Hughes River Omnibus

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News Stories Gleaned from State and National Newspapers

Baltimore Sun, October 24, 1853, p. 1

Oil Spring in Virginia.--A new petrolium [sic], or oil spring, it is said, has been discovered in Western Virginia, near the forks of the Hughes river. It was found in sinking a well for salt. Instead of salt, however, the spring commenced blowing out mineral oil, and has so continued to furnish it at intervals up to the present date--about fourteen gallons of oil being produced every fifth day.

Philadelphia Inquirer, March 22, 1865, p. 3

[advertisement]

Lowther's Run Petroleum and Mining Company of Pennsylvania and West Virginia

Incorporated under the Laws of Pennsylvania.

Capital... $500,000

One Hundred Thousand Shares.

Par Value $5. Subscription Price, $2.

Working Capital $20,000.

Office of the Company, No. 13 S. Third Street, Philadelphia.

President, John Stilz.

Secretary, Christian Kneass.

Treasurer, Robert C. Davis.

Directors: John Stilz, John Barry, Charles W. F. Calvert, Isaac Rhienstrom, Thomas Fisher, Enoch Gray, Robert C. Davis.

1. The property consists of (100) one hundred acres in fee simple, on Lowther's Run, Ritchie county, West Virginia, about two miles from the forks of Hughes River, and within a short distance of the great Asphaltum Coal Banks of Ritchie county.

This estate is located within the immediate centre of the Great Oil Belt of West Virginia, which section, for the superiority of its oil and for the quantity and certainty of its yield, surpasses the well known Venaugo region of Pennsylvania.

The dip of the rocks in the ravines, along the Run and streams, and the indications of the presence of oil on the land, are sufficient to warrant the belief that there will be an abundant supply of oil.

The property has been examined by a competent person, and declared to be unquestionable "Oil Territory."

The recent strike of the hundred barrel flowing well near the Forks of Hughes River is only a short distance from this property, thus enhancing the value of this tract as first-class oil territory, and doubly assuring us that there will be an ample return to all investments.

2. One hundred and ninety-six acres of Mineral Lands, situated on Licking Creek, Fulton county, Pennsylvania, abounding in iron ore and other valuable minerals and heavily timbered.

The titles to the above property are perfect.

A limited number of shares will be sold at $2 per share. Subscriptions received by Robert C. Davis, Treasurer, at the office of the Company, No. 13 S. Third Street, Philadelphia.

New York Times, February 11, 1871, p. 1

Casualties

Gunpowder Explosion in a West Virginia Coal-Mine--Three Men Killed

Wheeling, West Virginia, Feb. 10.--A correspondent of the Register says that on Thursday last an explosion occurred in the asphaltum coal-mines of Ritchie County, situated about fifteen miles from Cairo, Ritchie County, by which three men lost their lives, and several others were covered up in the mines. The fate of the latter is yet unknown. The explosion was caused by the ignition of a keg of powder by some means unknown.

Wheeling Register, August 5, 1879, p. 3

State News

...

Blue Sulphur Springs, in Wirt county, is getting quite a local fame as a summer resort.

Wheeling Register, December 30, 1879, p. 1

West Virginia Tragedy.

Killing of Pat Brannon by Wm. Davis, at Petroleum--Flight and Capture of the Murderer.

Parkersburg, December 28--A dispatch was received here this morning by Constable Mehen, ordering him to arrest a man named Wm. Davis, who is charged with the murder of Pat Brannon, at Petroleum, last night. The murder is reported by some to have been the result of a fight between Davis and Brannon, while from other sources it is claimed that Davis shot and killed Brannon for the purpose of robbing him, and that he robbed the murdered man of $150 and made his escape. Davis came down the road on a freight train this morning, and jumping off at or near the outer depot, escaped across the country and over the river.

