Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-08-24
Murder and ROBBERY.


place, near q pathway leading from the
farm OF Mr.. Joseph Friend to the top of
Tyler Mountain. miles below this place,
by Mr.. Skidmore, while hunting cattle,
being attracted to the spot by the buzz
yards. On Saturday morning an inquest
was held over the remains. They were
lying beside a log. at the base of steep
bank, in deep ravine. The body had
evidently been slightly covered with leaves
and dirt drawn down the BANK. The flesh
was nearly all gone--a piece eg skin off
the back and the hair decided the remains
to be those of white man. The skull
was broken. the hole being about tie size
of half dollas, Just above the temple.
and fracture running roun1 TO the back
of the. head. \ clear conviction was at
ouce fastened upon the mind of the jury
that the man had been murdered. No man
from the neighborhood had been missed
But 1t was soon in evidence before toe in
quest that on the 9TH day of July. William
Patton, as he is generally called, but whose
real name is Whalan. and well known to
all the boatman, was seen in company
with young man on the road leading
from Coalsmouth, between the river and
pike miles below Charleston. Between
12 and o'clock P. NJ, Mr.. Pratt meets
Patton on the road in company with a
young man, coming up towards Charles
ton, 81 miles from the place where the
body was found. Patton tells Pratt they
were from Arkansas he. Patton, had
been mate of the steamer Greenwood, got
good wages, but little or no money-bOat
owed him S50O--intended to go back as
soon as the weather became cool--the
young man in company with him was go
ing to the east. About 4 or in the even
ing Patton was seen coming into the road,
apparently in direct line from where the
body was found over the ridge to the hol-
low next above calls black woman at
S. Il. Early's cabins to give him a drink
! of water-givcs the woman gold dol
lar. n short distance from the turnpike,
about % miles from the place of the muir
der. he is met by Mr.. Wilmington. an Old
acquaintance, by cornfeld where Mr..
Wilson and his hands were at work-the
sun was then about half an hour high
Patton TELLS Wilmington he has plenty
of money-opens his handkerchief, and
shows quantity of gold coin mostly $50
! pieces. He here makes no mention of the
! young man that was seen with him when
seen by Pratt, nor. was the young man
seen with him after Pratt saw him. On
! the 5th-the next day--Pattou was in
! Charleston--e exchanged 500, in $50
gold pieces with Capt. VIM. johnson, of
the steamer Fashion, for 500 in Con-
ucrsyille notes-showcd large amount
Of money at Rufner, Donnally {: Cos.
store-changed more gold for paper mo-
ney ut Mr.. Gebhart's, About O'Clock
on the morning of the 9th ne bought a
horse, saddle and bride of A. B. Little
page. on Two-Nlle, for which he gave
Littlepage $1,000 in gold and 40 in
ConnersvIlle moncy-told Littlepage that
he was going to the mountains, but goes
in another direction-took the road to
Jackson G. FL. and at Mr.. Aultz's trades
his horse for another-that night stays
within a few miles of jackson g. Fl.
The above related circumstances being in
evidence before the Inquest, the Jury rem
dered verdict that the deceased was muir
dcred and robbed by William Patton alias
William Whalan. On Tuesday morning
the Goth of July, Mr.. ]. 7. Hamilton. OF
this place. joined by H. F. Aultz. started
in pursuit of the supposed murder. who
with great diligence and perseverance
traced him from jackson to Gilmer, and
through Lewis, Upshur and Harrison. He
I { Patton) sold his horse-he then had a
grey stallion, in CIarksburg, and gave a
bill OF sale. signed his name William Pat
ton. At Fetterman Mr.. Hamilton could
not ascertain which end of the Railroad
he had taken. He went to Cumberland,
but finding no trace of him there, return
ed, went to Morgantown, Washington,
and Brownsville, Pa. and to Wheeling,
but not being able to ascertain satisfacto,
rily the course Patton had taken. return,
to this place on Sunday night last. Al
MI his stopping places Patton talked big
-indulsed freely in liquor.
1t now appears that Patton went by
Railroad from Fctterman to Wheeling and
thence went by steamboat to Cincinnati
for We are informed by the officers of the
Salem. that arrived here on Saturday last
who knew Patton well. that he came down
the Ohio. was on board of the Salem
paid his passage to the mouth of the Ohio
but afterwards took back the Money, sta
ting that he would take boat going tC
New Orleans. as he would go to Arkansas
and would save transhipment at Cairo
This is the last authentic information we
have of Patton.
/ We will give here description of said
Patton.
He is about "a or 25 years old, about {
feet ten inches high, stout made, hair o.
a light sandy color, freckled faced, eye
teeth prominent, teeth white-when tai
king, grins and shows his teeth. He has
a scar above the temple covered by hi.
hair. His name, VIM. Patton, is printed
on his left arm certainly, and it may be or
both arms.