Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-12-01

When the Criminal Court adjourned
last evening, all the preliminaries for
the trial of tho case of State v. John
son and Devinney, indicted for the
murder of Charles Mclaughlin, on the
afternoon of the 9th of last September
had been completed, and this morning
the first witness for the State will be
called.
The jury as selected, was:
Edward Ramp, J. P. McCammon.
George Oldham, H c.. Smith,
David Wilson, JACOB Otto,
. Charles Becker w. H Kasley,
John Hercules, f. j. Kenamond.
After these twelve men had been
chosen and sworn and the remainder
of the panel had been dismissed, the
Court, jurors and counsel, officials,
etc., visited the scene of the murder,
and also the corner of Twenty-second
and Main streets, the Parker block at
Twenty-ffth street, and some ether
localities which will figure in the
trial. This trip necessarily occupied a
considerable amount of time, and on
the return to the Court House an adj
journment was taken until two O'Clock.
At the afternoon session the attend
ance of spectators was very great, SER
iously taxing the capacity of the Court
room. The indications are that the
trial will last something like two
weeks, and will be full of interest from
first to last
When Court convened for the after
noon session the witnesses were cal
led, sworn, and excluded.
The witnesses in behalf of the State
were as follows: Miss Gussie Wilkie,
Ed. Dailer, Peter Conner, 'Lovey'
Meehan, F. H. Theirs, Louis Theirs,
Lizzie Foley, Andy Robinson, Mrs.
Annie Shriver, Fay Shriver, L. G.
Nixon, E. L. Armbrecht, Will Craig,
Will Dehmer, Clarence Bellville, Sam
uel Young, H. F. Behrens, Frank
Mclaughlin, Abe Boston, B. Mehan,
Henry Deringer, Jas. H. Hannah. j.
E. Parnell, Carl limerick, VIM. Char
mock, W. L. Brice, Jacob Taylor, Frank
Kaltz, Ed. McGill, John M. Shorts,
Edward Hughes, John L. Henry, H.
Fl. Alexander, Geo. B. Caldwell, D. J.
Lawson, John w. Kindleberger, G. M.
Fr;ssell, DR.. E. l.. Armbrecht, A. T.
Kurner, John Bachman, Ellie Denigan,
Henry Knapp, John Charleton, Theo-
dore Brinkemeyer, w. B. Strong, Sarah
Cline, Pat Corners and Peter Conner.
The witnesses for defense were:
Mrs. josephine Combs, James Morrow,
Mrs. Emma Parker, Benz. Frazier,
VIM. M. Handlan, Thos. Coffee, Annie
Kilsey, Mike Newhardt, Thos. Nc
Comes, Turkey" Burke, Eddie Daily
and Annie Riley.
The opening statement for the State
was commenced at twenty-five min
utes after two o'clock by Prosecuting
Attorney Meyer. He began by saying
the indictment charged Clarence John
son and Hugh Devinney, on the 9th
day of September, 1898, with the felo-
NOUS, malicious, wilful and unlawful
murder Of Charles Mclaughlin, shoot
ing him down on the public streets Of
the city of Wheeling. The victim, with
his brother. Frank Young and VIM.
Craig were coming south on the west
side of Market street. They were closely
followed by the defendants, and when
about opposite the photograph gallery
l,
Johnson say: There they are; give it
to them!" This was followed by two
shots, fired in rapid succession, while
Clarence Johnson wheeled into
the street and also fired in
rapid succession. When the first shots
we're fired the four boys had their
backs to the defendants. The party
was assaulted without any provocation,
and one of their number was killed.
After the shooting was over Clarence
Johnson walked to the curb, and there
was joined by Devinney, and just as
to Devinney. They then walked up
street together, apparently uncon-
cerned and free from anxiety. They
turned down South street to Baer's
grocery, walked walked behind the
dASIC VI tlAC IOl a ulOHcul,
then crossed to the north side of Six
teenth street, and then Devinney again
passed a revolver to Johnson. They
then walked up the north side of Six
teenth street to the City Hall, went to
the basement, were there arrested and
the Deputy Sheriff found a revolver on
Devinney While they were on South
street one of the men was working
with fha roun7uor
the chamber on the right Of the trigger
was loaded, the one on the
left was loaded, the one on
which the hammer rested was
blank, not even having an empty shell
in it. The crime was committed about
half-past two o'clock in the afternoon.
AS to the motive, Mer. Meyers said
Johnson and Devinney were close
friends, and in the last year or two
it was a matter of public rumor that