The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-12-06

Realize Tits Desperate Position.
Wheeling has furnished remarkably
small number of murder trials In the past
decade. Since Mailer was tried and con-
vlcted for the murder of his wife, and
Louis Briesock for the murder of his
| wife, the local courts have not had to
deal with murderer. To-day, In the
criminal court, Judge Hugus presiding
the trial of Wiley Bowers for the murder
OF milkman Henry Kiei, will begin. and
the public is interested IN the case to such
an extent that It is assured the court
room will be crowded daily this week,
throughout which Il Is believed the trial
viii continue.
us Bowers guilty?" is question that
Is being generally asked Just now.
In advance OF the trial, OF course, Il Is
| Impossible to give satisfactory answer,
The bearing OF the prisoner throughout
his confinement, which began a little
more than a month ago, is remarkable
In several ways. For instance, Bowers
does not seem to realize the position in
which he Is placed. He Is as unconcsrn-
| ed as though he were about to answer the
charge OF drunkenness or something as
trivial In It's consequences 50 far as law
goes. During his months confinement
he has shown not the slightest concern as
10 the outcome OF the trial that begins
to-day, and which may result In the
death penalty,
He has fraternized with the other pris-
oners and has been prominent in their
restricted field OF amusement. One of his
achievements has been 10 win the county
Jail card playing championship, In
seven "euchre" and Pedro" he
plays a hand that isn't equalled by any
OF the thirty or forty other prisoners In
Sheriff Richards bastile, and he has
been equally as prominent In the other
diversthcatlons OF the prisoners.
Yesterday afternoon, when an lntelli-
gencer man called at the county jan,
Tailor Mccormick kindly had Bowers
brought 10 the main Office,where his
photograph was taken. Bowers had Just
been dressed In new suit OF black, ana
his uncuncern was shown by the manner
In which he spoke OF the clothes to Jatlor
Mccormick. Holding himself well up
before the Tailor, Bowers showed the OH
clal how the trowsers didn't exactly
fit" Other than this trltiing detail, the
young man seemed 70 have nothing on
his mind that worried him In the least.
He declined to say anything about his
case his lawyers having instructed him
to remain silent regarding the crime
which he was charged with committing
SEEMS INEXPLICABLE.
II seems lnexpllcable that on the eve
of his trial for the taking OF another's
life, any man-whether he be guilty or
innocept-can maintain such a demen-
nor, which can only be explained on the
ground OF stolidity and a complete fall
ure to arrive at the proper appreciation
| OF his peril. An innocent man OF oroS-,
nary intellect, placed In Wiley Bowers
shoes, would show signs OF excitement
and fear OF the result of the approaching
trial. Bowers certainly has not SHOWN
the least excitement or fear at any time
since he entered the county jail. II nus
conduct canbe taken as having any bear
ing on his possible guilt or Innocence, II
would point In the direction OF guilt
| Desperate criminals sometimes anect
extreme duiiness and stdiidt!y, ana tRat
may be the game Wiley Bowers has been
playing, but this Is not a likely view, for
those who know Bowers are aware that
he Is naturally dun aud stold.
Since the preliminary hearing before
Justice of the peace, at which Wiley
Bowers was committed 10 Jail to await
| the action OF the criminal court grand
! Jury, his younger brother, George Bow
ers, upon whose testimony the older was
! held, has been hOarder at the jail. The
public has heard his circumstantial
story which makes his brother a cow
| ardiy assassin, His story IS the rock
upon which the state will stand in Its
effort to convict Wiley, on two or three
| occasions he has told his narrative to the
officers and Prosecuting Attorney Meyer,
I and It IS considered significant that II has
not varied In the least.
GEORGE BOWERS STORY.
Recently, In company with the prose-
cutor. he was taken over the ground east
of the city where the murder was COM
mltted, and his tale has been verified by
footsteps that are said to strongly in
crimgnate Wiley Bowers and sustain the
veracity OF his brother As to the effect
q merSiless cross-eXamination by Wiley
Bowers attorneys will have on the boy,
that cannot be fOretdld. 1t is said the
boy feels Discrimination TO tell his story
| in the presence OF his brother. a disin-
cllnation thar Is natural, This may have
an effect on the boy when he IL called
upon to testify face to face with the man
who win be convicted through his testl-
mony II true The state Is said to have
| other strong evidence, but with the eN-
ceptlon Of George Bowers 1t Is cirrum-
| stantia1
The defense viii have small army Of
| WITNESSES. Most Of them will, It Is said,
| give testimony that will tend to set ny
an abb for Wiley Bowers, In fact, this
! alibi Is the one hope OF the defense, IL It
| rs not sustained and George Bowers tes-
tlmony Is no, impeached, Wiley Is con-
! Vlcted
Court will convene nj aiSO O'clock this
| morning ana the Bowers case viii be
called Immediately The day VIII prob
| ably be spent In the steps thai, are pre-
| limlnary toward securing a jury. Messia.
| Schuck and Dryden are he ati3fHeya Tor
| BoWers, and the states interests VIII he
cared FOR by Prosecuting Attorney w. c,
Meyer and Mr. Frank W. Ncsbltt
| -
1T has always been mystery why
no many people suffer from chopped
hands when Salvation OH will cure
them at once,
Tho Ale season " nav nn, Drink J'
| On ,rnu,rl,t nj nll the principal saloons IN
| the state, Telephone iOH'