Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-11-10
THE TRAGEDY OF CHEAT
MOUNTAIN.

cStS ~ DokACnCN ~ WIZ SskSS
tration Of q Foul Crime-A
Lonely Cabin on the VIII
Mountain Top the Scene Of 6
Terrible Murder.
Where the Staunton and Parkersburl
turnpike crosses Cheat mountain thu
traveller will PASS over q distance o
eighteen miles. through an unbroker
wilderness, finding no jewellers Oh the
roadside except those in one little cabir
which stands near the Cheat river. CT
either side Of the road stand msiesti,
hemlocks and stately yew pines, lend
ing the appearance OF gloom and loneli
ness to the route. II the traveller shoult
be alone the mysterious silence OF the
gloomy road will give his mind ample
opportunity to conjure thoughts oi rob
berry, murder and all those evils which
beiall people passing through such lone
Is territory, and when he UNEXPECTEDLY
comes upon the log cabin standing soli'
tary in this dense wilderness. tie
thought involun,arily comes that this
must be the abode OF
SOME MOUNTAIN DEMON.
Here, for many years, an old man by
the name Of White lived, and while he
was doubtless an innocent old noun
taineer, with thought intent only upon
the deer, the bear and the panther,
which roamed these forests, and in the
Shaving Of which he spent most oil
his time, still people told strange stories
of the old mans life, and many legend
was told OF the missing peddler who
started into the Cheat wllds anu was
never heard OF any more. Indeed SO
extravayantly didthese stories grow that
il was rumored and told with bated
breath that hunter in his rambies
through the Cheat mountains, once up
on time came upon hallow, a large
sunken place in the giound, which was
literally with saddles, supposed to have
belonged to horse back travellers who
fell victims to the avarice OF tine muir
derous White. Notwithstanding the
wild stories of the old man life he con
tinued to move on life's way in the old
style until wear or two ago death came
along and with one
swOoP or HIS SCYTHE
cut him down. When he was dead and
gone people began to repent OF the sus-
picions thew had entertained about him,
and when the Sheriff 1.-THE places lies
within the limits OF Randolph county,
came To- administer on his little assets,
anil no skeletons. skulls mo.dern.
bones, or other evidences OF concealed
victims were found about the premises,
popular opinion changed, and men be-
can 10 saw that White had doubtless lived
a harmless lie.
His son moved i'm the old cabin after
the old mans death. Soon the cabin
was burnt, and the son built a new one
a little nearer the river. Here he anu
his wife (ior they had no chlidren) lived
pleasantly enoughuntil few months
ago a shadow fell across the threshold oil
the mountain cabin. A stranger was
introduced into the family. IL was a
Young woman, by name Naomi Jackson.
Like the illustrious' Naomi Of old, she
NAV have gone out full but she came IN
empty. At all events she came as q
mendicant seeking shelter. The good
natured wife of Azsriah White had com
passion Oh the iorlorn girl and took her
In ~ member OF the family. But tins
Naomi, or Mara her name should Tor
size dealt veiy bitterly with the friend
who gave her refuge, supplanted Mrs.
White in the affections OF Azariah. I'm
illicit intimacy spruny up between the
husband and the Jackson girl, and the
poor rejected,
SORROW STRICKEN WIFE
had all her grief To bear alone for there
in that remote wilderness she had no
one TO whom she could unbosOm heI
troubles, and day by day was compelled
TO witness the amours oil her husband
and intruding girl going on before her
eyes. At length the presence OF the de-
spised wife became unbearable TO the
adulterous couple, and one OF the foulest
crimes ever perpetrated was done here
in this lovely hamlet on the 18th day OF
October 1880.
On Tuesday (the day OF the State cleo
toni Azariah White went to Huttons-
vile 10 attend the election. lie was oh.
served 10 wear an UNUSUAL troubled
look. The same day about noon the
Jackson girl appeared ut house on the
other side of the mountain in Pocahon'
tas county, and told that early that
morning while she was out milking the
cow, and Mrs. White was preparing
breakfast the chimney had suddenly
fallen down and buried Mrs. White be-
meath It's ruins. The gentleman to
whom the story was to'd-a Mr.. Kerr
Immediately started back with the giri
70 the cabin on the mountain. When
he reached the place he found Mrs,
White living on the hearth and a mum
her of large rocks piled upon her, the
rock evidently having
COME FEON THE CHIMNEY,
for these were the places from which
they had been removed. lie at once SCI
IN work To remove the stones from the
body, unsuspicious OF any foul play
until he reached the body, when he de-
tected the smell of decomposition,w which
was SO strong as to convince him that
She could not have died so recent as that
morning. Turning the body over he
discovered an indented place in the
forehead, the skull having been mashed
in, and seeing stone hammer lying
close by, picked it up and was surprised
10 find that it fit in the indentnre ~ the
skull. lie Immediately fastened on
over TO Randolph county, informed the
officers of the law, who immediately
summoned a Jury and repaired to the
place and held an inquest upon the
BODY. twas discovered then that the
dead woman held ciinched in her hand
a bunch OF hair corresponding in color
and all 10 the hair OF the Jackson girl
A further examin ltion revealed finger
marks en- the throat OF the murdered
woman, for now i, was evident tina! the
woman had been murdered. Still closer
examination revealed blood marks on
the floor, and puddle OF blood in the