The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1882-01-12
SUBLIME F1END1sHNEss.

Three Men Arrested for the Murder Of the
Gibbons Family, at Geigeravisle, Ky
Confession of Two OF Them-Thc Terri
BILE Story.
A dispatch from Ashland, KY, under date of
Jan. 8, saws 90 Intense excitement prevails
here owing to the arrest of the perpetrators Of
the triple murder Through the indefatigable
efforts of Detective Heflin they were caught
last night-William Neal, Ellis Craft and
George Ellis, all white. Neal was arrested
about o'clock last night at the Norton Iron
Works, where he was employed, and Craft and
Ellis were arrested at the same time. in Gei-
gersville, near the scene of the crime. They
were brought safely to the Hotel Aldine last
night about o'clock, and placed in the custody
Of Detective Heflin.
"George Ellis gave away bis companions in
crime to the detective. He states that on the
night of the tragedy he retired to bed aboutS
o'clock, and some time late in the night, or
early in the morning, was aroused by Craft
and Neal, who insisted upon him going with
them to Gibbons house. He very reluctantly
went with them, and after raising the window
sash with ak, they went into the house.
Craft commenced his hellish work with Fannie,
who cried piteously for mercy, but despite her
supplications he accomplished his terrible pur-
Dose. Neal IQ6n EuIud 1uOlud6, ab-
sisted by George Ellis, who held her arms while
Neal succeeded in his hellish designs. Emma,
after she had been outraged, said 'Oh,
VIII, I know who you are, and am going to
tell my mother
"By this time Robert was aroused by the
outcries of the girls, and got up from his bed
evidently to give an alarm, when he was struck
in the head with an ak by Craft, and he fell
headlong under the stairway, dying instantly.
Craft then told Fannie her time had come, and
~..u:l a. Gov. opA fba
desire of the child to see her mother before he
killed her, the hell-hound struck her in the
head and killed her instantly. He then killed
Emma Thomas. He George Ellis) says the
cries of the girls for mercy were terrible 70
listen to, and that he has not slept since and
every minute since, the horrible tragedy is SO
yividly before his eyes that he could not stand
it any longer, and would make clean breast
of the whole miserable crime. He says he is
prepared to die that he has prayed every day
since, and is ready to meet his doom.
"George Ellis is a married man, has been
married about one year, and speaks in the
highest terms of bis wife, whom he has 30 dis
graced. William Neal is also married: Ellis
Craft is single and boards with Mrs. House, ,
about block from Gibbons house. Craft
does not bear a very enviable reputation for
morality. They both say that George Ellis is
living about them, and they deny every word
that George has said about them. Graft ana
Ellis were taken to Catlettsburg last night and
locked in the County Jail. Neal was taken to
Catlettsburg this morning on the steamer B. 7.
Enos.l tsea,,, 5,
ssThe excitement is increasing. The Chattaroi
is running excursion trains from Ashland to
Catlettsburg, and from Louisa. On every boat
that stops. crowds OF people get on and start
at once for Catlettsburg. On every corner you
can see from fifteen to twenty men standing,
conversing in subdued voices over the arrest OF
the williams, and upon their faces you can dis.
cern the cool and determined expressions that
| indicate more than they want to be known:
1.-THE Williams expected to be hung last night,
but through the efforts of Captain Parrlli, very
| few knew of their being in town.
"The nerve of these men was shown in the
! active part they took IN the funeral OF Their
| victims George Ellis was driver OF the hearse,
| Craft was one of the pall-bearers, and the
other was a silent witness to this dlaoohca
| deed They were present during the fircs and
| assisted to get the bodies out OF the burning
building. The coolness displayed in these
! events 70 to prove the mental strength they
must have had in doing the deed.
Geo Ellis has given up al hopes ne ne paf. ,afs
arrangements with his wife for his funeral.
| Neal has turned States evidence this after
| noon. and both Neal and Ellis waived examine
ton. Craft has demanded trial on next
| Thursday.
"Tbore is no doubt hut they are the villains
who committed the terrible crime. Most likely
| before this reaches our readers the heii.nounds
in this blood-curdling drama will swing into
| eternity.
"Detective Hefin deserves the highest praise
for his unremitting exertions in ferreting out
these miserable wretches. The excitement up
to this hour is increasing, and the crowds that
gather in the streets have no hesitancy In saying
thcy will lynch the murderers. They have
been requested not to make any demonstrs-
tions until after Graft gets his hearing next
+ Thursday. ~,s,s. q, r.s.-,,..-s... ts.s.-.
i "LArER.-The crowds at Catlettsburg are
leaving very quietly for their homes, and the
postporement of Crafts case viii delay the
lynching operations" sa 2 24e h