The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-07-04

"Jack" Cunningham was killed last
night.
Cunningham has been known all
along the river from Pittsburgh to Gin
cinnati as desperate OF the first wat
er. Wherever he held forth, the off,
GERS OF the law held him in dread. He
was most dangerous man, and 1t was
not safe for one officer to attempt to ar
rest him, as he invariably carried arms.
And finally he came to his end at the
hands of an eleven-year-old boy.
Such is fate.
For some time Cunningham has been
living on house boat at BellaIre, own
ed by Mrs. Robert Long. Recently
Cunningham was implicated in the rob-
berry of the postotIlce at Sherrard. Mar
shall county, and rs he became aware
that he was wanted by the United
States marshals. through their arrest
| OF two of his accomplices at Martins
| Ferry, he has lately been under cover.
1t was thought by the authorities that
he had gone down the river 10 Mason
| City, opposite Pomeroy, Ohio, and Dep
| uty Marshal Mehan was sent there for
| him. but did not get his man.
| Two years ago. Robert Long, the
| husband of the woman who has been
| living on the house boat with Cunning
ham, was found guilty of forgery in this
city, and sentenced to jail for term OF
years \ week. ago Long was released
| on bail and went to the house boat at
! Bellalre. where he has since rcmuined
About 4 o'clock yesterday morning
| the occupants OF the boat. who We're
Mrs. Long, John Johnson, her eleven
| year-Old step-son, and Sallie Long, a
nine-year-o gil, her daughter, were
| awakened when some one knock
| ed at the door at the bow
Young johnson inquired who 1t was
and Cunningham dlvulged his identity
The boy told the man he was not want
ed there. Cunningham began TO abuse
| the boy and triedJo get In by way of the
door, but failed. Then he tried n win
| dow at the side, but the ugly shotgun
| produced by young Johnson had a good
| effect. Cunningham beating hasty re-
treat.
| About 8 o'clock yesterday morning the
house boat people Informed the Bellaire
| police that Cunningham had been there
| making threats and asked for protec-
ton. Marshal Bahra and officers
Lynskey and Ernst spent the greater
| part OF the day IN a search for the dcs-
| pcrado who Is wanted badly by the Uni
| ted States marshals I'm Wheeling for
| the robbery Of the Sherrard postotEice.
but they failed to place him.
Early during the night the officers
were in the upper part OF Bellaire hunt
ing for Cunningham, and that danger
| Que 1rtFN al NNFhn h AL hanY1
| st is said, took advantage of the absence
OF the officers to visit the Long house
boat TO "even up matters" as he put It.
Again Long was absent and nobody
| capable OF protecting the woman and
her two children was about. Cunning
ham had some words with the woman,
| and then drew a revolver and shot at
| her twice. One bullet entered the
breast. but the wound inflicted was only
slight one. The second shot was
turned aside by a rib or the woman
would have been killed.
Another shot was fired by the craZed
man and struck the blind girl, Sallle
Long, in the right leg. Cunningham
! threw aside his pistol and made bru-
| tai assault on the weakened and would
ed woman. Young johnson tried to
| protect his mother but was pushed
| aside by Cunningham. who Is large
| and powerful man. Then the boy went
| for his shot gun. which had two loads.
| When he returned to the room where
| Cunningham, Mrs. Long and the blind
| girl were mixed up In a three-cornered
| melee, he found the man on top strik-
ing the woman with the butt end OF his
| revolver. the woman begging piteously
| for mercy. The boy took deliberate
| aim and fred at the human brute. The
shot took effect In Cunningham's back.
The latter was mOrtally wounded, but
| succeeded In raising himself party from
| the floor, but only 10 receive another
| load from the gun In the hands OF the
| Infatuated youth. whose every instinct
| was aroused by the treatment his
| mother was receiving from Cunning
| ham. The second shot settled Cunning
| ham-hc sank to the floor. The boy. not
| content with the awful work he had ac-
compllshed, sprang upon the man and
| with his own revolver tried to beat his
| brains out. The man was SO far gone
that he made no resistance.
In the meantime Marshal Bahra and
his two officers had heard Of Cunning
| hams visit to the house boat, ard they
arrived and entered Just az young John
son was at his awful work. The boy
| made no effort to escape, and was taken
to the Selalirc jail. Cunningham too,
was taken 70 the city building, whare
he died Mt $50 o'clock. just forty min
utcs after he had been shot.
The BcllaSre authorities held an in
formal hearing. The stories OF the
three people who were eyewitness 10
the AFFAIR. Mrs. Long. Saliic Long and
| young Johnson. were practically the
| same story The boy viii he held for
an investigation that will be held to-
| Jny or Monday The sentiment In Bel
laire Is that the boy should receive no
| punishment, and from the circumstances
Of the affair as they win he told in
court. there seems no doubt but that he
| will be released.
County Coroner Furbee, of Martins
| Ferry, was notified Of the tragedy last
wight. and was expected to so 20 Bel
lalre late last night or this morning.
a Million Gold Dollars
Would not bring happiness tn the per-