Officer Mehen and another man crossed into Belpre, where they got a clew to Davis. They followed him down the old railroad track and overtook him about seven miles from Belpre. They ordered him to surrender, which he did without any resistance. When he was told why he was arrested, he acknowledged the crime and gave his side of the story, which was, that when returning from the neighborhood of Cisco Jackson's, on Hughes river, he met Pat Brannon and two of the Jackson boys with whom he had not been on friendly terms. After quarrelling some time, a fight ensued between himself and Pat Brannon, during which Brannon knocked him down and jumped upon him. He says that he then drew his pistol and, sticking it against Brannon's side, fired, shooting him through the heart. After this he fled and crossed over into Ohio, where he was caught.

The officer found a very large navy pistol on his person, which had but one empty barrel, to which Davis called his attention, saying that was the load that killed Brannon, and that he had marked the barrel with a cross so that he would always know which barrel had killed him.

Davis seemed utterly indifferent about the matter until he was near the Ohio river, on his return to this side, when he broke down completely and would have thrown himself into the river if he had not been prevented.

Officer Mehen also identified him as the man who had stolen a lot of goods from Harmisson & Co., of this city, to which he confessed, Davis will be sent back to Ritchie county to-morrow, to the scene of his crime. This outrageous crime has caused a great excitement near Petroleum, where all the parties concerned are well known.

Baltimore Sun, December 31, 1879, p. 1

Particulars of the Homicide.--Patrick Brannon, who was killed in Ritchie county, W. Va., December 26, in a difficulty with Wm. Davis, was formerly from Baltimore. He was in the employ of G. Van Winkle, lumber business, on Hughes river, in Ritchie county, having been there about six months. He was shot with a revolver in the stomach, and lived about two hours and a half, and was conscious only a part of the time. The affair occurred on the afternoon of the 26th. Brannon was on horseback, and rode up to a party of three men, of which Davis was one. Brannon jumped from his horse and struck Davis. Friends interfered in their quarrel, but Brannon persisted in the assault, and Davis drew a pistol, shooting Brannon in the stomach, with the result above stated. After he was shot Brannon desired to be sent to Baltimore to his relatives, but gave no address. He was 25 years of age, and had for some time been a contractor, getting out railroad cross-ties for Mr. Van Winkle, whose postoffice address is Petroleum, W. Va., and who desires to comply with the wishes of the deceased, who has a balance to his account with the firm. It is not known whether he is married, though he said he had relations living in this city. Davis ran off after the shooting, but was subsequently arrested. Brannon and the rest of the party, except Davis were on a Christmas holiday frolic.

Wheeling Register, January 3, 1880, p.1

Parkersburg.

...

Wm Davis, the killer of Pat Brannon, had a preliminary examination in Ritchie county, and, it appearing from the evidence that the deed was done in self-defense, he was released on a bond of only $500. The Jacksons, who were witnesses in the case, swore that Brannon was the aggressor, and that Davis killed him in self-defense.

St. Paul Daily Globe (St. Paul, Minn.), Aug 8, 1882, p. 1

Around the Globe

...

At a picnic at Devil's Hole, in Ritchie county, W. Va., on Saturday, John Bradley who had been trying to stop a fight between Jerry Deem and an older man, was shot in the back by Deem. The wound is said to be mortal.

Wheeling Register, April 13, 1883, p. 4

Double Drowning

Sad Death of Two Boys at Freeport,

Caused By a Boat Upsetting--Sundry News From the Territory Surrounding Us.

Intelligence has reached thiss [sic] city of probably the most fatal accident that has ever occurred in the usually quiet village of Freeport, West Virginia, in which the two only sons of Amos George, Martin and Silas, aged respectfully about 17 and 20 years, lost their lives. At the urgent request of Jerry Deans, the boys went with him to Pribble's dam, to fish with a "dip net." In attempting to cross the river above the dam, they became confused, the boat capsized and all went over the dam together. Mr. Deems being a fair swimmer succeeded in reaching the shore some distance below, very much exhausted. The other two young men being poor swimmers made but little progress towards the shore, and after floating some three or four hundred yards with the current, sank to rise no more. The river continued to rise all day and is yet high; consequently little can be done towards finding the bodies until after the water falls. Mr. George and his wife have the sympathies of the entire neighborhood in their irreparable loss.

