Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-01-07

Alexander Gurley, charged with abb
, Quoting eig~ht-year-old Cecilia Peck
was given a hearing yesterday after
noon in the Office of the county jail by
Justice Larue. The office was filled
with witnesses and spectators, the lat
ter, for most part, being lawyers. The
steps leading to the jail Office was
crowded with spectators all during ths
hearing. Little Cecilia Peck was in
court, accompanied by her father and
Lille Rose, the companion who was
with her when Gurley first accosted
them. Gurley had no attorney, having
no means to secure one. Assistant
Prosecuting Attorney Nesbitt appeared
for the State. Shortly after 2 o'clock
Gurley was brought before the court,
! He appeared nervous and Ill at ease at
times glancing around ap~prehensively.
He maintained a surley silence during
almost the whole hearing, only speak
ing once or twice, while putting one OF
two questions to the Peck child after
the State had finished with the wit
ness.
Cecilia Peck was the first witness
called by Mr.. Nesbitt. On the stand to
Mr.. Nesbitt's interrogations she gave
| the account of her experience as has
been already published.
did you ever see this mar before?'
asked Mr.. Nesbitt, pointing to Gurley
Eyes, sir" was the answer. Il saw
him on Market street near the picture
gallery at the creek bridge"
Then in reply to questions put to her,
the witness said she was looking at
the pictures in the window with Lille
Rose. Gurley came up and asked il
she knew where Smiths lived. Wit
ness told him Smiths lived on McCol-
loch street. Gurley said he would give
the witness ten cents if she would take
him to the place. They crossed Market
street and UP Eighteenth street to the
end of the Terminal depot. From there
they passed over the railroad bridge
Witness did not want to go with Cur
lev but he told her to come along any
how, and catching hold OF her left arm
dragged her along. Gurley took the
girl into the tunnel in Chapline hill
In the tunnel he backed her In between
two posts and stood in front of her. A
man came along and asked Gurley fol
two matches. The man lighted n o.
them and saw the witness behind Cur.
ley. After some few words between
the two men the stranger passed on
Then Gurley took the witness oul
through the tunnel again. He pulled
her along and she made several at
tempts to get away from him but coulo
not do 1t. Gurley then took the wit
ness on the railroad and then over two
hills, not by the road, but through
woods and fields. After a time he
went in a house where there was
man and a grown boy. Gurley asked
to be allowed to get warm, and after
while went on. The two didn't STOP
anywhere until they got to Gurley's
home. where the witness said there was
a woman and three girls. 1t was II
the country, but it was too dark when
, they arrived for the witness to see
what kind of a house it was. When
asked if she was given any supper tne
witness said she was not. When asked
if Gurley had supper witness said she
could not say. Witness said they were
in the kitchen. Gurley didn't say The
the witness was, and nobody asked
Witness was only in the kitchen a III
tie while when she was put to bed.
Mr.. Nesbitt then put questions to the
girl pertaining to the criminal assault
which it is alleged was committed or
her.
The child looked nervous and scared
and answered. II don't know" to every
question. Finally the child after be-
ing turned in her chair so as not to
face the defendant she began a tear
full account of the whole dtstardly al
fair.
Continuing, the witness said they left
the house where they stayed all night
and ait half pass seven they stopped
at a house to warm themselves. Cur
lev was given coffee by the oma in
the house but offered the witness
none. They proceeded, after stopping
in the house about 20 minutes. to Elm
| Grove where Gurley put the girl on a
| car and sent her in to the city.
The defendant was then asked by the
] court if he wished to ask the witness
"When the woman gave us the coffee
I offered you seine, didn't IL asked
Gurley.
OF never said you were my girl
did y"
Ayes you did"
Q.-"when you were on the railroad
track l said. I'm going to run away
| from you, didn't II" Il wanted to
leave O and you wouldn't let me-
A.-"No."
The defendant said he didn't wish tc
| ask any mere questions and the witness
was dismissed.
Lille Rose was the next witness call
ed. She is a child about the age OF
| Celia Peck. and seems to have more
| than the average Intelligence for a
| child of her age. Witness corroborat-
| ed the story Of the meeting given by the
| Peck child. Witness said that the de-
| PENDANT told her to so uD Market to
| Sixteenth street and that he and Celia
would go out Eighteenth street and
meet her at Mccullough. The defen-
d.nt crossed Market street and started
I'D Eighteenth street and the witness
saw them no more.
The defendant did not put any cues