The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-05-21
An Extraordinary Murder in Ken.
.a." tUeky. Doe


On the 18th inst. was concluded, a
Russellville, Kentucky, the trial o
William Webb for the murder ofC. s
Beasley in December, 1871, the jury
having rendered a verdict Of guilty. Tht
details OF the murder as developed by
the trial have no! been made public.
the parties were men of families residing
half a mile apart, nine miles from Rus
sellville. Besley had daughter named
Rebecca, aged sixteen. and Webb had a
con named Christopher Columbus, aged
twenty-four, who were engaged to be
married. Beasley's family objected 10
the marriage on account Of "blood end
position" and the girls father determin.
ed that the marriage should not take
place. This determination was strength
ened BY the fact that the old man Webb
1.-THE prisoner) had made contract with
a family of negroes that his son Column
bus and his to be daughter-in-law
should live with them, Rebecca doing
the cooking and washing for the negro
family. Rebecca was aware OF this con.
tract, and assented TO it. On the fatal
day, Christmas, 1871, Mr.. Beasley, re-
turning from a hog hunt found that his
daughter had LETT home, and as he
soon learn ed, had gone to the house OF
The elder Webb 1.-THE prisoner) where
the marriage had been arranged for.
He immediately started for his neigh
boris, followed by two or three neigh
bors, who stopped few hundred yards
from Webb's house, Beasley saying
"Wait boys, and will go ahead and
put the thing through in few minutes."
He was wholly unarmed.
On reaching the house he s'gnsled,
and VIM. George. minister OF unen-
viable standing responded, and invited
Beasley to come in. He declined, and
asked If bis daughter was in the house.
There were several women in the house
beside Rebecca, and the preacher replied
that they were engaged in singing
HYMNS both families belonged to the
same church and recognized each otser
as brothers and sisters in Christian &C
ceptation OF these terms.) Christopher
Columbus Webb was not in; but his
father was, and being informed that
Mr.. Beasley was at the fence demand
ing his daughter, Mr.. Webb went with
Mr.. George TO the yard fence, Mr.. Bess'
lev remaining outside, and Beasley
again asked for his daughter, A war
Of words followed, the details OF which
were not elected by the evidence. 1t
lasted few minutes, Beasley at one
time shaking his fist under Brother
Webb's nose, though an eight rail fence
was between them. Suddenly Webb
went into the house, returning in few
minutes with a navy revolver. and re-
sumed with increased vigor his wrang-
ling. The inmates Of the house had
seased their singing and repaired to the
front porch, within thirty feet OF the
auarrelsome fathers. the would be bride
taking her place coolly among the
rest.
Beasley, still outside the fence, was
seen to advance upon Webb, talking
excitedly and Directing to the marriage
Webb was heard to say, Brother Beas-
ley, don't come any farther" and i'm
mediately the revolver was dischsrEed.
producing fatal wound in Beasleys
abdomen, from which he died in twenty
four hours. After he fell, and while
weltering in his blood in the highway,
Webb endeavored to shoot a second
time, but was prevented from doing 60
by the preacher George, though the lat
ter did not 60 to the PROSTATE form Of
the diving member of his own flock, nor
trv to direct his parting spirit Webb
and the company, including the muir
dered mans daughter, returned TO the
house snd resumed their hymn singing
while BessIeys friends came up on
hearing the pistol shot aud carried the
dying man to his house. Webb re-
marked before giving outanother hymn,
tbs. he didn't hit him where be aimed
to. for he tried to shoot him 10 the heart
Beaslev made dying declaration, which
was admitted as evidence, with the re-
suit above stated
1t is the general opinion in RUSSELL
vile that the murderer should suffer
the severest penalty for the crime tor
which be has been justly convicted.
Columbus Webb did not .marry Rebeccs
Beasley. He is dead, and she is a