see West
wood strike him at any time. His story
differed greatly from the other eye
witnesses.
Wm. Watkins, the boy at whom Will
son first shot, came to the stand and
told his story. He said he was walking
by the cars, and one of the show
men came out Of the car and knocked
him (Watkins) down. He did not know
why ne was assaulted, as he had done
nothing After he was knocked down
time or two, he started on down the
track, when Wilson stopped him, and
told him to stay and he would see that
he would not be hurt This Watkins
refused to do, and then Wilson shot at
him. Watkins story varied slightly
from his testimony given in the first
trial. His story was badly shattered by
Captain Danford's searching cross-exam-
inatiOn.
Davy Jones said he was with Wat
kins when they were passing the show
cars. A man came out Of the car and
said to Watkins: What was that you
Said?" aud then struck him. The re-
mainder Of bis story was virtually the
same as was given before, and ii was
told in plain, straightforward man
ner.
Nd O1oL 4o-tiGo5 +bot bo u-as a
policeman. He positively identified the
coat and vest as the clothes worn by Off
Ger Murphy when he was shot The
coat and vest were then offered IN evil
dence.
John Moore did not testify on the first
trial. lie said he was present at the
shooting of Murphy. Heard Murphy
tell the crowd TO disperse at once. He
saw Wilson shoot at Watkins, and saw
WestWOOd hit Wilson with a mace,
which caused Wilson to reel and stagger.
He saw Murphy stoop aud shoot under
the car at Wilson, but did not sec West
wood shoot. lie saw Watkins and Will
son exchanging blows. Witness adhered
to his story very closely through the
Cross-examinatiOn.
VIM. Gifts, a new witness, was called,
and said he was present at the shoot
ing. lie told about the "same old
story" lie saw Westwood strike Will
con, and saw Wilson shoot three times.
On cross examination he did not know
who fired the other three or four shots.
Court then adjourned until yesterday
morning.
As the trial progresses the interest
increases, and at the opening of Court in
the morning a large and attentive au-
dience filed the room. Judge briggs
is holding Court in the Probate Judges
Office, dispOsing Of few unimPOrtant
cases, while Judge Chambers presides
over the Criminal Court.
Attorney Shay was obliged to return
to Cincinnati Tuesday night, TO look
after an important case there. He will
return TO-DAY and will assist through
the remainder of the trial.
The State continued its testimony
yesterday by first calling to the stand
Benjamin Perry, who said he lived in
Martins Ferry, and was present at the
homicide He saw boys throwing rocks
at the show. cars, and saw Murphy
immediately release him. He heard
Murphy tell Watkins aud the other boys
to 'go away from here, and heard Will
son tell the boys not to 90 away, as they
would not be hurt, this corrObOrating
Watkins story.
Simon Armstrong said he was the
young man who saw Wilson under the
car while the officers were shooting at
him, Wilson. He saw Wilson trying TO
cover up his revolver while he was
lying under the cars, and witness
told Charles Downing where the revolver
was lying. Downing was called and
testified to what Armstrong had said,
and that he found the revolver where
Armstrong indicated. He identified
the revolver shown him as the one he
found under the car. On cross exami-
nation witness said that the revolver
was not covered up when he found il.
He saw several fellows throw stones be-
fore the shooting began. He said when
ne first shot was fired he asked TO be
REUSED" and at once "t0ok sneak.
Sheriff Scott was called and identi-
fed the revolver as the one Downing
gave him.
Daniel Thomas was called and cor
roborated the story told by Watkins
and Jones, as did David Davis and John
Edmuuds, both new witnesses. Ed
munds on crOss-eNamihation said that
the man that struck Watkins was a
tall. Smooth-faced man. In this he
differed from the other witnesses and
fully exonerates Wilson in this partic-
ular.
Addison McKim'S testimony brought
out no new developments.
There was one extraordinary scene TO
mark the proceedings Of this remarka-
BILE trial. Mrs. Jane Murphy, aged sew
enty wears, the mother of Policeman
Murphy, was placed on the stand 70
identify the clothing worn by her son
when he was shot At the sight of her
dead sons mutilated clothing she COM
pletely broke down and wept like a
child. Her waiiings could be heard all
over the room she testified that
when she got his vest it was all
besmeared with blood. and that she
washed it the day after he was shot,
thinking that her soon would soon re-
cover and again wear his uniform. The
scene was very affecting. She was not
rOss-eXamined.
With this witness the State rested,
having examined in all about twenty
seven witnesses. c. L. Weems, the
present efficient Prosecuting Attorney,
has been untiring in his efforts in look
ing up new evidence in this trial. 1t
Is generally conceded that the
State presented stronger case
than was done in the former trial. Mr..
Weems has proven himself TO be pros
ecutor Of no ordinary ability. He has
moi failed TO convict a criminal Of what
the Indictment CHARGED him. He WAS