Macon Weekly Telegraph, October 25, 1887

A Town Burned.

Spencer, West Virginia, Has a Seventy-five-Thousand-Dollar Fire.

...

A fire also occurred at Petroleum, W. Va., last night, destroying S. Woodward's valuable oil plant and considerable oil. The loss is very heavy.

Fort Worth Daily Gazette, August 24, 1889

Some One Blundered.

Two Trains ordered to Pass on the Same Track at One Time.

The Consequence is that Four Men are Dead and Twenty Others are Badly Injured.

Bad Orders.

Petroleum, W. Va., Aug. 23.--A terrible collision occurred about 11 o'clock this morning on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, between Petroleum and Silver Run tunnel, about twenty-three miles east of Parkersburg, in which three men were instantly killed and many wounded. The accommodation train coming west, due at Parkersburg at 12 o'clock, crashed into a special train occupied by railroad magnates on a tour of inspection. The cause of the wreck is said to have been conflicting telegrams. One received by Conductor Flannagan and Engineer Layman of the accommodation ordered them to pass the special at Petroleum, while the special train, engineered by Capt. C. Rowland, is said to have had telegraphic orders to pass the accommodation at Silver Run. The result of these misconstructions was to hurl into eternity four men at least, and wound fifteen or twenty others. The trains came together with a crash at the curve east of petroleum, and between that point and Silver Run. Both trains were running at rapid speed, and when they collided with a crash the special train, with the engine, tender and baggage car of the accommodation, went over the cliff in a mass.

James Layman, engineer of the accommodation, one of the oldest engineers in the employ of the Baltimore and Ohio road, was crushed to death.

Alexander Bailey, fireman for Layman on accommodation, was also crushed in the wreck of the engines.

Rowland, also one of the oldest engineers of Parkersburg, lately of Grafton, was caught under the wreck and had one leg broken, and received internal injuries from which he cannot recover.

John Fletcher, fireman on the special, was also killed.

Fletcher stuck to his engine, and with his helpmate, preferred death to desertion of his post, and went over the bank in the wreck. he was

The special car occupied by the officials on an inspecting tour was smashed into smithereens.

Roadmaster Hunter was badly injured, together with several others.

George Douglass, in the same car, was also badly injured.

In the accommodation train were many passengers, all of whom received a terrible shaking up, and fifteen or twenty of whom were more or less injured.

R. J. Malley, trackmaster of Parkersburg and member of city council, was badly injured.

Jefferson Rose, baggagemaster of the accommodation, was also seriously hurt.

A large number of passengers were more or less injured, but they were hurried off on trains going east or west, and in the confusion following the disaster, it was impossible to get their names.

The bodies of Layman, Bailey and Fletcher were taken to Parkersburg on the evening train, where they were encased in coffins and sent to their homes. Layman was sent to his home on Depot street. Rowland was taken to Grafton.

When the train bearing the bodies arrived in Parkersburg it was surrounded by thousands of people, many of whom were friends of the dead, while others had friends who they believed to have been on the wrecked trains. It was impossible to hear from their friends, and as rumors of the accident had grown into colossal dimensions, anxiety increased until the crowd numbered thousands at the depot.

Pittsburg, Pa., Aug. 23.--A Parkersburg, W. Va., special says: This city is in a terrible state of excitement over an accident on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad a few miles east of here, between Petroleum and Silver Run. Particulars are not obtainable from officials but the facts are known. The fast express from New York to Cincinnati, due here at 11:30, was ordered to stop at Petroleum, a point near here, and a pay car with officials going east was ordered to stop at Silver Run. Each tried to make the point of passage and collided. James Layman, engineer, Sief Rowland, engineer and fireman of each engine, are killed. Several passengers are reported killed. All the physicians in this city have just left on a special train.

The following is the list of casualties as far as could be obtained. A large number of injured were removed to their homes and no record of their name or injuries kept:

Killed--James Layman, engineer, Parkersburg.

Hallock Bailey, fireman, of Grafton.

