Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-09-12
Murder Mystery Cleared Up.
TIE HISTORY OF THE TRAGEDY POUND WITH A sERLE-

TON AT THE BOTTOM OF COAL SHAFT
A telegram from BE- sayer Glen, W. Va, Sep
tember 10. says The clearing up OF an old and
forgotten murder mystery was effected here yes
terddy ia most remarkable manner.
About the year 1865 several abortive attempts TO
sink coal shafts along the river were made ons
or these shafts was near this place IL had been
sunk about twenty five thirty feet and abandoned
Soon after It's abandonment wild stories OF un-
earthly sounds coming from its depths were cir
culated, but died out and were forgotten The
family living nearest the abandoned shaft was that
or John Ireland, who lived In a cabin which stood
In ravine quarter OF Il mile away. Ireland was
reported 10 be Well of, as wealth went IN those
days In mountainous regions. one OF the men con-
cerned in sinking the shaft, Ira Tompkns, hung
about the neighborhood, spending much OF hla
Time at Ireland's. If any suspicion OF his feelings
towards Ireland's rather pretty wife existed. nc
one seemed 10 remember IT, One day, after an
alleged absence frOm the neighborhood, Tompkins
reappeared at neighbors, saying he had just come
from the Ireland cabin, where he found the thres
children dead on the floor and Ireland and his wffe
missing. The neighb1rs visited the cabin and saw
evidences of terrible struggle MIS- Ireland was
afterwards found In the woods, a short dstance
away. bound 10 tree and gagged. She appeared
TO be greatly exhausted although now IL Is renem-
beTed that she presented no evidence OF having en-
gagged in the struggle. She declared that In th0
night her husband had killed the children, and
that She was afraid TO cry out for fear be would
Kill her. After killing the children he attacked
her, but at her frantic prayer he spared her life.
bound her TO the tree and then disappeared She
declared that he was undoubtedly crazy. AS Ire.
land never returned. her story was believed, and In
course Of time the tragedy was forgotten.
A year a1ter Ireland's disappearance TOmpk1n0
and Mrs. Ireland were married. Quarrels Were fire.
quent and one morning four years ago the woman
was found dead in bed. Heart disease was SAID -
be the cause. There was no outward evidence oe
foul play, and so the matter ended Tompkins lefo
the country and has never been heard OF since.
Yesterday party or boys were az the old shaft,
and one OF them accidentally dropped his watch
into IL. leafy limb was procured and the air In
the shaft thoroughly stirred up 10 drive out foul
air. Then a torch was made, and With the aid OF o
rope the young fellow was let down. In cropping
about In the debris he was horrifed at finding
skull. and made an Outcry. He was drawn up and
the authorities were notified. They Investigated
and discovered portions OF the skeleton OF man.
In the search for something that would furnish .
clue old copper tobacco box was found and In fc
badly scrawled was history OF the murder Of the
Ireland children written by Ireland. he declared
that he had been attacked by Iompkins and his
wife and left for dead. He revived sufficiently 10
see the murder OF his children, but could render
aid. Afs.rward he was seized and dragged 70 th0
shaft hole and thrown in.
The story seems incredible, but James Wagner,
an old resident says that he Identified the tobacco
box as one belonging 10 Ireland He says that the
writing is that Ireland The theory is that after
being thrown into the shaft Ireland revived, and,
knowing he must die, wrote the history OF the
crime Evidently TompkiDs bound Mrs Ireland 10
the tree TO throw OF all suspicion. IL Is now be-
lieyed that Tompkins killed his paramour before hs
fed