The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-11-22

he knew the officers wanted him for
serious crimes.
Joseph Raber, the man accused
met Luther Raber. the brother who
was later murdered, at 8 o'clock on
the morning of the day OF the mur:
der. AT this time Luther gave Jo.
seph his money amounting to about
$780,
Sometime after the murder had
been Committed Joseph Raber met
his fugitive brother and Jesse Kern
at Pine Hollow where Joe was given
the. automatic revolver which was lat
'er found hidden In his home. At this
meeting in Pine Hollow Joseph was
requested by his fugitive brother and
Jesse Kerns to meet them a few days
later lin Bridgeport Joseph Raber. learn
ed that his brother Luther had been
robbed of "a diamond stick pin valued
at $500 which originally had been stol-
en- in Philadelphia by the fugitive
brother. But at this meeting in
Bridgeport Joseph Raber did not learn
that his brother Luther had been imur.
dered.
Joseph Raber fabricated the stories
he first told the officers because he
was frightened by the strong gcircum.
stantial evidence against him.
Raber's Explanation
When Mr.. Loar had made this Yex-
planation Judge Raymond asked the
prisoner ifShe had anything to say for
himself. Joseph Raber at onoo rose
to his feet and said:
81 a not guilty but i can't prove, my
innocense. Iahad hoped to be turned
loose all the time. 1t is awful TO he
accused of the murder OF ones own
brother. Ifi1.had not been so wrought
up and frightened at the time of my
arrest / would not have told the Istor-
les did. n \ b
fI"Just to think I had several drinks
In the Bridgeport saloon paid for out
flmyi murdered brothers. money with
out knowing that he had been killed.
Ehad ia good chance to kill him a few
nights eforei heswas murdered iforfwe
were out t9gethers and 1--WE were both
armed. 10 II had wanted to kill him
I'D could have done so then and thrown
him Into the river hiding all trace of
the crime. i, ias q Z, 3
When Luther gave me his $3.50
he kept S13i and o. $500 diamond.
Then In Pine Hollow my fugitive
brother gave me his automatic re:
yolver and extra magazines, telling
me to hide them SO that. no one would
ever find them. Itook!theml home and
nailed them up in the wall Of the
house. I. Y { &
"I met my fugitive brother and
Kerns Saturday night blowing the
murder and was shown the diamond
stick pin, and also a watch which the
sheriff found on me when j was ar
rested. At Bridgeport my brother told
me he was going to South America"
Judge Raymond then asked Rab.
er his age and about his family.
II am 80 years old and have a wife
and little girl six years old. whose
father is my wife's first husband,''I
was the reply.
Were you ever convicted Of any
crime?r
eyes, Invent to the penitentiary in
1903 and got out in August 1907
Where is your home ?"
%"I have lived in Warrington all my.
life" +
What is your occupation?'
For three years / have worked as
kiln drawer in a pottery" Z
\ The States Case Y
Prosecuting Attorney sTusca Morris
then outlined the evidence accumu,
lated by the state against the prison.
err declaring that he had never heard
OF Jesse Kerns and that the .fegutiye
brother, Clarence Raber, was prob:
ably in the Philippine Islands at the
time Of the murder as he is believed, to
deserving either in, the United States
army or navy. a ~ ri
Mr.. Morris told Of Joseph Raber's
married sister, Mrs. Annie Wilson In
Jail on a charge of arson, who sworei
out the warrant which resulted I'm 10.
seph's arrest, Mrs. Wilson having
sworn that Joseph had urged her$to
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