W. A. Fletcher of Grafton.

Michael Flannagan, conductor.

J. A. Sunter, division superintendent of the road.

R. J. Malley, destination not known.

Jefferson Ross, baggage master of accommodation, very serious.

Michael Gahn, conductor of special, collar bone and three ribs broken.

R. G. Heflin, superintendent of bridges, cut in the face and neck.

Col. H. T. Douglas, chief engineer, cut on the head and face and badly bruised.

Colored porter of special train, thrown through the car and badly hurt; sent to Baltimore.

Joseph Fielding of St. Louis, badly cut in the back and side.

Henry Flemming, leg broken.

Frank Harris, hurt in back.

The accident took place between two points a long distance from any town or telegraphic facilities, and even when a telegraph station was found the evening paper did not succeed in getting a line through, as the railroad company refused to allow reporters to go to the scene of the wreck with the relief train.

Wheeling Register, June 8, 1891, p. 1

A Terrible Crime.

A Brute Assaults a Little Girl Near Cairo, Ritchie County.

Special Telegram to the Register.

Parkersburg, W. Va., June 7.--The officers of this city have just received news of a terrible outrage and are looking for the criminal. Yesterday afternoon a young man named William Morris, who lives several miles back of Cairo, outraged the thirteen year old daughter of B. F. Davis, a well known citizen, on a road near a place called Devil's Hole, six miles back in the country from Cairo. Morris knocked the girl down, dragged her into the bushes and outraged her, and left her for dead. She was found an hour later and taken to her home, where she told the story of the outrage. Her injuries are said to be so terrible that she will die. Morris eluded pursuit by taking to the woods until he struck the railroad.

Wheeling Register, June 10, 1891, p. 1

Small Chance for Morris

Special Telegram to the Register.

Parkersburg, W. Va., June 9.--Reports from Ritchie county say a large posse of men are still searching the woods in the neighborhood of Devil's Hole for William Morris, who lives on McFarland. Morris is the brute who outraged the eleven-year-old daughter of Frank Davis, the merchant of that neighborhood. The physician says she will die. The posse searching for the fiend say they will hang him as soon as they catch him.

Wheeling Register, May 15, 1892, p. 4

Two New Charters Granted

Special Telegram to the Sunday Register

Charleston, W. Va., May 14--The Richie [Ritchie] Lumber Company was chartered today. The principal office will be at Petroleum, Richie [sic] County. the capital stock is $[500?], with privilege to increase to $[10,000?]. The incorporators are W. H. Rutherford, L. G. Rutherford, of Petroleum, W. Va., R. W. Rutherford, of Cairo, W. Va., and [E?] S. [Shurck?], of Marietta, Ohio...

Wheeling Register, September 26, 1892, p. 6

Cairo and Devil's Hole.

Henry S. Wilson & Son, of Parkersburg, timber men and owners of the above named road, have decided to extend the line from its present terminus in the Little Kanawha Valley to Smithville, Ritchie county.

Wheeling Register, November 13, 1893

Among Railroaders.

Intelligence From All the Centres of Wheeling.

The Cairo, Kanawha and Charleston narrow gauge railroad is now completed from Cairo in Ritchie county almost to Smithville. The Calhoun Chronicle says it has it upon good authority that the road will be completed to the Kanawha river next year...

Philadelphia Inquirer, January 13, 1894, p. 7

Married.

...

Chapman-Dotson.--On January 3, 1894, by Rev. G. W. Finlaw, at Camden, N. J., Mr. John T. Chapman, of Newport, W. Va., to Miss Helen Dotson, of Petroleum, W. Va.

American Nonconformist, January 18, 1894, p. 4

Letter From a Boy Aged 19.

