The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-12-16
AsHBY's DEATH.
The Man.Trap In KInEwood Tunnel.
TuNNELroN, W. Va. Dec. IA,

The Mnn!Trap In KIngwOOd Tunnel.
TUSNELroN, w. Va, Dec. IA,
ELTON IntsleESncer
Great excitement still prevails in this
community in regard to the discovery Of
the body Of Joseph n. Ashby in the bot.
tom Of shaft number one over Kiugwood
tunnel, this county. In order that you may
fully understand the nature Of the case,
] shall give you a short sketch Of Joseph
n. Ashby and the probable causes which
led to his death, On Sunday the 10th OF
October, 1870, Mr.. Bud Roise, living
near the west end OF Kingwood tunnel,
Preston county, W. Va, missed some
money, to the amount Of about $50, and
thinking the money was stolen by Mr..
Ashby, had warrant issued aud placed it
in the hands Of Mr.. P. F. Crawtield, Con.
stable Of the District, who, on the even
ing Of October 2lst, 1879, made the arrest
at the west end Of the tunnel and proceed.
ed to the east end of the tunnel, distance
Of one mile. Arriving at the store OF
Shatfer & BOnAfield. about 0 A. NJ, a fur.
Their search was made upon the person Of
Ashby and failing to find any money
about him which answered to the desCrip.
ton otthat stolen, except ickel which
any boy might likely have, he was re.
leased from custody by the officer.
Your correspondent has known Mr..
Ashby for fifteen years, and had quite a
lengthy conversation with him after he
was brought to the store Of Shater 4
BOnafeld. Ashby was released from
custody about lOA. NJ, after which he at.
tended dance near by, and took an ac-
tive part in playing the violin and dane
ing Tor nearly one hour, being Considera-
bly, under the influence OF whisky. There
was an objection made by some OF the
ladies present, and 1t was insisted upon by
some Of the gentlemen, that no should 20
away from the dance, which he did, start.
ing in the direction of the place where he
was arrested. This was aboutl2 A. NJ. of
October %, 1870. As the path over which
he travelled is near the shaft, it Is thought
he made one or two steps to the left OF the
path and thereby lost his balance and fell
to the bottom OF the shaft, distance Of
lbs feet.
In travelling from one end OF the tun-
mel to the other there are three shafts to
pass by, the first, in which Mr.. Ashby
was found, is called number one. At the
top or surface Of the earth 1t is about
thirty feet square and desCends with
slope about fifteen feet, and at that
point it is about twelve feet square, and
from there to the bottom, 10 feet, it is
perpendicular. The walls are Of natures
own structure (stone). These shafts were
sunk by the B. 30. K. r. Co. at the time
they were building the tunnel, and have
been for years, and are now, open for man
as well as animal to fall into.
The remains Of Mr.. Ashby were taken
out Of the shalt about 4 p. NJ. yesterday
evening by Mr.. George Williams, coal
miner Of Kingwood, formerly OF Pitts
burgh. Mr.. Williams did not get 500 as
reported to the Sunday Leader, but went
free gratis. The body was viewed by
your correspondent and recognized as
being that Of Jos. NJ. Ashby, whom he saw
under arrest on the evening Of October
22d, 1879, and knowing him for years,
found him to be honest and never heard
him accused Of theft before. As the money
was afterward found in Mr.. Roise's house,
tits evident that Ashby did not take the
money.
The finding OF the Coroner's jury was in
accordance with the above statements.