Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-01-27
PROGRESS OF MURDER Trial
THE ENTIRE DAY YESTERDAY
GIVEN UP TO THE HEARING
OF, EVIDENCE.
DEFENDANT ON THE STAND.
prfIler Denied All Knowledge of
How Dittmore Me- His Fate, and
Said He Did Not Kill Him-Mrs.
Parker Called to Testify Twice
During the Day-in Outline of the
Evidence.

TX " >
Evidence.
In the Criminal Court, Judge Hugus,
yesterday, the entire time of the session
was given up to the hearing Of the evil
dence. About moo the State rested it's
case, and the most of the afternoon was
given up to the defense, the State clos
ing the day with evidence in rebuttal.
Features of the session were the testi-
mony Of Mrs. Parker and of the de-
PENDANT himself. Mrs. Parker was
called a second time, late in the morn
ing, by the State, and in the afternoon
the defense had her take the stand. The
last witness for the defendant was the
accused himself, but his examination
developed nothing sensational.
The first witness at the morning ses-
sion was C. S. Greer, J.. p, who drew
the bill of sale for the boat from Drill
Ter to Watkins.
He was followed by August Fred
CItCh, WIN OOIdlICQ Ilc lOCdllOn VI L40
houseboat on the Ohio side of the
river.
John Watkins was the third witness
called to the stand. His home was
near Washington, Pa. He came to this
city July Sd last, crossed to the Ohio
side over the bridges, and went down
TO West Wheeling. His object was to
buy a house-bcat, in which to make a
trading trip down the river. Witness
said he inspected two boats. and then
came to a third at Whisky run. He
went on board of this craft.
Q.-What did you see there? A
/ Well, l saw a woman lying on the floor
on a mattress.
Q.-Was there anything peculiar
about her appearance? A.-She had a
terrible black eye and her arms and
legs were bruised.
Odd you see anything else? A
No, not that l remember of.
Dwell, then what did you do?-A.
We went to Squire Greer's where we
had a bill of sale drawn UP.
Q.-Then what happened? A.-Dril-
Ter appeared to be nervous, but after
the sale was made he bought a key of
beer and said he would set it up on the
Lead of the boat.
Witness said on the way to the river
with the beer they met a tramp, who
asked to be taken over the river, and
they accommodated him. He went to
the boat-house, when they tapped the
beer. While this was going on Driller
pointed to Mrs. Parker and said:
Look at her black eye; l gave her
that" Mrs. Parker replied: mo, you
didn't; Dirty did it." Witness then
said that Driller responded that while
he was away Dittmore came to the boat
and beat Mrs. Parker. When Dittmore
came back Driller asked him why he
had attacked the woman. Dittmore
said: $50 help me-" when Driller
said he Smashed" him and knocked
him in the river, and when he got out
I smashed him again, and when he got
up l smashed him again." Witness
said ttat while this was being told him
by Desller Mrs. Parker was on the boat,
spending most of her time on a mat
tress sying on the floor.
NJ norIvA~ xrvo~ ro,,~h% s~40 ~
Court room and was identified by wit
ness.
Thu cross-examination was a long
one. He was followed by Police Lieu
tenang George Devinney and Chief
Clemssns, and then Adolph Schmidt,
who was on the stand Thursday, was
recalled. He saw the party, including
the tamp, crossing the river in the
johnkpat, with the beer.
Scott Davis and William Miller tes-
titled briefly, and then Mrs. Parker was
recalled, but little that was new was
elicitL from the woman.
Thu last witness for the State was
Barney Metzger, and at the ~conclus-
ion 81 his testimony the State rested
its case.
The first witness for the defense was
Elsie Dunkers, who testified generally
to tho friendship existing between the
deceased and defendant. He was fol-
lowee by DR.. Plant, who was called
as an expert to answer questions rela-
tive so the wounds, the condition of
the kody of the deceased, etc.
John Mclaughlin followed, with evil
dence as to the friendship existing be-
tweey the two men, and he was in
turn succeeded by Thomas McLaugh-
lin, a brother, who had known both
men for about eighteen years, and
who said they were close friends and
chums, and had been for about as long
as witness knew them. He had seen
them together frequently, the last
time about three weeks before Dit
mores death. AS to Dittmore's hab-