Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-11-24

MAN.
The hearing of Quincy Cramblett,
which dwarfed every other event in
Mt. Pleasant, came to a termination
about three o'clock yesterday, when
after two days trial he was held,
charged with murder in the first kle-
gree, the victim being. James H. Cos
nell, who was assassinated while sit
ting reading in his kitchen over two
weeks ago.
The trial had many features worthy
of mention. At no time was the ac-
eused shown to have single motive
for shooting Gosnell Instead they
were shown to be good friends and
neighbors. At no time have the wild
ow or daughters made any remark
showing that they considered Cramblett
the red handed murderer The love af-
fairs of the daughters were ruthlessly
thrown open to the public gaze and
every word and action of the girls and
their best men was produced where
possible, and to this choice morsel the
feminine part of the large audience
both days listended with bated
breath. Their love trysts were sacred
and it was indelcate to go into them,
but the lawyers probed down deep.
Cramblett, according to those who
talked with him before he was repre-
sented by an attorney and cautioned,
showed remarkable candor, or as he
put it to one, he could not see when
he was innocent how the truth would
hurt him."
He avoided talking about his love af
fairs, but the prosecution wanted a
love story and disappointment of the
sutton to weave the chain of circum-
stantial evidence around. and SO this
gate was opened for the morbidly curl
Gus and gossips to regale their CONVEX
sational palates with. The extent to
which the amateur detectives have
pushed their investigation to earn the
blood money has created feeling Of
bitterness against them and in favor of
the accused. The feeling generally in
Mt. Pleasant favors the prisoner, and
it seems as if another trial at great cost
to the taxpayers of Jefferson county is
to be undertaken with no hopes of a
conviction except on evidence of far
fetched nature. little sayings and doings
being shreWdly turned to account by the
men who set about to earn the reward.
Cramblett's behavior throughout has
been that CT a man who is worried by
the SUSPENSE, and none can say his ac-
tons were those of a guilty man. The
trial has not seemed serious because of
the trivial evidence adduced against
Cramblett, and the audience has laugh
ed and applauded as the testimony
struck their fancy, and this has seemed
strange to the widow and daughters of
the murdered man. None condone the
terrible crime, but they ridicule the idea
that the evidence against Cramblett is
serious or eliminating. The people
were so interested in hearing the trial
that a popular subscription was started
and money raised to hire the hall so all
could attend and hear.
The conclusion of the hearing was
worthy of note on account of unusual
demonstrations when f. e. Erskine
arose and spoke of the dearth of evil
dence against Cramblett, and there was
a general smile Of approval. When he
grew eloquent in picturing Cramblett's
devotion to the family, staying there
and working from the night Of the MUIR
der until after the funeral, the audience
watching beside the dead body Of the
man without guilty action or fear,
there was more applause, especially
when he said ''the guilty man would
have trembled like an aspen at the
sight of his victim, wouldn't he Rain
bow" and pointed his finger at Rain
bow. When he closed, picturing Cram
blett a free man after a trial and back
at the home place, the applause shook
the building.
Prosecuting Attorney Lewis closed
with an appeal for holding Cramblett
and his eloquent passages were like
wise applauded. 1t was two big days
in Mt Peasants history, and they en-
joyed the sensation and wished for
more.
Robert Chambers, the first witness
yesterday, stated that Cramblett had
told him he used a wad cut out OF an
old felt hat in his gun. Dr. McGlenn
told of examining Cramblett's shoulder
to look for bruise from the heavily
loaded gun. Cramblett had cut on
his nose, which he said was caused by
a pimple.
Constable Stout McMasters said
Cramblett told him he was in love
with Gosnell's daughter, but never pro-
posed marriage to her. The defendants
attorney opened the ball by exelaim-
ing: You old gray haired man. in
quiring into love affairs; he would not
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