Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1880-11-20
TEE TRAGEDY OF CHEAT
MOsNTAIN.

Where the Staunton and Parkersburg
turnpike crosses Cheat mountain the
traveller will pass over a distance OF
eighteen miles, through all unbroken
wilderness, finding no dwellers on the
roadside except those in one little cabin
which stands near the Cheat river. On
either side of the road stand majestic
hemlocks and stately yew pines, lending
the appearance of gloom and loneliness
to the route. II the traveller should be
alone the mysterious silence OF the
gloomy road will give his mind ample
opportunity to conjure thoughts of rob-
berry, murder and all those evils which
betall people passing through such lone
ly territory, aud when he Unexpectedly
comes upon the log cabin standing soli-
tary in this dense wilderness, the thought
invo!untarily 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
staying OF which he spent most OF his
time, still people told strange stories OF
the old mans life, aud many legend
was told OF the missing peddler who
started iuto the Cheat wilds and was
never heard Of any more. Indeed so
exlravagautly did these stories grow that
it was rumored and told with batcd
breath that hunter il his rambles
through the Cheat mountains, once up
or time came upon hallow, large
suuksn place in the ground, which was
Uttered with saddles, supposed 10 have
belonged to horse back travellers who
fell victims TO the avarice of the mur-
derous White. Notwithstanding the
wild stories of the old mans life he con-
tiuued to move on lite's way in the old
style until year or;wo ago death came
along and with one
swooP OF Ills sCITHE
cut him down. When he was dead and
gone people began TO repent OF the sus-
picions they lad entertained about him,
and when the Sheriff (the place lies
within the limits of Randolph county,
came to administer on his little assets,
and no skeletons, skulls, molderlng
bones, or other evidences of concealed
victims were found about the premises,
popular opinion changed, aud men be-
gan TO say that White had doubtless
lived a harmless lite.
His son moved in the old cabin after
the old mans death. Soon the cabin
was burnt, and the son built new one
little nearer the river. Here he and
his wife for they had no children) lived
pleasantly enough until few months
ago a shadow tell across the threshold
Of the mountain cabin. A stranger was
introduced into the family. 1t was a
young woman, by name Naomi jackson.
Like the iIlustrious Naomi OF old, she
may have gone out full but she came in
empty. At all events she came as a
mendicant seeking shelter. The good
natured wife Of Azariah White had com
passion on the forlorn girl and took her
in as a member of the family. But this
Naomi, or Mary her name should be,tor
she dealt very bitterly with the friend
who gave her refuge, supplanted Mrs.
White 10 the affections OF Azariah. An
illicit intimacy sprung 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 her
troubles, and day by day was compelled
TO witness the amours of her husband
aud intrudiug girl going on before her
eyes At length the presence OF the de-
spised wife became unbearable 10 the
adulterous couple, and one Of the toulest
crimes ever perpetrated was done here
in this lovely hamlet on the 18th day OF
October, 1880.
On Tuesday (the day of the State
election) Azariah White went 10 Hut
louisville TO attend the election. He was
observed 10 wear an unusual troubled
look. The same day about noon the
Jackson girl appeared at house on tie
other side Of the mountain Gn 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 its ruins. The gentleman to
whom the story was told-a Mr.. Kerr,
Immediately started back with the girl
to the cabin on the mountain. When
be reached the place be found Mrs.
White lying on the hearth and a num-
Der of large rocks piled upon her, the
rock evidently having
COME FROM THE CHIMNEY,
for these was the places from which
they had been removed. de at once set
10 work to remove the stones from the
body, uususpieious of any foul play; un-
I'll he reached the body, when be detect
ed the smell of decomposition, which
was so strong as to convince him that
she could not have died 50 recent as that
morning. Turning the body over he