Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-03-27

4OAAcC WOIAl4S haE0 oA tAC .
Yesterday morning the people of
Bellaire were shocked to hear of what
seems to be a most mysterious muir
der.
Early in the morning as some of the
miners of the Bellaire Steel Company
were going to work, and were taking
into the mine several empty cars, and
while they were passing under the
bridge on Noble street at the foot of
the cut in Gravel Hill. they found a
mar on the ground between the track
and the bridge wall, sitting with both
feet under him and both hands in his
pants pockets. He was in the posi-
lion commonly known as the tailor
fashion" The men in the car went to
the body and were Mortified to find
one side of his face a mass of blood,
with a bullet hole on the right tenn
pie.
The workmen soon notified Marshal
Johnson and Coroner Beetham, who
were soon on the ground. The man
was identified as William Lopeman,
who is a well known bottle blower and
was employed at the Bellaire Bottle
Company's works. He was about TWEEN
ty-fve years of age and has spent most
of his life in Bellaire, was married
and has one child, but for some time
he and his wife have been separated.
The body was removed to Grafton's
undertaking establishment where an
autopsy was held by Coroner Beetham.
1t was found the ball was a 80 calibre
and had entered the right temple about
n and a half inches from the ear,
the ball lodging against the skull on
the left side. After the autopsy the
body was taken to his parents home
on Jefferson street, Gravel Hill.
Lopeman was a young man who was
always in a good humor and very jov-
ial. He had many friends, and it is not
known that he had any enemies. For
several weeks he had been drinking
heavily, and was last seen Sunday
night between eleven and one o'clock.
About eleven o'clock that night he,
with Richard Kane and Frank Sutton,
left Bolte's saloon on North Noble
street, near the c.. L. & w. crossing,
and it is said Lopeman was not drunk.
The following is the story of his two
associates:
They say that Sutton and Lopeman
started to take Kane home, on Gravel
Hill, and Sutton states that when with
in a square of the house Lopeman
stopped and Sutton took Kane to his
door. Sutton says that was the last
ne saw of the unfortunate man. Kane
states he was too much under the in
fiuence of drink to know what became
of Lopeman, and only realized that
he was home when at the door.
This is the end of the history of the
case until the dead body was found
under the bridge.
Many theories and tales were afoat
yesterday in Bellaire. Some claimed it
was a case of suicide, but this hardly
looks possible, as a revolver was pick
ed up over $50 feet from where the
body was found, with two loaded
shells and n empty one in it. The
balls in the cartridges are the same
as the that killed Lopeman. The
revolver was of the bull dog pattern
and the make vas Stephens. The gun
was very old. having nearly all the
nickel worn off.
Constable Barnard found the gun
and it was down in the earth a con-
siderable distance, which would indi-
cate that it had been thrown with con-
siderable force. The weapon was evil
IDENTIFY discharged close to the dead
mans head. as the hair was singed.
That it could be possible for the man
to have shot himself and walked that
distance, and put his hands in his
pockets looks almost incredible and
few are of the opinion that it was sui
eide.
Many think the man was murdered
man carried under the bridge, and
some say there vas a woman in the
case, but with all the floating stories no
clue to who did the deed has been
found that the public has any know
ledge of, but late last night it was
learned that the police had a good clue
and that arrests would soon be made.
The police are working on the case and
will try to ferret out the guilty party.
The coroner will hold his inquest to-
day and has summoned many witness
es, and the hearing will most likely be
a large one.
That it was murder few doubt, and
the citizens are much worked I'D and
hope that the guilty party will be
found.
Reduced prices on Music Cabinets
for next 10 days. Come in, our stock
will please you.