The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1870-05-16
HORRIBLE MURDER /!
An Old Man Murdered in Broad
Daylight and his Body
Eaten by Hogs.
Coroner's Inquest--verdict
-. Of the Jury.
THE MURDERER AT LARGE.

THE MURDERER AT LARGE
Fer many years past, there has livet
IN the upper end of this county, toward.
the head-wa.ers of Stone Coal Greek, il
Lincoln Township, an old man by The
name Of Edmond West. He was bach.
el0r-had few intimate friends, and, il
was supposed, no enemies. He lived in
bis little old cabin in the woods seldom,
leaving bis farm except to procure The
cessaries Of life. During bis long life,
bis close di'position-added to good
knowledge of farming enabled him to
acquire considerable sum Of money,
which he boarded away-hidiug it in all
manner Of places. His relatives and
frinds assure us that short time before
lis death be had several thousand dol
lars-mostly in gold and silrer-hid
about bis house, and this is supposed to
have been the cause Of bis death.
On Monday morning. the 9th inst,
his body was discovered lying in the field
some three or four hundred yards from
bis house, by Miflin Montgomery. His
skull had been broken and his teeth
knocked out by repeated blows With a
large blackjack club, which was found
lying near the body. covered with blood
and hair. The body was in most horri-
bic condition-for, in addition to the ter
rible wounds inflicted by the murderer,
the hogs had discovered it, and had eaten
of the face and torn out the bowels Of The
unfortunate man-renlering him most
pi.iable object.
On being notified Of tho sad occurrence
Justices Peterson and Simons promptly
repaired to the scene, and empanelled .
coroner's jury-vhich, aft,r hearing the
testimony, returned verdict that ".he
deceased came to bis death by blows in
aicted with club, in the hands Of some
person or persons unknown"
On tho same day Ezra ". Overs was
arrested before the same Justices, charged
with having committed the henisu.
crime, but after thorough examination
he was discharged.
Many conflicting reports are current in
regard to this sad affair, but all concur
th At it was most fendish murder; and
when it 10 known that it vas committed
in the midst Of civil conmunity, and
almos. il the hearing Of several neigh
,bor,, We are surprised that, as yet, moth
ing definite is known as to the perpstra-
tor. 4
The facts, as they were related 81 the
Inquest and examination, show that the
poor old nan was seen several times du-
ring Sunday (the day on which be va.
murdsrsd) in company with MAJ whom
none Of the witnesses could recognize
and on Sunday night a man was seen in
Vests house, but not identified. On ex-
animation Of the premises, the am Of
$s5 5 cents in silver was found, but nc
other money or property ofvalus. and i
is supposed that tho murderer secured
some $4,000 or $4,000.
Tie whole affair, further than this,
seems to be shrouded ia mystery, and VI
can only hope that such. active steps will
be taken as will secure the arrest aud
punishment Of the murderer.
As We go to press We learn that two mer
have been brought to the jail at misplace
charged with committing tho murder
Their names are Ezra NJ. Overs and
Henry Montgomery, both neighb0rs o
EMr. West.
SrmkE.-Wo understand that some o
the hands employed on the Asylum quar-
ry, "struek" for higher wages on Mon
day last. How the matter ended We hav'
not been informed.
OaoAsizsD. The new Town Csunci
met aud organized few days ago. A
its meeting on Saturday night last va
presented the petition Of The editor Of thi
paper. praying the Council to furnisl
T'nE DExscRAr with copy Of tho pro
ceedings Of each meeting--shs same to b
/ published without coat to the corporation
Next week we shall DO Table to stat
whether or not our offer has been accept
Ia =. D. ir