The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-06-16
Details Of a NYestern Trnge,Iy.

ST, Louis, June l5.-'The Globe. Demo.
crat has q special from Rockwell to-day
which gives q graphic account Of re.
markablO murder and suicide recently
committed there, ltGppears that In the
latter part Of April, 1875, Embury Can.
non, his son William and two nephews,
got on q big spree in Rockwell, aud Gre.
ated disturbance 10 the town until late
at night. Sheriff Alex. Starkes was on
intimate terms with the Cannons, and en-.
deavOred 10 persuade them 10 desiSt from
this riotons proceeding, but was not sue.
cesSful. He then warned them that II
they did not stop disturbing the peace
he would arrest them. This only made
them worse, and the whole party assault
ed the Sheriff and beat and cut him se-
verely. During the melee the Sheriff
drew a revolver and snapped Il several
times, but none Of the chambers exploded.
The party scattered, however. and starkes
procuring better weapon, followed the
Cannons, intending 10 arrest them. He
found them at a billiard saloon and was
again set upon by the whole party, and
while defending himself shot and killed
W. A. Cannon. This ended the good re.
lationS between Starkes and the Cannons,
and some time afterwards Starkes was no.
titled that Embury Cannon was trying to
hire some one to assassinate him. Ii be-
came so evident that StarkeS offered his
farm ior sale with the intention Of
moving at once to some other place where
he would be more secure. In September,
1876, u stranger appeared in Rockwell,
singularly dressed and armed with a
double barrel shotgun and several revol-
vers. He pretended TO want to buy
farm, and was referred TO Starkes as hay.
ing one for sale. He called on Starkes,
and, after short conversation, they both
started for the farm, Starkes in Opposi-
tion to earnest entreaties OF his vile and
the advice Of some neighbors. He never
returned alive, but next morning his dead
body was fonnd in the woods with load
Of buckshot in his head. The murderer
fled. II was subsequently learned that
his name was George W. Garner.
In October, following the murder,
the grand jury indicted Garner for the
murder ofStarkes, and Embury Cannons
as the instigator Of the crime, but neither
could be found. 1t seems that prior to
the murder OF Starkes, Garner had shot
the Sheriff Of Lee county, Texas, while
that officer was attempting his arrest,
and rewards aggregating $1,000 were
offered for him. When the Sheriff OF Lee
county recovered from his wounds he de-
termined 10 capture Garner, and after a
long search found him in little town
near Little Rock, and succeeded in ar
resting and taking him to Lee co., where
he was turned over 10 the Rockwell co.
authorities. Last March he was tried
and convicted OF the murder Of Starkes
and sentenced 10 be hanged on the 18th Of
June (tO.day). After his conviction he
made a confession, saying that Embury
Cannon hired him 10 kill Starkes for
five hundred dollars crsh, note for SIPS
and a team Of horses. Last Tuesday
evening Mrs. Garner was allowed 10 enter
the Jail and remain with her husband till
his execution. This morning on opening
his cell the Sheriff found Mrs. Garner
dead and her husband nearly lifeless.
A doctor was sent for, but before he
arrived Garner died. Both left letters. In
the one written by Mrs. Garner she said
she purchased morphine at Dallas two
weeks ago and took it into the Jail in her
mouth. A question then arose az 10
whether there was enough to kill both
and which Of them should take the largest
portion OF it. Mrs. Garner evidently
took enough to kill, but there were marks
about her neck which show she had also
been strangled. Garner also took some
poison but when found he had cotton
stuffed in his nostrils, handkerchief
crammcd in his mouth and n wire,
the bail OF bucket in his
cell and twisted it around their necks ,evi-
IDENTIFY not being satisfied that they had
taken enough morphine TO kill they
finished the job by strangulaLiOn. The
verdIctoE the jury was death from stran.
gulation. Mrs. Garner's letter further
says that it was not through her husbands
persuasion that she gave up all to 60 with
with him, but for his sake, TO whom she
was deyoledly attached, and her hearts
wish. There seems to have been bad
blood in the Garner family.
a brother-in.law Of his was recently
shot by the Sheriff Of Benton county,
Texas, while attempting to arrest him,
and his mother is now under indictment
tor poisoning her third husband.
About 5, 900 persons assembled at Rock
we'll this morning to witness the execu.
ton, but when they learned that Garner
had cheated the gallows they quietly but
respectfully dispersed to their homes.