The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-05-09
CLARINGTON CASE
OPENS IN COURT
WHITE SLAVE CHARGE AGAINST
THREE MEN PROMISES TO
BE LONG TRIAL.
First Witness wal Placed on Stand
Late Yesterday Afternoon
Continues Case Today.

May term or FEDERAL court mere came
TO trial yesterday afternoon when
Ihad Abrigg. James Sykes snd Had
ley farrier were called to answer 10
the charge OF unlawfully Transporting
Martha Moore. a country girl OF nea
Welcome. w. Va. from Darlington. %.
TO Welcome. W. Va. an dlater from
TO Welcome. W Va. and later from
was called about 2 30 o'clock yes
terday afternoon. When adjournment
was taken at 8 o'clock only three wit
nesses a been examined. The indi-
cations were that the case will not
be concluded before late today. and
probably not before Monday or Tues
day OF next week.
The ase Is being heard before
Judge Aston c.. Dayton. The pros
ecution is being conducted by Assis-
tant District Attorneys Harry u. By
rer and j. J. T.. OfBrien. Former
Prosecuting Attorney ]. II. Handlan
Is chief counsel for the defendants
and Is being assisted by Fred o..
Maury. Attorney Abrigg. OF Marietta.
and $. o. Boyre.
II required but a comparatively
short time to empanel q jury. the fol-
lowing being accepted. Jesse r..
Bane. OF Cameron VIM. l.. Courtright
Cameron: jacob Co1ield. Pleasant
Valley. Marshall county, Taylor Trus
sell, Elm Grove. Frank 4. Hunter.
T~riadelphia; George b. Moore. Tria-
delphia. William Stevens. Elm Grove:
Andrew {. Bowers. Cheat Haven: VIM
VI W~erkheiser. Chester: George VI.
Foreman. Morgantown. John Chap
man. Jr, Glen Easton: and Richard
W. Luke. Sand Hill. Marshall County.
Opening Statements.
In starting the case for the govern
ment. Assistant District Attorney
Dryer said the men are charged with
transporting Martha Moore from one
state 20 another In violation Of the
Mann white slave act Indictments
were returned by the grand Jury in
three sets. he said. The first set OF
three counts charges unlawful trans
portation from Clarington. O.. to Wei
come, W. Va. while the second set OF
three counts charges the same trans
portation from Welsome TO C!aring-
ton.
Mr.. Dryer said that on November
IL. 1918. the girl went TO Darlington
10 visit her sister and TO make some
purchases in Clarington stores. Re
%turnin- homo In the evening on the
ferry boat. she was urged and induced
10 remain on the boat. he said. The
boat made a number OF trims from
shore To shore. There was some
liquor on board. he said. and members
OF the party became under its infu-
ence. The river was AZ a rather high
stage and during the night something
about the boats engine broke. causing
the boat TO drift Downstream. A dis
tress signal was blown and a dredge
boat came 10 the ferry boats rescue.
He charged Thad Albrigg with the Sc
rious ohense.
Attorney J. n. Handlan. in stating
the case for the defense. denied the
charges. He said that Thad Abrigg
happened 10 be on the boat becaus
his brother. who Was its regular pilot
was away at the time. and Thad was
running n IN his absence. Jane,
Sykes had no connection with the
boat. he said being there merely by
accident, while Hadley Farrier was
the regular engineer on the craft.
First Witness.
Mary Moore. sister OF the girl In
the case. was the first witness called
Her testimony related 20 the mental
condition Of Martha Moore. Martha
was next called. She stated her age
a. q years. She was questioned
events Of the night She denied that
the men had told her TO leave the boat
saying that they coaXed her TO re-
main on board She said that she
was kent on the boat until morning
She told OF Abri-g's actions. and
snd wanted 10 follow Abrigg's eX-
ample
An important point was established
ia the testimony OF tho next. witness.
John Huherfeld. 81 Darlington. pro
prietor OF a milling business and
owner OF the boat The point was re-
garding the jurisdiction Of the court
and Is expected 20 determine wheth-
or or not the boats plving on the
river hetveon shore and short con
s%titutes traffic from one state TO an
other
Mr. Haber8eld vas asked n no
knew whore tho low water mark OF
the river Is and replied that he knew
approximately He was asked re-
garding tho stage 81 tho river the
night ~ November u. when the Of
Tense e. alleged 20 have been com
mitted. lie said n was several feet
higher than low water mark. At
'orney Handlan objected "a the ques
Ions being put 10 the witness. nut
his objections were ovorruled by
Judge DAYTON. Exceptions were
taken.
adjournment vas taken a. > o'clock
until THIS morning % 10 O'Clock ev-
oral witnesses remain IN be exam
lncd.