I think the signs of the times predict a victory for us in the near future. Grover and his "gang" are doing a great work in the way of reform. They are causing the eyes of the people to be opened that could not have been done in any other way. I notice that the talk of a new party has about died out. This is well. If the People's party makes any change in the financial plank of its platform, let it be a forward instead of a backward step. The democrats have demonetized silver; let us demonetize gold also. The use of metallic money is an obstacle in the correct settlement of the financial question. Let us abolish its use, and put an end to the confusing discussion of "intrinsic value," "parity," "honest dollars," "cheaper money drives out the dearer," etc. If it is the government's fiat that makes the money, why not have all paper money? Why use metallic money when paper is cheaper and more convenient? By quitting the use of gold and silver, it is likely that a great deal of it would go to other countries. That would increase their volume of money, give them higher prices and better times, and enable them to buy more of our products. The United States, by adopting a paper money, will show to the world what constitutes money. [If] other nations were [to] follow the example, the money power will be crippled, and a great stride will have been made in the march of the world's progress.

Cisko, W. Va., P. R. Garrett.

American Nonconformist, February 8, 1894, p. 3

What Party Should Be In Power?

The money question is the one on which hangs the destiny of the nation. Proper money legislation will open the way for an easy solution to the other important questions, such as tariff, immigration, taxation, good reads, etc. The nationalization of the railroads will be a difficult matter unless the right to issue money is restored to the government. The party that will solve the financial question correctly will solve many of the other important questions that are now before the people. The People's party is the only one that will do this. The old parties have been tried and found wanting. Legislation in the interest of the masses must come from the South and West. The People's party is the only one controlled by the South and West.

Cisco, W. Va., P. R. Garrett.

Wheeling Register, March 18, 1896, p. 4

Special to the Register, Parkersburg, W. Va., March 17--

...

The well on the Lemon farm at MacFarland, Ritchie county, is dry in the Big Injun sand at 1518 feet.

Wheeling Register, May 12, 1896, p. 3

Ritchie County Notes

...

With the coming of spring, active operations begin on the extension of the Cairo & Kanawha Valley railroad to Smithville, and the people along the line should subscribe liberally to the enterprise, for their gain in the end will be great. The road is now completed from Cairo to McFarlan is one of the very best narrow gauge roads in the county, and any extension will be constructed on the same thorough plan. There is some talk of extending it in the opposite direction as far as Marietta, Ohio, forming a short line connection to the rich coal and timber sections of Ritchie, Colbourn [Calhoun] and Gilmer counties. Should this movement prevail it will seriously injure the prospects of the proposed railroad up the Kanawha river from Parkersburg and give Marietta many advantages and an entirely new outlet and field for business.

Wheeling Register, December 11, 1896, p. 3

West Virginia Postal Affairs.

Special to the Register.

Washington, D. C., December 10--The following West Virginia postmasters have been appointed. At Petroleum, Ritchie county, D. M. Sharpnack...

Baltimore Sun, March 14, 1899, p. 1

Virginia and West Virginia

...

At Petroleum, W. Va., an unknown tramp made an unsuccessful attempt to criminally assault Miss Ella P. Gordon.

Los Angeles Times, September 21, 1899, p. 2

Baltimore and Ohio Wreck.

(Associated Press Day Report.)

Parkersburg, (W. Va.) Sept. 20.--Train No. 3 on the Baltimore and Ohio, due in Cincinnati at 5:15 p.m., was wrecked today near Petroleum, W. Va., Engineer William Myers was killed. Three postal clerks and three trainmen were injured. The engine, mail-car and baggage-car left the track. The passengers were not hurt.

Baltimore Sun, January 29, 1901, p. 8

Freights Collide

On Baltimore and Ohio Road, Near Petroleum, W. Va.

Five Persons Were Killed

All Were Trainmen--Both Trains Almost Demolished By The Great Force Of The Collision.

(Special Dispatch to the Baltimore Sun.)

Parkersburg, W. Va., Jan. 28.--The worst wreck on the Parkersburg branch of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad in many years occurred at 1:03 this afternoon at Hickman's Cut, between Petroleum and Volcano Junction, 20 miles east of here.

