Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-11-25
West Virginia News.

The trial OF Col. Robert Eastman
for killing Frank E. Thompson began
at Parsons Tuesday.
W. H. Sewers has been appointed
postmaster at Berkeley Springs in
place of J. H. Phillips. removed.
Mormon elders have been active
near Womeisdorf, in the vicinity of
Elkins, and have made number Of
conversions.
A fve-year-old child of G. T.
Gosorn, printer, was burned to death
at Petersburg, this State, few days
ago, its clothes catching fire from the
stove.
As Edward Inman was removing
his family from Schell, Mineral coun-
tv, to near Hartmansville. the team
took fright and upset the wagon.
The wheel struck the head Of two
year-old child, killing it instantly.
Mrs. Inman is perhaps fatally hurt.
Another child was injured.
Last Friday night robbers visited
an old man named Eli Ballenger In
the suburbs of Hinton and tried to
force money from him. They searched
the house, but, finding nothing, pro-
ceeded to torture the old man. They
knocked him down, bound and gagged
him, and then proceeded to burn his
feet. He protested he had no money,
and after torturing him in various
ways they finally left him. He Is
eighty years old, and will probably die
of his injuries.
During the progress of a society
dance in Ceredo Saturday night Rev.
James H. Rigg, Baptist minister, en-
tered the ballroom and, walking to
the centre of the hall, knelt down and
began praying earnestly for those pres
ent. The orchestra ceased playing and
dancers on Bonded knees listened pa
tiently to the minister. This ended
the ball, and as the guests were de-
parting for their homes the preacher
commanded the orchestra to play
Nearer Ny God to Thee, which it
did in low but forcible manner.
Mr.. Riggs action is causing much
comment.
w. T. Parker, formerly of Parkers-
burg, this State, writes as follows from
Alaska: "If any of my friends expect
to come to Alaska tell them for Gods
sake to stay in West Virginia 1t gets
so cold in Alaska that your breath
freezes and cracks and pops on the air
like icicles. The thermometer goes as
low as so degrees below zero and
there are impossible mountains to
cross. l have just crossed the Gulf of
Alaska, was caught in storm and
carried $50 miles into the Pacific
ocean. If were back in Parkersburg
l would not come back to Alaska for
all the gold here"
A few days ago complaint was
made at the Office Of Prosecuting At
torney Lazzelle, of Morgantown,
against William Beals and wife, charg-
ing them with grand larceny. Before
the officers could apprehend them they
left the State and went into Pennsyl-
vania. The prosecuting attorney I'M
mediately made a request to Governor
Atkinson for a requisition on the
Pennsylvania authorities He received
in reply letter from Governor At
kinson saying that his request could
not be complied with and that hence
forth no acquisitions will be issued for
any fugitives from the jurisdiction of
the States officials, no matter how
grave the ofense committed. This is
because Of a ruling Of the Auditor
that the costs in these cases cannot be
paid out of the criminal costs fund,
but must be paid out of the Govern
or's civil contingent fund. The ruling
means that any crime may be COM
mitted in West Virginia and the Of
fender has only to escape into another
State to avoid the penalties of his Of
Tense, because all Of the civil contin-
gent fund is spent for other purposes
almost as soon as it is available. The
Governor adds in his letter that the
ruling will seriously interfere with
the administration of justice in the
courts, but that it is out Of his power
to remedy it.