Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-06-30


vile yesterday, and the court room was
filled with spectators anxious to hear
the story told by the defendant. He
was placed on the witness stand about
$50 and his examination was not COM
pleted when. court adjourned for noon.
Lutes was on the stand for two and
one-half hours and remained cool
throughout that time, only displaying a
little temper occasionally in answering
questions on the ross-examination.
When court convened after noon, Col.
]. E. Hooten, counsel for the defense.
asked that the case be continued until
Monday. He stated that his brother. ].
c. Hooton, postmaster at Rowlesburg,
had died suddenly on friday evening.
Because of this fact he could not give
the attention to the case that he should.
The State readily consented and the
jury was left in charge Of the sheriff
until tomorrow morning.
Lutes' story in substance follows:
/ have known Johnson Hammond
ever since l was small boy. On Sat
urday, the 18th of May, saw him and
his son Almer He wanted Almer to
go home with him. Almer said he
would have to go to McMecheR to get
his clothes. Hammond missed the 4. 80
o'clock train and left his basket at
Schumacher's Hammond, Almer and
myself went into the Arlington, where
he treated Almer and myself to beer.
l did not see his money. Almer asked
his father to loan him dollar He
said, You don't need any" The son
followed to the rear of the room and re-
marked to me, The old man has lots
of money, but the old whelp would not
loan me dollar" They went out and
did not see Hammond again that even
ing.
Early Sunday morning before | was
out of bed, the old man came to my
house and knocked at the door, | ask
ed, who is there?" and he said
Hammond" j got up and opened the
door He asked about his son and
wanted me to get him some whiskey,
which | refused to do. He spoke about
the Leroy, and l told him the Leroy
did not go down, that the City of
Wneellng took her trip. He SAID ''Oh,
Charley, you are crazy. Go back to bed
and finish your Sleep" and started to-
ward the railroad. | never saw him
dead or alive until / saw the body at
Schwab's factory on the next Saturday.
| went back to bed ana did not get up
for some time.
Early in the forenoon, after | had
gotten up an old man about my size
came and asked for something to eat.
went to the baker and got a loaf of
bread and gave him his breakfast Ea
helped me clean up after breakfast The
I'D man wanted whiskey and / got a
man to get me pint, but | did not
give the old man any, and he went
away.
On Sunday I saw W. B. Purdy, John
Henratta, Geo. Drake and others. Was
not at the house much during the re-
mainder OF the day. | got supper at
Tom higgins restaurant. Staid at
home that night and got breakfast at
Higgins.
Bert Evans asked me about the
money / had on Monday and | told him
i got it from John Henratta because !
did not think it was any of his business
where | got it. / may have told Lowe
the same.
/ got the money by hard labor.
saved it because had decided TO leave
Moundsville as whiskey was getting the
better of me. | had a letter from my
brother about a job at Marietta.
had saved a $40 bill, So bill, a 81 bill
and some change. | told people | was
broke" when | had money.
/ mad denied having gun or pistol
at home. / did have VIII Evans gun
but after / was arrested ] was uneasy
and thought | would not say anything
about it, but | reconsidered the matter
and told where it was
/ took the gun apart on Tuesday or
Wednesday before | was arrested, and
cleaning it, put it under the book case.
| said / had no cartridges and had
had none for two or three weeks but /
mad forgotten about getting three car
tridges from Will Evans. They were in
my vest pocket and had not worn the
vest for some time. I had borrowed
the gun to shoot cats.
On Tuesday morning / spaded In the
garden awhile, then meI my family at
Inc Train anu went W Tie SHOW Will
them in the evening.
/ paid the rent on Monday morning.
Gave Mrs. Snyder a s. bill that | had.
got $40 bin changed at Higgins,
getting S. bill, 81 Dill and balance
in SILVER. The s. bill gave Anten was
the LII | got al Higgins.
On Sunday, after was arrested. Bert
Evans came 10 the cell in Jail and said,
How do you feel?" ! said, Pretty
badly" Then Evans told me that my
friends had deserted me and IL / was
guilty / had better confess and he'd
help me out. / told him | was not
guilty and had nothing to confess.
| went TO Pownatan on Monday. /
did not go to Graysville. as | had in
tended TO do so. because hurt my foot
saw Alt Baker at the spring. I'VE had
a drink together. I had some silver
wrapped In some bills IN my watch
fob pocket It slipped down ny trous-
ers leg into the top of my shoe. stoop-
ed over and got and made a remark
about ii TO Baker.
He had talked ahou. Hammonds
murder with his companions on the rail-
road on Friday evening ter they heard