The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-09-12

WEDNESDAY.
The fact that so many persons witt
messed the Johnson-D evlnney- NiuLaugh-
lin tragedy of last Friday afternoon Is
making It dIhcult to settle to the satls-
faction Of everybody who, Devlnney or
johnson. killed Charles Mclaughlin.
This uncertainty comes as a result Of
the eoroner's inquest held Saturday
evening, at which a large number of
eye-wltnesses to the tragedy testified.
Some OF these witnesses testified that
the shorter Of the two men CDevinney),
who was dressed In dark clothes and
wore a Derby hat, was firing at Nc
Laughlln. However. none of these wit
nesses, with possibly one or two excep-
tlons, knew Devinney and johnson by
sight, and In their descriptions of the
relative height and clothes worn by the
Two men, there were several contradlc-
lions, which will In a degree detract
from the value of their evidence at the
trial.
on the other hand, Constable John
N. Short gives the only clean-cut story
of the anair that is free from uncer-
tainty. Short is personally acquainted
with both men, and he relterates his
statement, made In Saturdays Intelll-
gencer. to the effect that when he look
ed in the direction OF the firing, John
son was swinging out into the street
and firing as he moved. He adds, too,
that Johnson's face bore smile Of sat-
isfaction as he stood near the body OF
Mclaughlin.
Speaking of the affair last night, Con-
stable Short said he believed he caught
his first view of the men after two shots
had been fred. He has a theory that
Devlnney fred the first and second
shots and then passed the gun to John
son. OF the first and second shots, one,
1t is believed, took effect, but 1t was
from johnson that the fatal shot came;
this shot. 1t will be remembered, pierced
both lungs.
A gentleman who Is Interested in the
case has sprung the theory that both
Devlnney and Johnson had guns and
used them, and that one OF them was
thrown over the fence into the creek.
1t is likely that the creek will be drag
ged TO ascertain whether or not this
theory is correct.
The g!assworkers' union, of Bridge
port, made up Of men employed in the
Crystal works, where Charles Nc
Laughlln was employed at the time Of
his death, will, 1t is said, employ a law
yer to assist and cooperate with Mr..
Meyer in the prosecution of the muir
derers. 1t Is further saId that the
glassworkers will employ Mr.. John A.
Howard, former prosecuting attorney,
who, by the way, during his term, pros
ecuted both Johnson and DevInney on
criminal charges.
At the inquest held by Coroner John
w. schultze, before a jury, on satur-
day night, large number of witnesses
were examined and their testimony was
most conflicting. The verdict brought
In by the jury was as follows:
1--WE, the Jury, find that Charles ].
Mclaughlin came to his death on the
9th day OF September, 1895, In the city
OF Wheeling. county OF Ohio, state Of
West Virginia, by a wound then and
there inflicted on the body of said
Charles j. Mclaughlin, which said
wound was caused by bullet fired
from a pistol in the hands Of either
| Clarence johnson or Hugh Devlnney.
The Jury further finds that the said
Clarence johnson and Hugh Devlnney
did then and there wllfully murder said
| Charles ]. Mclaughlin. In testimony
whereof, said coroner and Jurors here
| unto set their hands"
The preliminary judicial hearing was
to have been held Saturday morning at
10 o'clock before Justice ]. A. Dunnlng.
but at the request OF DevInney and
Johnson, who at that time were not rep
resented by counsel, Il was postponed
until next Wednesday afternoon at 2
O'Clock. Mr.. S. o. BoFce has been en-
gaged as counsel by the accused men
and viii appear for them at the hearing
on Wednesday afternoon.
Since the murder IN intense feeling
against the murdercrs has been evlnced
on the South Side. where the McLaugh-
lin boys ore well and quite faVorably
known. and this sentiment has been
growing ever since. on Friday night,
some OF the boys more violent adher-
ents we're talking Of taking the law into
their own hands by lynchlnG DcvinneF
and johnson, but they were talked out
OF this rash idea by cool-headed
friends. Yesterday afternoon, after the
funeral OF the victim, more Of the same
kind Of talk was heard, but It Is con-
fined to a few and does not represent
the sentiment OF the community, which
is that full measure OF justice will re-
suit from an abldance with law and or
der. Tailor Mccormick said last night
that he had heard OF the lynching talk
on the South Side but did not believe
that II was at all general, and he had
not considered II necessary TO increase
the number OF men on duty at the jail.
Even II there were an attempt to exc
cute swift Justice upon the accused
men. It would be almost impossible TO
obtain an entrance to tho county jail,
which Is built to resist a regiment II
necessary.
Nf,T ARC, tIT ING TFTTN.ERAT