The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-01
EFFORTS OF AMATEURS.
A Review Of West Virginia s
Hanging History.
RECOLLECTIOyS OF MOB LAW REVIVED.
What Governor Mathews Thinks About
the Situation.
WHEELING, March 20. 1878.

an unenviable reputation as State where about all
tho capital punishment inflicted has been furnished
by q court OF first and last resort known as Judge
Lypch's hastings The recent horrible hanging OF
John Wallace the wetzel county murderer, VINO on
the eve OF last Sunday torn by an excited mob
from the custody OF his guards In the little village oil
Burton dragged nearly miles along the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad track and with back broken ana
neck disocated left suspended IRON an apple tree
in view Of passing trains, has lad the effect oil calling
the attention Of public to the weakness manifested
by this section for this style Of execution,
and your correspondent looking INTO the
records finds that while the State has never
since creation executed an alleged offender regu-
lariy her mortality list in shape OF sudden TAX
iups or through organized mobs who were denomi-
mated as partics unknown" in the coroners' nquests
is large enough satisfy any demand that direc-
tion.
HOW CUSTOM CAME ABOUT
Before going into OF the facts which prove
this assertion, IL may be interesting 10 inquire
how the people Of this State contracted It's habit
OF declining 10 wait the regular administration Of
justice and taking the law into thor own hands when
they desired 10 punish criminals who had excited
public indignation. II the history OF the old state
had free from irregularities OF this char
ucer years before the separation 1t might DO sup
posed that West Virginia inhcrited the popularity
from her maternal ancestor, for "Lynch law
10 said to have taken its name in this
country from a Virginia farmer named Lynch
who whipped thieves himself instead OF waiting Tor
legal process, and the founder Of Lynchburg Is
said to have been the original judge who laid the
ioundati on for numerous line OF followers How
this may be, Virginia OF late years has shown
vicious tendency in this direction, while West vir-
gina has rlvaed carly California IN the number ana
variety OF her illegal executions.
One OF The causes which have contributed 10 this
result to be found In the demoralzng effects OF the
war, which Increased evil ana lawless tendencies IA
many portions OF the new State. AS the mineral re-
sources Of the State have been developed and It's
timber fields opened tho etIsct has been fur
ther, that large numbers OF men imper-
fectly educated. naturally distrustul OF the
certainty and justice OF legal proceedings turbulent
and easily wrought up to deeds OF violence have been
congregated points, and 1t is noticeable that
has been at these points that the scenes have been
enacted that have gwen the State such disagreeaDe
notoriety. The enactmont which still part OF the
State Code and which permits juries, who find crmi
nails guilty. Of murder the first degree to TX their
sentence al Imprisonment for life in the pcnitentiay,
hanging. on their discretion, has contributed much
10 the strength Of the mob spirit In cases where has
been aroused: for whom conviction OF tho most
henous crimes calendar follows arrest, It Is
by no certain that jury will be found which
is nrm enough TO condemn Q prisoner to death when
Il holds the option OF sentencing HIM 10 imprson-
ment
LYScHISG THE JENNINGS FAMILY.
Having glanced IT some Of the causes which have
tsrded to make several sections Of the State proc
OF crimes and almost equally prolific In cases OF
lynchiug following close thereafter let us examine
OF the notable cases OF tho latter. Not TO 20
back TO point when the anmosities oil the war took
on the snape of moo violence We will begin with
tine year 1874, period comparatively recent, ana
take up the Iynching OF the jennings family by
the "Red Men" OF Wetzci county II the latter part
OF that year Certainly enough the destruction OF
this family, which. with ITS connections, numbered
nearly one hundred persons took place IN the same
county, but lew miles distant IRON
the spot where tho murderer Wallace did his
cruel work, ana met his miserable death lew lays
ago The county rs one OF the most mountainous and
ugged Ia the State. One end Of opens on the Bal
tiinore ana OHIO Railroad at Burton and Littleton,
small stations miles apart, and The other end
rests on the ONO River, the county seat New Mar
trcme ends fcw poor roads, almost impossible at
times lead through hills Businesses and rocky gcns,
whose loneliness and orbidding aspect strike terror to
the heart OF "A tImid traveller. The county Is nlled
with good timber, and considerable proportion OF IT'S
population engaged IN gotlng out savcs headings,
cross ties &c. Tor Contractors who receive and trans
port u by wagon TO the railroad, or float down runs
and creeks 10 the river during high water seasons.
TINS class OF the population ana the small TAR
mers, sand diggers, Cattle traders aud others, who
complete the jewellers among the hills are hospit-
able, sturdy set, honest IN the man, Dut khuly
dicted TO lighting ana whissey drinking whenever oc-
cason offers Most OF them live In QUE room cdbius,
which furnish an exit Tor smoke by means OF hole IN
the roof their clothing the scantiest that deccncy
will permit and they know little and care less az TO
what going Ia the big world outside OF their own
domain.
Into this neigh borhood moved several years before
the date mentioned. family named Jennings, con-
psting Of the lather and mother several grown up
boys ana girls and q liberal allowance OF more distant
relatives Gradually they spread out over the county,
antiI there were few sections OF II which mad
mt
abe household increased its moral characteristics
seemed TO weaken proportionateiy. sevefai members
OF u Indicted Tor robbery ana other offences, but
rs often as arraignment was had some other mem
Der OF the family on hand TO prove aitb OF de
wise other means OF acquittal and their pursut DO.
came o waste oil time anu patience. Finally two Of
the boys were sent to the PeLitentiary At Mounds
Vile, which was then imperiectly surrounded by
stockadc and but poorly guarded, and they man
aged 10 escape and returned nome, bringing with
them other escaped copvcts VINO found the rocks and
forests OF the mountains secure retreat Then the
gang grew holder and, as was supposed under the
leaaersnip OF the elder Jennings, organized more
nudacIous enterprises Highway robberies became
frequent men were nred upon from ambush aud de-
teciion ana punishment by the ordinary means OF JUS
Al this period, when no iutlmation OF such action
had been gwen, body OF men. upward OF my ~
number. with tueir fsccs painted red heavily armed
aud well mounted, formed on the main street OF New
Msrtnsvie chilly winter night, aud without Ut
tcrtng an unnecessary sound cuosc a leader and
moved swiftly upon the house OF old man Jennings,
lev miles further up the creek. Ihcy burst IN the
door without stopping TO ask admission, and when
the ola mans wife threw ner arms about her husband
and begged Tor his lie they poured voisy alter yoicy
through her body into hts prostrato form. some
members OF the household escaped IN the darkness,
but Tue work was INTENDED 10 be thorough,
and not only was the building and IT'S APP
purtenances destroyed, but every Beghuoring
covert which could afford them shelter was buried,
and every relative elton VI the family, alter
being warned TO leave lost their homes ny the torches
Of the vigantcs. In Que night twenty families were
driven out vi the county, ana having ELECTED Their
purpose Of driving out aud destroying the obnoxious
elements oil the county society, tue "Ked Mem
dOfeu their ssnguinary colOrs and resumed the pur
suits oil peace.
TnE MARriSsBuRG LYSCHfSG.
About the time that these scenes were trauspiring
IN WctzeI county a similar tragedy was being pro-
pared Ia Berkeley county, one OF the tier IN the
Eastern Panhandle through which the Baltimore aud
ono Railroad aud OF which MartInsburg Is the
county seat The people OF TINS county are as rule,
ouieg and law abiding citizens Tho only element Of
10 population which has ever given any appearances
al ins ubord nation has been the raroad employees,
large number OF whom end employment IN the large