Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-24

dIly Gu OCCUR.
The speeches commenced one after
noon shortly after the court had recon-
vened after the noon recess. One of
the counsel for Winn opened the argu-
ment and spoke about an hour. He
was followed by John Cross, who rep
resented Reed. Cross made a bitter
speech. He had been in the case since
its inception and had imbibed much of
the animosity of his client Possessed
of caustic tongue, he pointed it with
singing invective hurled at Winn and
his most important witnesses. Partic-
ularly cid he apply the lash to Berry
VIM, son of Newton VIM. Young
VIM sat directly behind his father, and
from time to time Cross would turn
from the jury and emphasize his re-
marks by shaking his finger at the
young man almost over the head of his
father. Cross insinuations. as well as
the accompanying gestures, evidently
intensely aggravated VIM, who seem
ed number of times about to rise
from his seat. His sen and a friend
who sat near him restrained him.
Shortly before 5 o'clock the climax
came. 1t had been a beautiful summer
day, and the declining sun cast a food
OF yellow light aslant across the court
ROOM gliding the bare walls with
borrowed splendor. The room was
packed with people, who listened to the
proceedings with breathless interest.
Even the space reserved for the jury.
lawyers, litigants and officers of the
court was completely TANNED Judge
Herndon sat half obscured by the
bench, laZily listening, as he gently tilt
ed his chair to and fro, to the words of
the man pleading at the bar. To the
right of the jury box Reed was seated
almost isolated from his attorneys and
friends. Ten feet distant sat VIM,
his son Berry just behind and one OF
his lawyers at his left elbow. Winn
was directly facing the jury, and when
Cross, in his speech, wanted to get a
look at him he had to turn entirely
around. Clerk J. l.. Freeland sat at
his desk Just behind VIM, and still
further away Sheriff Oscar Berry lean
ed idly with his elbow On his tall desk
keeping the entire scene in his eye
Cross had just delivered a particular
ly scathing sentence rejecting on Berry
Winn and turned aralnd as usual. to
do it. Newton WINS face grew white
under the lash of Cross tongue, and he
rose from his seat. With a muffled ex-
clamation he struck Cross violent
blow in the face. The blow did not
land solidly. but it had sufficient force
to send Cross reeling against a juror.
Before Winn could strike again some
thing unexpected happened.
At the first offensive move on the
part of VIM, Reed sprang to his feet
Eye witnesses say that his face was as
white as a sheet and his eyes glowed
like Goals. In both hands he grasped
a Colts revolver of the largest calibre.
This he levelled at VIM, and before
any of the numerous hands that were
extended could grasp him, he fired. The
heavy bullet struck VIM in the abdo-
men, tore hole entirely through his
body and ripped up the carpet. on the
platform of the judges bench. Winn
reeled, but did not fall. He was IN
armed, but seized a chair and made an
effort to reach his enemy. Reed SEEM
ed to become mailman. He fired two
more shots before he was overpowered.
The second shot broke Winn's right
arm and entered the wall few inches
from Judge Herndon's head The third
shot missed its object and entered the
woodwork of Judges desk
For few moments there was pande-
monium. A dozen guns were drawn
and wholesale slaughter was immi-
nent. There was wild scramble to get
out of range of bullets; for everybody
anticipated that the firing would be-
come general. Judge Herndon stood up
and pounded for order The Sheriff
and his deputies did not lose their
heads, and in few moments partial
order was restored and the court room
cleared. VIM sank to the floor in
front Of the chair in which he was sit
ting. Reed stood coolly waiting for
the officers to arrest him, but refused to
give up his smoking gun until guaran-
teed protection from the vengeance OF