The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-01-28
GheGnteIEigetrter
WEST VIRGINIA LYNCH LAW,
The Hanging OF Williams ut Bar
louisville Last Saturday night

WEST Virginia. L1NOH In"
The Hanging Of Williams ut Bar
louisville Last Saturday night
Correspondent Of the Baltimore Americana
HUNTINGTON, Jan. "a. 1875.
On Sunday last, 10th instant, Hugh
Miner A well.to-do farmer, living withir
Iwo miles Of Barboursville, the county
seat Of Cabell, disappeared, and nothing
Ming heard Of him up to Friday, certain
in1uiries induced his friends to believe
that he had been murdered, and acting
upon legal advice, tho friends Of thu
missing man caused the arrest Of Mrs
Miner and u man named Ben Williams
The latter person had been strongly sls'
pccted by Miner OF having, during. tue
past three years, been criminaliy mt
mate with Mrs. Miner, and on Sunday
last Williams being at the house, a quar-,
rel occurred between the husoahu anu
wife. From the house the parties went
iuto the yard, and since that time Miner
has been missing.
THE cuLDs CsToRY.
After Mra Miner and Williams had
bcen lacked up in the county Jail, and
wbicb il connected with the Court House
n, BarLoursvillC, little son Of Mrs. Mil.
ner stated to the law officer that he wit
messed the killing OF his father, and gave
the following facts:
After his father and mother had re-
paired to the yard the quarrel was re-
1ewed, and while thus engaged Williams
armed with All axe, stole up behind, and
striking the doomed man two blows upon
the head with an axe, fclled him to the
ground. Williams then coolly cut the
throat Of his victim, after which the wife,
selling hold OF the legs, and Williams the
arms OF the slain man, bore the body
to the barn and concealed it in dung
heap. The murdercrs thOn returned 10
the House, and after washing the blood
from their hands and clothing, stated to
the little boy that If he even whispered
what he had witnessed they would kill and
bury him beside his father. Thus threat
ened the child was silent upon the subject
until the murderers had been safely lodged
in Jail. Then il was that he unbosomed
himself. When it became known that
the child had made public the above
facts, search was made for the body OF
Miner, and it was found as described by
the child. The head OF the unfortunate
man was crushed and his neck cut almost
in twain. The finding OF the body caused
intense excitement among the people for
miles around, and before dusk Saturday
a meeting was publicly held at Barbours-
vile, at which it was resolved that Will
liams should be hanged Immediately.
Every particular relative to the hanging
Of the murderer was discussed without
guise or cOncealment from the officers OF
the law, and when the meeting adjourned
it was understood that Williams should
be hanged that night. Administer of the
Gospel was despatched to the jail for the
purpose Of praying with the prisoner,
but the latter treated the subject iii a
tlippant manner, avowing that he knew
about the disappearance Of Mil
ner.
THE LYECHING.
A few moments thereafter fully one
hundred unmasked men marched into the
Court House yard, surrounded the Jail,
and organized committees to carry into
effect the hanging OF Williams. A vote
as to the place was taken, and tree in
the yard being mentioned, q wild FAYE"
was the response. This shout was heard
by the miserable man, and when informed
Of its purport, he confessed to having
killed Miner, but declared that Mrs.
Miner was not accessory TO. the crime.
Mrs. Miner, however, by repeated nd
missions, convinced the lynchers that she
was n party to the murder, but they re-
solved 10 leave her in the hands Of the
law. In less than ten minutes after Will
liams had made his confession, the jailOr
was compelled to produce his prisoner,
and amid IN awful silence, broken only
by the falling OF rain, Williams emerged
from the jail, followed by Mrs. Miner,
whom the lynchers determined should
witness the execution. Within thirty
ieet OF the Jail stood the gibbet tree, and
dangling from a stout limb was the
rope and relentless moose. At u
signal, fully fifty pairs Of arms
tnggcd at the slack end OF the rope,
and the next instant Williams was dangl-
ing space. A guard was placed over the
body, and seven hours elapsed before the
corpse was taken down and laid upon the
ground, to await such action as friends or
officers Of the law might take in the
premises. The body, however, during
the morning was taken in charge by the
Sheriff. Mrs. Miner, after being compell-
ed to witness the execution of her accom-
plice, was re.conducted to jail, but the ex-
element TODAY is at such heat that it is
not all improbable that she too will be
taken from the jail and hanged by the
lynchers. To prevent this double dis
grace a strong body OF order-loving citi-
.ens Of Barboursville have declared that
he law in the case OF the wife shall DO
and if the lynchcrs attempt
Jecond execution bloody work will fol-
ow.
After the mob had collected in the
.ourt house yard the States Attorney at
empted to dissuade them from their un-
awful intentions, but his words were met
With derision.' Parties who took nm ac.'
i've part in the lynching OF Williams
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