The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-11-05
SELF DEFENSE TO
BE PLEA OF MOORE
MAR s HALL COUNTY MURDER
CASE OoENED YESTERDAY
MORNING
Jury Was Secured at Morning Session
Four Witnesses Testified Dur
ing Afternoon.
THE JURY

FARMER, miner.
A. G. Yoho. OF Woodland. farmer.
j. G. Norman. OF sand Hin, farmer.
Theodore Richmond. of Glen Easton,
farmer.
J. r. Fox. OF Lynn Camp. farmef
George F. Fish. OF Liberty district,
farmer.
F. A. DOMAIN. OF Dry Ridge. Web
ster district. farmer.
W. a. Dobbs. OF Glen Easton. farmer.
w. VI. Jones. OF Cameron.
:. l.. Crider. OF Dallas, merchant.
Il, b. Elder. OF Calls. farmer.
The trial OF the state OF West Vir-
giniI against Al Moore. charged with
the murder 90 William Am and Harry
l.. Purdy. was opened yesterday morn
ing In the Marshall County Circuit
court AT MOundsville. Following the
reading OF the list of Witnesses. many
doctors names. unfamiliar to Mounds
Vile persons. were read. leading them
TO believe that insanity would be the
plea. but Attorney Martin Brown in
his opening statement sprung a sur
prise when he intlmated that the
Grounds Of defense would be self de-
Tense.
Only twenty-six jurors were called
20 the box before the panel was com
pleted. Three OF the jurors were OK
cused they held conscientious scruples
against imposing capital punishment
Two we're excused because they mad
formed an opinion and we're not Ger.
tain they could disregard this opinion
in deciding the case according to the
evidence
Prosecuting Attorney parriott elect
ed 20 try Moore on the second indict-
ment charging him with the murder
OF Harry l.. Purdy. Parriott stated in
his opening statement "A year axo
the defendant lost q fishing net
Purdy and Arm we're accused OF taking
~. he threatened them and stated that
he would kin them They had broken
camp and were about ~ leave ARA
and Purdy had just rowed across he
river and were sitting In the boat.
Moore rowed up beside their boat and
said they had better put that net IN
bis boat Words followed and Moore
picked up a gun and commenced mr..
ms. Moore drew tho rsln on Roy NJ
GIN and Mrs.. McGm threw herself In
front Of her husband lie lowered
ne gun and rOwed across the river"
ssfDefsnss.
Martin Brown then spoke for the
defendant and said, There are two
sides and two theories. the state has
presented its side and 7 Will pressnt
ours. The fact that The defendant
shot Harry Purdy D. not evidence that
ne committed murder or any crime d"
He described the defendant as a fish
erman. coal miner. and his wife a. a
maker o. fish nets "Purdy and Arm
took the net" he said. and then de-.
MED ~ PuTdy went % Moore's house
twice on that day 10 tell him be took
the net Moore told Purdy he ala not
want anything 10 DO with him Arm
had a knife and Purdy an oar Nc.
1iI vas running down the shore throw.
ing rocks AZ Moore Moore fired A.
Purdy until he fell or stopped striking
MIN with The oar Moore Intended To-
give himself % but was advised that
~ ~oul~be mObbed When he vas
arrested. he came voluntarily % This
side ~ The river re vas taken 10
ne penintentiary FOR safe Keeping
- 1880 O'Clock The court. together
With The jury and prisoner ieft FOR
the scene ~ the shooting The ffrot
Wifneee vas called a. 7 70 O'Clock
Flrst Witness
~ - O'Clock H0v WcCm waa
called ~ fhe fret witness Tor fbs
stare Gave his name and residence