Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-07-22

among which the cuts VI d sindii ASSn
edged weapon are very numerous. Al
least nalf an hour must have been de-
voted to this fiendish work before the
merciful services of the heavy hoe were
called upon. The crime was probably
committed about three or four o'clock
in the afternoon. The last time the
bows were seen was about half-past
twelve, when neighbor saw them IN
a corn field about two hundred yards
from the house-the same field beside
which, on the road, George Edwards
was
STRUCK AND ALMOST KILLED
by club in the hands of stranger
about nine o'clock Tuesday evening.
After leaving the corn field the boys
must have gone home, where Stanley
put Willie's shoes on, in accordance
with the instructions of the mother
when she left home in the morning, she
having told Stanley to cut some brlars
down in the afternoon, but TO put
Willie's shoes on first before going
among the "stickers" The crime
could scarcely have been committed
after four o'clock, and probably not
after three, because wnen Mrs. Mason
found the dying boys on her return
from work, about seven o'clock, the
blood on their garments and on the
ground had dried. If the man who
struck Edwards with the club was the
same party who attacked the boys, he
must have loitered about the house or
it's vicinity until just before Mrs. Ma
son returned home, and then fed TO
the cornfield. There he might have
secreted himself, along the edge of the
field next to the road, but hearing Ed
wards coming, and thinking possibly
his crime
HAD BEEN DISCOVERED
and he was being pursued, he sprang
out, struck Edwards with the club,
telling him to the ground, and then
escaped Edwards is badly hurt, and
had he caught the blow squarely on the
head, it would have been all day with
him. He said the man was tall, and
had on a white hat ana light coat.
He could not distinguish features, and
does not think he could certainly iden-
tify him. He says when he first saw
this unknown party he appeared to be
muttering or talking to himself, and
the next thing he knew the blow came
on his head and he fell to the ground
unconscious. The blow took him right
between the eyes, and his face wore
decidedly patched-up appearance to-
day. There is no trace of this I'M
known and mysterious man, and few
are inclined to doubt the story told by
Edwards, explaining his battered coun-
tenance in another way.
THE INQUEST.
Justice George Edwards, the acting
coroner, empannelled the jury for the
investigation early yesterday morning,
as follows: T. W. Manning, H. c.
Sheppard. Thompson Powell, r. B. Far
rell. Irwin Stewart and j. 7. Foster.
The jury reached the Mason house
about nine o'clock, and after viewing
the remains of the dead boy and max
ing an examination Of the locality, ad"
iourned to the residence of William
Burley, about a quarter of mile away,
where the taking of evidence was COM
menced w. NJ Meighen represented
the State. An enormous crowd was
present.
The first witness examined was Mrs.
Mason, the mother of the children.
She said she left home between seven
ard eight o'clock Tuesday morning to
go to Mrs. Roberts. where she was to
work during the day. Mr. and Mrs.
Roberts were to leave on the afternoon
train, which left the Moundsville sta
ticn about twenty minutes after four
and after the couple had left the house
for the depot witness said she remained
about until seven o'clock, and then
STARTED FOR HOME,
carrying a heavy basket. After Mr..
and Mrs. Roberts left she said she was
out on the road in front of the house,
where she was seen and recognized by
q man who passed On her way home,
just after seven o'clock, and when she
was but a short distance from Roberts
she was passed by man hauling
load of lumber He noticed her heavy
basket, and asked her to ride. She
said no, but she placed her basket on
the wagon and walked beside it. She
reached home before eight o'clock, and
the first thing she noticed was that the
chicken house was open, very unusual
thing. She went TO the door, and
found it shut but not locked. She
opened the door and went in and called
to the children, but they did not an
swer She then went out again and
called. when she heard Willie answer.
She followed in the direction Of the
noise, and found him lying on the
ground,
COVERED WITH BLOOD
and badly hurt. She said Willie said:
"Stanley's hurried, too. A big man tried
to kill us" She screamed for help,
and Charles Golden came, followed by
II. H. Cox. She said she told them
what she had found, and Golden went
in search of the other boy, she telling
him where to go, explaining that she
knew because she had heard him groan
when she ran to Willie.
Mrs. Mason was then told to stand
aside for a time, and DR.. Steel and the
other attending physicians testified.
They stated in general terms that the
wounds must have been inflicted about
five hours before they saw the boys,
which was about ten o'clock at night.
This would fix the crime at about four
or half-past four in the afternoon.
George Edwards was next called, and
testified to visiting the house among
the first, and then going for the doc
tors. He said he started down the
road past the corn field. and when he
came to a rail pile tall man. wearing
a light coat and white hat, and who
apparel to be muttering TO himself,
sprang out and
HIT HIM WITH A CLUB.