Huntsville gazette., 1884-05-17
WEST VIRGINIA TRAGEDIES.

AFar,ner Lustantly Kills the Newly Neddet
Husband of Ills S;epdaughter and Leaves
the Latter for Detd-A Mysterious Muir
der-A Man Shot by Unknown Assas
sins in His Field and Afterward Beaten q
Death with stones.
WHEELING, w. VA, May T.
A terrible tragedy was committed al
Petersburg, Grant County, Friday night
the particulars Of which have just beer
received here, and another lynching may
follow, which viii be the fourth i'll this
State within ten days. Lawrence Spliler
farmer living back of Petersburg, had .
handsome step-daughter to whom he
played the part Of cruel parent
keeping her mewed up when
ever practicable. The county
was full of rumors concerning
their relations to each other, aud it be-
came matter of surprise when Edward
Taylor, who worked for Spiller, demand
ed her hand in marriage. Spiller refused
point blank and warned Taylor he would
kill him if he found him again on the
premises. On Friday night the girl dis
appeared, having eloped with Taylor and
gone to Petersburg.
Spiller armed himself and fol
lowed, vowing death to the man
if caught. At Petersburg he
learned that they were married and were
lodging with man named Williams.
Spiller went to Williams house and
was told the newly married couple had
retired and were asleep. Forcing his
way to the room, he entered, awaking
Taylor with the noise The bridegroom
sat up in bed as Spiller entered, and
Spiller leyelled a revolver at him. The
bride begged piteously for his life, but
Spiller fired, the bullet entering his heart
and killing him instantly. Spiller then at
tackled the wife, hammering her over the
head with the revolver, and bitterly de-
nouncing her for deserting him. Leaving
her for dead he rushed from the house,
mounted his horse and fed. Williams
gave the alarm, and an armed posse start
in pursuit. Spiller returned home, where
he was arrested and taken back to Jail.
The news comes by messenger, and
when the man left the town the indIgna-
ton and excitement were intense. Mrs.
Taylor was then in a dying condition, and
the courier feared mob law in the event
of her death.
SHOT AND DRAINED WITH STONES.
CHARLESTON, W. VA, May H.
Tho ,,A~.-,--
cinity are excited over the accounts
of the numerous desperate deeds
that have lately been committed.
Within ten days five murders
have been enacted and three lynch
ings, and while all of the crimes have
been committed by the "James gang"
and though three of its members have
been lynched and one shot dead while re-
sisting arrest, the lawless deeds of the
band are still carried on and hor-
rible tragedies are becoming every
day occurrences. The latest has
Just come in from Roane,
an adjoining county, and will ever re-
main mystery. Thomas Duskin, a
well-known farmer, has figured promi-
nently before the Federal Court as wit
ness in various cases, and has incurred
the hatred of the gang, which caused
several threatening letters to be sent to
him. He gave them no heed, and went
to work as usual. With man named
Elmore he was planting corn, when a
shot was heard, and he threw up his
hands and exclaimed, "I'm killed."
Elmore could see no person, and
taking hold of Duskin started
for the house, mile distant On the way
Duskin became weak from loss of blood,
and resting on the fence sent Elmore on
for help. Elmore had not gone five hun
dred yards before five masked men
emerged from the woods and attacked
Duskin, killing him by pounding his head
to Jelly with stones. So far as could be
learned nothing is known Of the murder
ers and no steps are being taken for their
apprehension.