South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1879-11-14
A Plot to Murder Sheriff Cur
WELLsBuRG. ". Va. Nov. {
as Rereuled, etc, ETC.

CHR ON Friday evening, November
th, party OF twelve men assembled
at the OLD camp ground on Castleman's
rum brooke county, and proceeded on
horseback TO the residence of Thomas
creek, In Jacktown. Pa, distant from
bethany thirty miles. They left the
camp ground at p. IN, arriving ut
Jacktown at 2 a. m. this morning. Ar
irving at Creeks house they took him
out and put him on horse. aud start
ed towards West Virginia, the party in
the meantime maintaining the utmos,
quiet and being unknown TO Creek.
They hal not proceeded far until Creek
said that sit was all q mistake about
him burning Bethel College" About
6o'clock tue party passed through the
town OF West Alexander. where Creek
yelled for help. None came to hand,
however. On striking the State line
and crossing, DR.. w. h. Curtis. who is
a deputy Tor his father, the Sheriff, in
cases OF emergency like this one. ap,
pea'ed upon the scene and arrested
Creek upon warrant issued upon the
affitavits OF j. L. and Is. +. Suddoth,
OF Bethany. Creek was taken before
Esquire Billings. Of Bethany, an 4 held
in the sum Of $4,000.
Last Thursday two women, Mrs.
johnson and Mrs. Wilson, were arrest
ed here for shop-lifting. After being
committed Mrs Wilson sent for DR.. w.
X. Curtis, and told him that she had
statement to make that would be OF
very great service TO him. Unfortu-
nately she had gotten into a bad scrape
and desired TO get off as easy as posi-
bic. She was conducted 10 an apart
ment where she could not he over
heard, and stated TO DIR. Curtis that
Tom Creek and DR.. Parkinson were
the chief actors in the burning OF the
property In and about Bethany-that
they had had meetings NJ her husbands
house. That they hal keys with which
they entered the store OF Georce &
Curtis, Ill Bethany, also keys fort the safe
OF same. She say that the way they rot
| an impression TO make keys was as fol-
lows: Tom Creek borrowed n bundle Of
keys from VI Cowan, n clerk in Cur
It's store, among which were the store
door AMI safe keys, saying he wanted
to unlock bureau drawer Accord
ding to her statement these parties Wis
lten Curtis store in the night time as
often Us two or three times week
carrying OF such articles as would not
be readily missed, and small sums of
money out OF the drawer in nicllels and
other small change 10 the amount Of
two or three dollars each time. She
said that Cree <, ut the time of the mr.
res: OF the young man Fletcher. some
time since, had II box OF goods obtain.
ed from Curtis ntore; also that Park
inson had box of stolen goods. Mrs.
| johnson told the same story as told by
Mrs Wilson without having known
! that Mrs. Wilson had made state
ment. The evidence thus Ear against
Parkinson AMI Creek, as obtained from
n number of Witnesses. is substantially
the same in the most minute particular,
and points TO Creek and Parkinson rs
being the prime movers in tho burning
of property at Bethany. Parkinson
has waived hearing until he can
consult An attorney. Creek will he ia
ken to Wheeling this evening on the
| 6 80 train for safe Keeping. Sometime
since friend OF Sheriff Curtis inform
eel him that n plot had been laid to
murder him and that he ought TO be on
| the lookout.
This startling information lei DR.. W.
Il. Curtis. Of Welsbure, TO try his
hand ut working up aud finding out if
possible the parties who were trying to
destroy Bethany and the lives OF its citi-
zens. The Sheriff and his son have
also been very dligent.
Esquire Billings informs me that lie
has warrant for the arrest Of one
James Johnson. alias J. G. Right, who
belongs TO the Brooke county gang
lie is supposed TO be at New England,
Wood county, w. Va. A suitable re
ward will be paid for his arrest
There is much connected with this
case that cannot properly be revealed
now. We trust that the beginning OF
the end OF the Bethany troubles is at
hand.
George Philabaum has just been jail
ed. He is supposed TO belong TO the
gang OF incendiaries. G.. BIC.
1t is estimated TINT tho Sonfh oloua