The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-05-15
Lynching in West Virginia.

Lynching in West Virginia. -
Upon arriving at st. Adams at late
! hour Wednesday night Scott Hill and
Brownlow Hill were hanged on an elm tree
on hill one mile west OF town by a mob
OF 500 men, who were unmasked. The
, mob captured the Hill boys from the guard
} at the hotel, took them to the place named
, fastened a half-inch, cotton cord around
their necks, threw the other end oyer
convenient limb, and sent for Rev. Mr..
Stump, who questioned the desperadOes as
to their crimes. Scott Hill confessed that
he and Jack Dobson on last Saturday night
! visited the home Of ex-Sheriff Atkins, of
Boone county, demanded his money. and
were refused. Hill then shot him, and left
him for dead. The two robbers went to
Spurlock' s residence, on Main Mud river.
On Monday Dobson was left, and the two
Hills and Spurlock visited Woods resi-
dence, where they expected to secure
81, 800 They BACKED their faces, entered
the house, and demanded the money, but
were refused. One of the robbers was
knocked down by the old man Woods, who
was shot three times. The robbers were
then shot at several times by Miss Woods,
who had been attracted to her fathers
room. The Williams could not stand the
| fire and fled. They saw young Woods go
| ing across the field and believed he was af-
ter help. Scott Hill said he shot at young
! Woods fifty yards away. where he was
| found afew hours later. Young Woods was
dead, with bullet through his heart and
wound in the arm. After confession
Rev. Mr.. Stump was asked to pray. When
the religious services were over stout men
| took hold Of the ropes and pulled the bodies
| of the two Hills three feet clear from the
| ground, and fastened the ropes. They re-
turned to the village, leaving the bodies
dangling in the air.
| The bodies were left hanging two or
three hours and then cut down, taken to
the village and placed in an undertaking
establishment, where they were viewed by
hundreds of people. Spurlock was rescued
from the mob and taken to Charleston
Thursday morning, where he is in Jail. The
officer who took him, together with the
prisoner, walked twelve miles to reach the
Jail. Spurlock s confession is substantially
the same as Scott Hills, but he adds that
he did part of the shooting. The band is
composed of over 100 members, who are
sworn to protect each other. He says that
the Hills have been operating for two years
and have killed four men and wounded sew
eral. He has a wife and children. and his
home was meeting place for the band.
Old man Woods cannot recover. The rob-
bers were identified by Miss Woods. Spur
80
Woods, and knew he had money I'M the house.
\------t i'' H''.t'
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U. S. COURT.-The Spring term of the
u. S. Court for the Western District of
Virginia commenced at HarriSOnburg on
the 9th, Judge Paul presiding. The Har-
risonburg correspondent of the Baltimore
american, dated May 9Th, mentioned sew
eral important cases which will be cOnsid-
cred before the Court 1.-The United States
District Court for the Western District of
Virginia, Hon. John Paul presiding, be-
gins tomorrow. There are several i'm
portant cases to be determined this term
on the law side. One is the case of Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad Company VS.. ST.
Brown Allen, former State Auditor. This
case IS an injunction sued out by the rail-
road company to restrain the collection of
back-taxes alleged to be due from the Bal
timore and Ohio Company to the State, on
their rolling-stock, from 1871 to 1881. The
amount involved is over $40, 1000. Hon.
Frank S. Blair, attorney general, appears
for the state. and Judge Sheffey. of Staun-.
ton, and Wm B. Compton, of this place,
for the railroad. There are several i'm
portant law points involved, and the case
is attracting interest throughout the coul-
try. Mr.. Compton, for the company will
claim exemption from taxation, according
to the domicile, viz: That the proper party
to tax the rolling stock of the Baltimore
and Ohio is the State of Maryland. Ali
States traverSed by this road are therefore,
interested in this case. $685. 3fllFlfs.
The other important case is the Abbott d
Iron Company of Baltimore VS.. thirty or
forty persons of this county. This is an
ejectment suit, in which the title to about
5000 acres of land lying in the Blue Ridge y
Mountains is involved. The claimants are
represented by Sheffey and Bumgardner, of
StauntOn, whilst the parties occupying the
land, defendants to the suits, have en-
ployed the very best legal talent in the
State-amOng others, Gen. John E. Roller
and VIM. l.. Yancey, of this place. If the
Abbott Iron Company succeed, bankruptcy
is sure to follow in many of the cases.
There has never been land suit tried in
this valley which excites so much interest,
owing to the many and diversified interests
involved. as-A~ 90 81 lsi'i7- HttH
Please Remember. aNi II
Do not forget that life is worth every eff "a
fort that is put forth for its preserva-
ton, and no matter what the ailment or $
disease you should not give up to the fell
destroyer without making every effort in
your power to counterfeit his advances,
and tn raOain vOur health, and stronOth