The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-10-09
WOODS AND WIFE PLEAD SELF
DEFENSE FOR MALONEY SHOOTING
street house whore NGaloney was shot
and viewed the scene OF the crime.
Asks First Degree Murder.

immediately on returning to the court
room. Prosecutor Mckee made the open
ing statement for the state. asking for
4 verdict Of first degree murder against
Woods. intimating that ne would he
satisfied for 4 lighter sentence in the
case of Mrs Woods. He said the state
intended to prove that Naloney had gone
TO the Woods house on the fatal sunday
and that he and Mr.. and Mrs. Woods had
drank freely and that n quarrel cnsued:
that when Maloney's daughter had gone
to tell her father to 60 home for his sup
per that she saw Mr.. and Mrs. Woods
and Mr.. Maloney all lying on the bed.
Tho daughter heard ugly words and
then Mrs. Woods made a threat that she
would fix Maloney." when Woods
grabbed him by the arms and held him
so that 1t was Impossible for him TO
move. Woods told his wife Ia get the
gun and she opened tho bureau drawer
twice in an effort to comply with his re-
quest but Maloney's daughter twice pre-
vented her from accomplishing the task
by closing the drawer.
Maloney finally managed to free one
hand and got 4 penkntfc out or his
pocket. but again the daughter inter-
vcned and took it from him. Finally,
Mrs Woods got the gun and tho girl
then strike Maloney over the head with
the empty weapon. inilicttnS n number
of SCALP wounds. The girl then left the
premises as Mrs. Woods ran out to call
Il neichbor. Later Maloners daughter
;"az told that her father was dying and
soon after tn. police arrived. and Mt.
and Mrs. Woods were arrested.
Continuing. Mr. Mckee said that ho
understood that the defense would prob
ably enter plea Of self defense. but
that tho killing OF Maloney was not eN-
cusabla on those grounds. Maloneys
body was found lying in the doorway
leading TO the bedroom. which is In the
front of the house. and the bed was sat
uratcd with blood. After their arrest
both defendants told different stories Of
the circumstances Of the killing. Tho
prosecutor called thr attention OF the
jury to the fact that 4 number OF stoEes
wore found in Maoncys pocket that
we're unhroken and pointed out the law
defining self defense.
Statement for Defense.
Attorney Frank 0'Bri"n then made the
statement for the defense saying that
on the afternoon Of the shooting Mrs.
Woods was not feeling we'll and that she
WAS lying on tho bod IN the front room
with The door closed when Maloney. who
had been drinking heavily. arrived on the
scene He wanted drink and was In
an ugly mood. bur Woods finally per-
suaded him 10 leave. TWO hours later
Nalnnsy returned with pint bottle or
whisky and aat in tho kitchen with
Woods and the two men had n few drinks
together, and Malunry went tn sleep on
n couch after Woods had taken off his
fMal0nny's) shoes. In an hour or so
MaIoney woke up and Immediately
started to talk fight and spoke OF 4 rel
alive named Maggie In an ahusivc man
n.r Mrs. Woods had arisen from the
bed and was sitting on tn" sid" or 1t.
the door between the rooms having
been nprn"d by her husband and sh" re-
preached Malnnry for talking so about
the young woman Of whom she was