Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-09-12

On the evening of the ed of August
the air compressor at the tunnel being
cut by the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road at Wilcox Station, on the Pitts
burg division of the road named, about
ten miles this side of Pittsburg, was
murdered by an unknown negro, who
succeeded in making his escape.
There was great deal Of disorder
about the tunnel from the preceding
Saturday, which was pay day. On
Wednesday evening Lawler was sit
ting on his front steps, near the works,
when negroi approached, and asked
him if he was t"going to shoot Law
Ter replied thatshe had no such idea,
when the negro said: Il will, then,
and drawing revolver fired, the ball
crashing through LAWYERS head, kill
ing him instantly. The negro then
robbed the dead body of watch and
some money and leisurely took his de-
parture up hills and through an or
chard, stopping twice to stand off the
pursuing crowds with his revolver. The
murder created, the greatest excitement
in the locality, and a small race war
was narrowly averted.
A fair description of the murderer
was procured, and the police of this city
as we'll as other towns, were supplied
with it. Since then the local officers
have been, on theslookout for the muir
derer.
Late last night Officer William Turn
er fell in with a man who appeared to
answer the general description, and
arrested him. At the City Hall he
gave his name as Cliff Meggin-
son, alias James Reed, alias Brown,
alias Jersey Red. He had on
a pair of trousers which correspond
ed to the description of the clothing
worn by the murderer, and then came
the problem of ascertaining where he
was stopping. He was finally located
at William Walkers, on Water street,
and search of his room revealed 9TH
er clothing, also corresponding with
the description, and "A calibre re-
volver.
The Pittsburg authorities were at
once communicated with and an officer
will come down this morning. The po-
lice are pretty confident they have the
right man.
A Register reporter this morning in
terviewed the prisoner, who is a mulat-
to, twenty-one years of age, about five
feet, 10 inches in height and weighing
about one hundred and sixty pounds
He answered the various questions put
to him without hesitancy and seemed
to be not effected in the least over his
arrest, maintaining that he was perfect
ly innocent of any charge of serious
nature that might be preferred against
him. He was attired in a presentable
suit of dark color and conducted him
self in manner quite becoming to his
race as far as courtliness is concerned.
According to his story ''he is native
of Appomatox, Va, and has been away
from home for the past eleven years,
having left for other points shortly afr
ter the death of his mother During
that time he travelled from place to
place with no particular object in view.
Being acquainted with no trade, he
was compelled to turn his hand to any
sort of manual labor that he could Sc
cure in his travelling around.
He gave his real name as Cliff Meg
ginson and stated that on the 23d of
August. he was with his sister, Miss
Ida Megginon, at Richmond, Va.
He also said that his father. Joe
Moore, white man, is at present run
ming a saloon at Appomattox AS to
the clothing and revolver figuring in
the case, the prisoner had nothing to
say.
In speaking of the description which
figured in the arrest he said that he