Two freight trains met in head-end collision in the middle of the cut, in a curve and on a steep grade, while one was going down grade at the rate of 40 miles an hour. Westbound No. 87 was on the siding at Petroleum, with orders to pass first and second sections of eastbound No. 98 there. Engineer F. Davidson, who was not killed in the wreck, says he went to sleep, and seeing the first section of No. 98 pass thought it was the second and pulled out on the main track. B. L. Long, his conductor, knowing that the engineer had made a mistake, rushed over the tops of the cars as fast as he could in his attempt to attract the engineer's attention and stop him in time, but he had reached only the fourth car when the collision came and he had barely time to jump when the car he was on was [smashed?]. Ten cars, all loaded, and both engines were completely demolished, and it will be morning before the wreck can be cleared away.

Of the crew Engineer Davidson, of No. 87, escaped with only slight injury. He was found caught between the solid rock wall of the cut and the end of the tender, and his escape is almost a miracle. His fireman, J. T. Bailey, of Parkersburg, and his brakeman, J. G. Bailey, of Kanawha, were both killed. Of No. 98 Engineer J. B. Watkinson, of Grafton; Fireman W. W. Cunningham of the second division, and Brakeman M. Courtney, of Parkersburg, were killed. Both conductors and both rear brakemen escaped.

Fireman Leslie Davis was to have gone out on the wrecked train this morning, but the call boy could not find him and Cunningham took his place and was killed. This is the third accident Conductor Langstrain has been in this month, although he was not to blame.

Conductor Ford, of the eastbound train, seeing the third 87 pulling out after he passed attempted to jump from his train to stop it, but it was going too fast and he could not jump with safety. The body of J. G. Bailey was taken from the wreck an unrecognizable mass. He was identified by his watch. At 9 o'clock the other four bodies had not been found, but the wrecking crew was at work, expecting to find them soon. it is thought they will also be crushed beyond recognition. Both trains were almost demolished by the terrific force of the collision, the cars being piled on top of each other and scattered along the right of way.

Kansas City Star, March 2, 1902, p. 19

Solid Petroleum

West Virginia's Queer Mine Was Worked with Profit for Several Years.

From the Pittsburg Gazette

The Cairo field in West Virginia contains a relic of the earliest production of illuminating and lubricating oil--a wonderful deposit of solidified petroleum--bitumen, some call it, whether rightly so will not be known until the result of certain tests now being made by eastern chemists is announced.

Oil companies from this and other cities are operating around Cairo, Ritchie county, with success. The fluid is about the same quality found here but some difficulty with water is experienced. The oil and water seem to mix contrary to all theory, and in summer the raw products of the wells must be steamed before the water will settle. In winter the stuff is difficult to handle. Oil is found at a depth of about 1,600 feet.

Six miles from Devil's Hole, at McFarland's schoolhouse, where once was a prosperous settlement, now quite deserted is the old Ritchie coal mine or bitumen deposit. Early in 1850 it became known that there was a strange outcropping of what was termed coal. Instead of lying flat underground, as most coal mines do, here was one, the wondering prospectors found, that stood on edge. A sliver of it burned like a torch and left no ash. A shovelful would blaze like grease, and no kindling was needed.

S. H. Wilson, now a resident of Parkersburg, was among those who investigated the peculiar vein, and he organized a company for development. He is still one of the owners, and his son, Edward Wilson, is associated with him in lumber and coal interests. After some experimenting it was found that the new raw product was unfit for fuel. By melting or distillation it was seen that oil could be produced and that there was less than 10 per cent waste.

A company was formed and a narrow-gauge railway thirteen miles long was built connecting with the Baltimore & Ohio at Cairo. Expensive machinery was placed in position and operation was begun, going on for eighteen years uninterrupted by the Civil War, save for a short time. Great caldrons and retorts with boilers and engines were unloaded from the new trains and a thrifty town sprung up. It was probably the first boom town in oildom, for Pithole was just then beginning. It paid to distill the stuff, for oil was selling as liniment by the pint for what a barrel costs now.

Some extended exploration proved that the queer vein was about three quarters of a mile long and three to six feet wide. Down each side were perpendicular walls of sandstone how far down no one knows. Active working penetrated 365 feet, and then it was abandoned owing to crude methods of mining employed and the cheapness of oil elsewhere. The costly vats are rusting into scrap; cobwebs over the office windows and copperheads crawl about the vitals of the furnaces and engines.

