Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1921-04-19

IHE u ut bllAN
John Bowler, indicted for muir
der of Garfield H. Miller.
Mrs w A Murray and W. A.
II Bowman. indicted Jointly and
separately fer murder of w. A.
Murray.
Ernest Jordan and William
Crowell. indicted for robbery at
Nipetown
No criminal trial dates had been
set early this afternoon
Judge Woods opened Circuit
Court for the regular term this
morning. and after the usual charge
to the grand jury. in which he cali
ed attention to assessment. election
and labor payment statutes as pro-
gided by law. sent them to their
room for consideration OF the cases
submitted to them by Prosecuting
Attorney Hannis The latter said
he had asked twelve indictments al.
though some of the charges We're
drawn both Jointly aud individually
against certain defendants. The in
dicatiors this morning were that the
grand jury would require all day
for its work and possibly would not
finish today
The jury is composed Of the fol
lowing: II. S. Cushwa. foreman; E.
] Whitmore. Harry Mcdonald. w
r. Clendenning, w T. MeQuilkin. c.
S Beard, A. Il. Stilwell, A. Il. Me-
Init, c. J. Graybill. A. NJ Peery,
George II Shroades. William NJ.
Johnson, William Rush. O. B. Lefe-
yer, J. William Kastle. Willis Cush-
Wa.
judge Woods dwelt particularly
this morning on the evil in election
bribery practices, and declared II
was the duty of every citizen to SET
that they were clear of prejudice,
corruption, bribery and any other
improper motives Existence of
these evils in elections. he said
made 1t possible for the wealthy
people who might have political am
bition to buy the offices and thereby
create system of class, rather than
mass, government in the land.
Sheig Case interesting.
Attorney G. y. Campbell this
morning submitted bill which, he
said, involved points heretofore not
covered by judicial decision, and his
presentation Of the case created a
keen Interest among the attorneys
and indil iduals who heard him in
the outline TIE bill is one to estab-
lish which OF tho two Mr. end Mrs.
George SheiG died first in the dual
tragedy at their East Martin street
home last year whom both are pre-
sumcd to have died from the effects
of inhaling coal gas There were
no witnesses present. and, Mr..
Campbell said. the Court is asked to
consider the circumst ances, OF
which he enumerated five. to deter
mine the first demise, The bill is
filed in the name of George Mich
ael. a brother of Mrs Sheig, and her
only heir; and the defendants are
named the unknown heirs OF
George Sheie, of which there are I'M
derstood 10 he several neices and
nephews although none of those in
volyed have eome forward during
tho previous effort to settle the es-
tate The aim Of the bill is TO re.
move a cloud from the title to the
cstate which Mr. Michael claims.
The estate is said to consist Of the
property on East Martin street
rr-Apt6
and twenty shares Of bank stock.
In recalling the case Mr.. Camp
bell claims in the bill that Mrs
SheiG survived her husband, and
that his Will. giving her all his prop
erty, became operative; and there
lore it was her right Ia transmit her
property, including that inherited TO
her only heir. In support Of his con.
tention that s. . outlived Mr.. Sheig
The bill sets up the following cir
elmstances: Mrs Sheig was
thirteen years younger than her hus-
band; 2-Mrs. Sheig, according TO
evidence OF friends, was in good
health up to the time of her death,
while Mr.. Sheig was affected with
asthr4 and other ailments and
Their ore did not have the constitu-
tion TO fight off the attack Of gas.
3-Mr. Sheig's body was sitter than
that Of Mrs. Sheig when found. ac-
cording to the undertakers.i ndicat-
ing that he had been dead longer
There was evidence, in the form
oS blood and froth at the mouth and
.n the unnatural position Of the
Aaiy that Mrs Sheig resisted the
empowering gas effects; 5-That
he testimony Of scientific chemists
and this was the argument on
which Mr Sheig body, found on q
lounge in one corner of the room and
near the wall, was in a position
where it would he most liable to at
tack first by gas. while Mrs. Sheig's
body, in the center Of the room, was
IA a comparatively safe zone, the
heOry of the chemist a. J. Desha,
II Lexington, Va being that the
Eases, carbon monoXide and carbon
dioxide. BY reason of the tempera-
ure at which they are thrown into
the room. first rise to the ceiling
where they are cooled by contact
with the material substance then 20
TO the walls and as they COO fall to
the floor gradually. This process
would have put Mr. Sheie in line for
the first attack OF gas SIT Camp
bell argued, and wclld hte made
Mrs Sheig comparaNvelH SAT- in the
center OF the ROOM would