Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-12-13


Jack" Easton, well known through
out the base ball world, was lodged in
Jail at Martins Ferry yesterday ON
suspicion of being murderer. II
bomb shell had burst in the town
it could not have created any more
surprise than the news Of his arrest
and the crime of which he is sus-
pected.
The circumstances surrounding the
affair present grave appearance, and
were brought to light through the eff
forts of Marshal William Burns. About
ten days ago he received the news of
the murder, and description of the
murderer, also a photograph of the
man wanted. He began work on the
case, and the result is that Easton
was arrested, he answering the de-
scriptiOn of the man who committed
the crime. He was arrested about two
o'clock yesterday at the Aetna
Standard mill, where he has been
working, by Officers Guyder and Far
rang. When told Of the crime of which
he was suspected, he merely laughed.
The crime for which Easton is held,
is the murder of man named
Pitcher, living in the town Of Nassau,
Rensselaer, county, New York. 1t was
committed in the early part of last
September, but the full details Of the
affair are not known here at present.
The arrest is the result of clever
work by Marshal Burns. Easton and
his wife are supposed to have come
to Martins Ferry from the town of
Goshen, n. Y, as their household fur
niture was shipped from that place. 1t
was not shipped in Eastons name, but
under the name of Jack Murphy. A
large amount of the stuff was stored
away in the Harrison building, at the
corner of Fifth and Hanover streets,
while the remainder was taken by
EastOn to furnish his home in Aetna
vile.
The description received by the
marshal was a man of medium weight,
blue eyes, wearing a brown stiff hat,
double-breasted black coat and light
trousers. Easton tallies very closely
with this description in every partic-
ulad. The photograph in possession
of the marshal was recognized as Eas-
toms by his friends before they knew
Of his arrest. When questioned sep
arately by the marshal, both Eastor
and his wife told a different story CT
their travels. Easton, however does
not deny having been in New York
State at the time the crime was c)m-
mitted.
His many friends here do not believe
him guilty of the crime, but Marshal
Burns claims the evidence against him
now is far stronger than it was before
his arrest. He sent word to the au-
thorities at Naussau yesterday, and in
return was asked to send a good de-
scription Of his man, and should it be
all right they would secure requisition
papers for his return to New York
State and come after him. Two hum
dred and fifty dollars is offered for the
arrest and conviction Of the murderer.
The marshal has been making quite
a name for himself in the past few
months. Already he has $1,000 reward
due him from the Beaver county, Pa,
authorities for bringing about the ar
rest and conviction of Henry Kemp,
the murderer Of Carver. Since his con-
viction the Bellaire and Cambridge au-
thorites claim tie reward, but on poor
grounds. He was arrested at Cam
bridge and taken to Bellaire, where he
was wanted for robbery. He was SEN
fenced to the county Jail and it was
tiere that Marshal Burns worked his
case against him and caused his arrest
Jack Easton's friends in this vicinity
are legion and all feel confident that
he will have no difficulty in establish
ing his innocence.