Highland Recorder, February 13, 1903, p. 1

The Old Dominion

Latest News Gleaned From All Over the State.

...

William Gilman, a Wirt county farmer, slipped from the top of a load of fodder, near Freeport and broke his neck, dying instantly.

New York Tribune, August 17, 1903

The Week in Petroleum.

An important discovery was made early in the week in Ritchie County, W. Va., four miles south of Petroleum, on Dry Ridge, on the Bickel farm. The well was driven into the Berea grit, and started at the rate of 200 barrels a day. It is believed that it indicates a new pool, as the nearest producing well is at Petroleum. This section became immediately interested on the discovery. A large amount of new work has already been planned, and the developments for the next few months will be watched closely. Another discovery was the Reserve Gas Company's strike west of Weston, Lewis County...

Salt Lake Telegram, October 15, 1903, p. 6

Not Husband of Woman Who Ended Her Life

J. M. Stone, Not Stout, Eloped With Mattie Reeves After Bankrupting His Relatives

Letter That Drove Her To Suicide.

Parkersburg, W. Va., Oct. 15.--J. M. Stone, a member of the firm of Stone & Gates, prominent and wealthy timber and coal dealers, disappeared from his home at Ripley, W. Va., three months ago and his firm was afterward forced into bankruptcy. At the time of his leaving Mattie Reeves, alias Mattie Miller, who had lived in Stone's house in this city, went away, none of her friends knowing where.

Stone returned home Tuesday night, and said he was going back to his family, a highly respected one, in Jackson county. He said he wished to show his creditors that he was an honest man and that he would pay all his debts. He went home yesterday, but none of his relatives, except the aged father who resides some distance from Ripley, would have anything to do with him.

A telegram was received at Ripley, sent to J. M. Stout, but there was no one there by that name. Stone had gone to the country and could not be found to be asked about the message.

Mattie Reeves is the daughter of a respectable family residing in Ritchie county, this State. She left home three years ago. She never married Stone, but lived here in his house.

Stone is married and had several children. The Stone family is one of the leading ones in this part of the State and the disappearance of Stone caused a great sensation. But when he returned and was interviewed by the press he told a story of misplaced judgment and of business reverses. He denied having gone away with the Reeves woman, and said he would prove to the business circle with which he had been identified that he was an honorable man.

From his appearance, Stone is suffering severe mental anguish. None of his former friends in his home town greeted him as he stepped from the train, and his relatives spurned him. When Stone left this State he left his father, his father-in-law and his wife in poverty.

Stone's relatives, all of whom were wealthy, were on his notes to the sum of $50,000. His wife and children he left penniless, and the constables took all the farm produce and stock on his home property for debts he owed to his creditors in Jackson county. His leaving caused consternation in the business circles in this part of the State. By his going away and leaving his partner and his relatives in the lurch he affected business firms to the number of fifty, some of which will never recover the loss.

Gainesville Daily Sun, May 30, 1907, p. 1

Tragedy in Virginia [sic]

Mother and Son Slew Father as He Lay Asleep.

Parkersburg, W. Va., May 29.--Word has been received here of a horrible murder in Ritchie county, at a point near MacFarlan, in which, it is said, a mother and son slew the husband and father, while he lay asleep in bed.

The victim of the murder was Harvey Yohe. His murderers are said to be his wife, Mary Yohe, and his son, John. According to reports received here, Yohe, after a quarrel with his wife, in which the son also participated, went to bed. It is said that the mother and son had threatened to kill him before "the day was over," and no sooner had he fallen asleep than they stole to his bedroom, and fired two shots from a revolver, one entering his head and the other his abdomen.

Both son and mother gave themselves up to the authorities, and are now in jail at Harrisville. They acknowledged the murder, and say they are ready to pay the penalty. Both say that they lived with Yohe as long as they could, having been subjected to all sorts of torture for many years.

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