The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-05-25
nichols !
YEARS IN STATE
PEN FOR Theft
Prisoner Views Jury and Then
Changes Plea From Not
Guilty to Guilty.

The longest sentence given any
prisoner at the present term of the
Marion County Criminal Court, four
years in the state penitentiary, was
imposed upon Will Nichols by
Judge E. NJ. Showalter today when
he entered plea Of guilty to fell
ony indictment charging him with
stealing a $50 gold watch from Les
ter Wallace, Clarksburs boy,
whom he had coaxed to leave his
home and come to this city.
Nichols was arrested by Man
uington officers after he had elud-
ed local city and county officers
and apparently made his escape on
freight train. Chief of Police L.
d. Snider called the Mannington
police and asked them to arrest
Nichols when the freight train ar
rived in that city. The officers
were ready to comply with Chief
Snider's request but the freight
passed through Warrington at a
twenty mile an hour rate, and the
officers had no chance to arrest
their man.
Realizing that the train would
stop at G1over's Gap for water, the
officers jumped into an automobile
and raced the train to that place
where Nichols was arrested. Chief
Snider went to Warrington anu
brought him back and lodged him
in the county Jail
Prosecuting Attorney Frank X:
Amos took charge of the case and
when the May term Of Criminal
Court grand jury met IN an ao-
iourned session on May ~, the eFi-
dence was laid before that booF'
and a true bill indictment chargins
Nichols with a felony found ne
was brought into court and enteled
q plea Of not guilty to the charge.
Tie t-ia1 was set down on the
docket for today
Nichols was arraigned in court
today. the charge read to him ana
y i,lrv impaneled to hear the evl-
dence in the case. After LOOKING
oyer the Jury, Nichols grew weak
md sienified that he had something
to saw to the court He was brought
before Judge Showater, and ne
told the Judge that he wlsneo 70
Withdraw his plea of not guilty anc
enter plea of guilty. After ne
had entered his plea Judge Sno"
alter sentenced him to serve louf
wears in the state penltentlarS at
Moundsville-
Adolphus Funnie, a Morgan
town negro indicted by the may
term grand jury on a cnarse "
feloniously cutting L1nnle way
Funnie, his wife, was arraisneu
before the court and entered d
plea of guilty to the charge uose
Showalter sentenced him to serve
no
nav a fine of $50 and costs.
Funnie was arrested following
row with his wife while they
We're on their way to a negro
dance in this city. They had come
here from Morgantown during the
evening to attend a dance. me
husband became jealous OF ms
wife and after an argument pulleo
a knife and stabbed her. She was
not seriously injured. however,
and was able to return TO ner
home in few days.
GuWIeeson, charged with hash
ing a loaded revolver in the race
of John Prunty at Everest last
April. was next called for trial.
ne entered a plea of not guilty a
1 trial Jury was drawn at 2:Zo
O'Clock and his case stated to the
jury.
d A. Richie and Brooks Deveny,
while John W. Mason, assistant
prosecuting attorney, is represen-
ting the state. The attorneys Tor
the defense moved that the court
ouash the indictment, but folloW-
ing argument by attorneys for the
state and defendant, Judge SHOW
alter overruled the motion to
onash and the trial was started.
The case will probably be compiet-
ed late this evening.
The case of the state VS.. Stanley
. Jackzwiskie was. next called. and
when he failed to appear, a Sclre
facia was issued on his bondsmen.
The court will collect the amount
of the bond unless the bondemen
can produce the prisoner in court
before the present term is over.
G. l.. Richardson, indicted on a
felony charge for forging the
name of E.. A. Richardson to
5000 check, was next: called for
trial. His case was carried over
until the September term of court
and he was released by furnishing
$1,000 bond for his appearance
in court at that time. S. M. Tet-
rick was surety on the bond
Upon motion of John w Mason,
assistant prosecuting attorney. the
case of John Koval was continued
until the September term OF court,
He was released under a $500
bond for. his appearance in court