Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-12-01

KNIFE BORROW ED BETWEEN THE
HYMNS, AND A MANS THROAT CUT
A TRAGEDY IN A MINER, VILLAGE
FLIGHT OF THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
AT THE INQUEST,
&C., &C.. &C.
In the little village of Buffalo Gap,
about twelve miles from this city on Tues
day evening, just at sunset. and just as the
calm rays of the full moon lighted up the
white houses Of the village, d man was
seen staggering along the street IN front
of the little church, from which issued the
voices of congregation singing hymn,
a wound in his throat dyeing the snow
covered walk red with blood. He fell
against the stile entering store, and
died; while along the white path leading
up the mountain side, there was flying
another man, with a knife in his hand,
who disappeared amid the trees. The news
of the man lying dead soon brought a
crowd together, and he was recognized as
John E. Rippetoe. d gentleman about forty
years Of age, the proprietor Of saw-mlll
near the village. He was the brother OF
Rev. David and Rev. Jas. Rippetoe, OF the
NJ. E. Church, and son of MI Henry D. Rip
petoe, d well-to-do farmer Of the vicinity.
He recently lost his wife, sister of MI.
Charles w. Stafford, of Staunton, and his
death orphans three little children. The
murderer is Samuel Wren, a youth eight
cen years of age, who has occasionally
worked at the iron works at Buffalo Gap.
The story Of the shocking murder shows
that Wren was sitting in church, where
Rev. Jas. A. Ruley was conducting the
service, when some one gave him note
for his sister. He went out and over to
the village store to read it by the light.
There he was met by Mr.. Rippetoe, who
accused him Of stealing two dogs (some
part Of the iron-Work of his saw mill), and
told him a man had seen him do it. Wren
said the man named Was then over at the
church, and he would go and bring him
oyer. and face them. He then went over
to church; went in while the congregation
was singing hymn, and borrowed large
knife from one Of the congregation; then
called a friend to come out with
him, and going out to where Rippetoe
was standing, got into a quarrel with him,
and drove the knife into his neck. cutting
the jugular vein and carotid artery He then
turned and Fan, Rippetoe pursuing him
some thirty yards. The dying man finding
his strength failing, turned and started
back, and fell i'll the street, eXclaiming to
James ". Patterson, the friend that Wren
brought with him: Stranger, that man
has killed me-" Patterson coolly replied.
ooh, l reckon not; you 60 on In the
store" and turned On his heel and walked
off from the expiring man, who in mo-
ment more was corpse. Wren ran up
into the mountain, meeting his brother on
the way; and telling him that ne had 'cut
Rippetoe all to pieces" He stayed in the
mountain all night, and the next Gay was
seen about mile from the village by
oolored man, of whom he. inquired if he
'shad heard Of tho accident and adding
that he was "sorry it happened"
1t was supposed that having often run
on the c. Il O. freight trains he would at
tempt to board enc of the western bound
Il .~ough freights and thus make his escape.
Mr. VIM. NJ nnwrman, the manager at the
Buffalo Gap Iron and .steei "ofks' tele-
graphed on Tuesday night to all the sta
tions along the road description Of the
murderer. The murderer who is as, stated
only eighteen years Of age, has a twin
protheE n9l7asFE, who is so exactly alike
thai the two can haIs,y be teslld apart.
THE INQUEST.
On Tuesday morning Mr.. E. Id. Gushing
the county Coroner was notified by Mr.,