The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-08-31

The inquest over the body OF Henry
IL. Hess, who was found in dying
condition on Sixteenth street yester-
day morning about o'clock, was held
At Coroner schultze's office yesterday
afternoon at o'clock and resulted In
the exoneration of James Arthurs and
his companions, Charles Daley and ALI
Richards, who had been with the de-
ceased a short time before he was
found
The witnesses in the case were on
hand promptly at the nour named, and
the squire began at once to take the
testimony. No jury was empanneled,
as the squire was of the opinion that
the circumstances did not warrant II.
The first witness called was Harry
pogard, a young man employed by h,
Ball, the Ice man. Bogard testified that
about $3.50 yesterday morning he was on
his way to work, and on Sixteenth
street, in front Of ElllLgham's grocery,
he noticed man lying on the pave
ment. He thought he was drunk and
at first paid no attention TO him, but
upon second thought turned and saw It
was LESS, whom he had known for
some time. Mr. Hess was breathing
hard and had queer rattle in his
throat, but young Bogard thought there
was nothing wrong except that he had
been drinking too freely. He did not
see anybody else on the street.
The next witness was Albert Caps,
who mas charge of Andrew MoGinley's
place, corner of Sixteenth and Chapline
streets, at night Mr.. Caps said that
ghn ~ atn "a
the saloon and asked for watch he
had left there on Saturday night
Capps gave II TO him and stood talking
with him while he took two light drinks
OF whisky. He asked for third drink,
but seeing that he was pretty well I'M
der the influence of drink, and knowing
that he, was to go to work at o'clock,
Caps refused him anything more.
While they were talking James Ar
thurs, ALI Richards and Charley Daley
entered the saloon and asked for some
thing to eat, and as the witness turned
to serve them. he heard Hess say DO
you mean that?" and this was followed
up by blow. He turned and found that
Arthurs' nose was AeedinG from the
blow that Hess had given him. Arthurs
struck at MIN once or twice but the
witness was unable TO say whether he
hit him or not. Caps then took the
old man into another room, and later
went to get him and put him In room
where he could stay until time for the
6 o'clock motor on the Elm Grove line,
but Hess had gone A few moments
after this Arthurs and his frlendS left
Witness went to the door a few mo-
ments afterward but didn't see any o
them.
Charles Daley, who was with Ar
thurs, told substantially the same story
that Caps told, and stated that after
leaving McGinley's he and Arthurs and
Richards had gone up Sixteenth street
to Jacob and to Zwicker's saloon on
Seventeenth street. where they remain
ed about half an hour. They had not
seen Hess on the way out, but coming
back down town they had noticed n
man lying on the curb stone apparently
drunk. Arthurs remarked laughingly
that II looked like Hess. They did not
stop, but at the corner Of Sixteenth and
Eoff streets they met officer McGuigan,
and the witness told him of the man
lying on the street. They did not walt
but came on down street.
James Arthurs was next called and
said that he had seen Hess at the time
mentioned at McGinley's saloon. He
said Hess was an old acquaintance and
every time they met they would Joke
with one another. He noticed that the
old man had been drinking, and started
TO initiate the way he would shake his
foot when in that condition. He had
no sooner begun than the old man
struck him on the nose, bringing the
blood. This made him angry and he
struck Hess on the jaw with his open
hand. Then he went to the lunch coun-
ter, but turned and struck Hess lightly
on the shoulder The old man said,
you would hit your grandfather,
would you?" and then he left him. The
bar tender took the old man away and
that was the last the witness saw Of
him until he found him lying on the
curb as they were coming from Zwick-
er's place.
Alfred Richards was next examined
DIR. Beabout was not present, but his
statement to the coroner yesterday
morning and the coroner's personal eX-
animation OF the remains were, in the
opinion of the latter. sufficient TO war
rant dismissal of the three men, and
he nj once rendered verdict of nat
ural death, resulting from hemorrhage.
Coroner Schultze stated that only two
marks were found on the deceased, one
on the forehead and the other, n slight
scratch, under the left eye, both OF
which could have been received in fall
ing.
The inquest and verdict removes all
doubt as to the cause Of the mans
death He had been drinking very hard
and was naturally in weakened con-
dltlon. Those who know Arthurs were
confident he had no hand in the death
of Hess The unfortunate episode that
preceded Mr.. Hess death was In no
way connected with 1t.
The body Of the dead man was re-
moved to Schrader's undertaking es-
tablishment, where 1t was prepared for
burial.