Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-02-28

Interest throughout the northern por-
ton OF the county was very great, yes
terday in the outrageous robbery of
the Pape brothers, at their home on the
north fork of Short creek, near West
Liberty, and the entire surrounding
country was in an excited state all day.
Copies of the Register, with its full
account of the robbery, were in extern
sive demand, not only in the country,
but in the city as well, and the regular
edition was speedily exhausted.
The county authorities took early
action in the hope of capturing the
robbers. During the morning Sheriff
Richards sent Deputy Lyle out to the
scene Of the crime, with instructions to
make thorough investigation of the
facts, and frequent telephone messages
were exchanged between the Court
House and West Liberty. A majority
of the Board Of Commissioners also
got together and offered a reward Of
five hundred dollars for the arrest and
conviction of the criminals, to which
the Pape brothers added three hundred,
sufficient to enlist the services of first
class talent in the chase.
The three stolen horses, upon which
the robbers made their escape, were
actively searched for, as it was GER
tain, as pointed out in the Register,
that the criminals would only use the
animals as far as the nearest railroad
and there abandon them, and yesterday
it was suggested in this paper that they
either made for the river or across the
country to the line of the Baltimore
and Ohio road. The former suggestion
is what actually occurred, for the
horses, covered with mud after hard
ride, were found at the mouth Of
Short creek, on the line of the Pan
Handle, yesterday morning.
This definitely indicated the direc-
ton taken by the thieves, and a fur
Their investigation showed that three
men, all strangers were seen at the
mouth of Short Creek Sunday after
noon, and were observed to go up the
creek. Two were described as being
rather short men, and the third consid-
erably taller. Enquiry on the Ohio
side of the river elected the informa
ton that the same three men had been
sen at the mouth of Glenn's Run, about
two miles above Martins Ferry, and it
was then conjectured, with cOnSidera-
BILE show of plausibility, that they were
the same gang of three who entered
the house of Mrs. James Moore, at
Scotch Ridge, three miles back of Mar
tins Ferry, Saturday evening, and who
ransacked the house. meanwhile keep
ing Mr.. and Mrs. Moore quiet at the
muzzles of revolvers. These men were
masked in the same manner as the I'M
welcome visitors at the Pape residence,
and were undoubtedly the same crowd.
At the Moore residence they only OBJ
tanned about ten dollars, but had much
better success at Pape's, the amount
there stolen being placed yesterday at
four hundred dollars.
1t is the idea of the local officials
that the gang is not made up of for
eign talent, but hail from this city, or
some of the towns within twenty miles
on the Ohio side of the river. That
they were cOnyersant with-the habit
Of the Pape brothers of keeping money
in the house is evident, and it is not
improbable that local crooks were the
artists. Yesterday morning at an early
hour the police who were vigilant all
night, overhauled three men in a bug
gy, men and rig being covered with
mud but the parties gave good ac-
count OF themselves, and were releas-
ed
Henry Pape was reported as doing
reasonably well yesterday, and his re-
covery from the severe injuries he re-
ceived is undoubted. The brothers are
very well known in Wheeling, one of
them working for the Reymann Brew
ing Company for years, while the other
was also engaged in business here In
town. AS result, they have many
friends here.