Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-11-15
3Tbeelins Register
A TERRIBLE LIFE.
The Biography Of a Noted 0sspe-
RADIO.
His Crimes on the Dark and Bloody
Ground---A Fearful Encounter in
a Oarksned Chamber--ROast-
ing a Nsgress, etc.


an old time resident Of this county, Great
"A .omsiuterest 10 the immediate neighbor-
hood Of HE place, and caused the resuF,
rection of certain long forgotten tales OF
his eccentr;ciiies, and wild folhes, By those
wbo had known him intimately during his
early manhood. HANDBOOK was born IN
Levisbarg, Virginia, on December the
tenth, eigaty-thrss years ago. His parents
belonged to one Of the Oldest families IN
the State, aud were numbered amongst
the weal,hies residents Of this fertile cOun-
try His father, and Only brother were
swept away by q contagious disease while
be- was bat 3 mere lad, twelve years OF age
and from that period, till he reached man
hood. be had absolutely no restraint
placsd upon his actions Those who knew
him state that be was naturally kind
impalsive friend, but possessed an uDgoy-
erna5ls temper, aud when fairly aroused
SHARED neither friend nor foe. AT the sge
of txen,y-six be fell desperately IN love
With Edith Vernon, the beautiful daughter
of near ueighbOr, but oa several oeeA'
s;ons gave such reirs to bis terrible anger.
"a 10 frighten the lady into refusal OF
her hand ElEood Warner, the son OF 3
wealthy planter, from below Nicksburg, was
slso a sui,or for the lsdy's tsgors, and oy
his handsome figure and polished mon
ners. succeeded in gaining her love. On
hearing Of the engagement, Hsrerook 10
ssid to have given way 10 insane paro&-
ssms of rage, during which ne VoEed tost
the Mississipplsn would never live to ENJOY
bis triumph. The remark was repeated
bv the person who delivered him the news,
and after passing through several persons
cached Warmers ears. The hot creole
blood of the Southsrner, boiled stthe threat
and de.pi,e the psrsussious OF his friends,
he determined 10 make HANDBOOK eat bis
words or fight. The two men met ie"
fec DAYS subs. quenuly at the house OF s
friend. Warner, during the evening, md
;pp a suitable opportunity present itself, de-
handed An explanation Ct the NnglnisD,
Whoboiling over With salous rage promptly
knocked him down. Beth men immedl-
stslV drew pistols. which they were pre-
vented from usiug. for the time berg, o.
the bystanders; although those who were
acquainted With the desperate courage OF
botn knew thai bloody conii'c: could lot
he averled Warner was rendered frantic
hy the brutal response 10 his naughty ehsl-
jsogs and swo;e q deep oath, that the In
mo ssould be washed out in blood. The
mat er vas placed in ths hands o. friends,
Mo decided to settle NE affair at once,
although !, was then, within short halt
bour OF midnight. Is vas agreed that the
duelistl should be bGndfolded, aud lead
INTO s darkened room, and that each De
armed With pistol and bowie-knite. Both
~ the men expressed their willingness to
the conditions, and seemed equally anxious
for the encounter. A largo upper chamber
Al ,be building was chosen, sad rapidly
stripped of furuIture ami hsuglngs. TIE
NindoEs snd doors were thsn closely NUT
ne5, aud everything placed 10 readiness Tor
the novel duel
Each mAu was carefully Slindt1lded, and
Led 10 separate corners OF the room, and
proyiisd With Seapon5 by their seconds
who noiselssslY withdrew 70 the next cham
Der whsrs they waited With hated breath,
for the issue Of the coming struggle. Ine
sseouds grew slowly into minutes. which
ssensi ike hours 10 the anxious friends,
al nearly a quarter of sn hour had passed
ne When the loud report of two shots
BLENDED together rang out, followed oy the
sounds of furious Scgt!s. nus soon
ended and all became qnie', with the eS
esrtion Of Low moan, nov and men, OF q
narsoH evidently saHsring intense agony,
A light bang procured, the trends entered
the 1oon and were greeted By scene,
never 10 5e forgotten. The body OF the
Southeruer lay stretched STARK And cold
upon the floor, the blood pouriugln streams
frrn terrible kuits wounds IN his throat,
bosom ard abdomen. L9ing across the the
BODY of his antagonist, his ugnt nsno SUI
cIssyipg the weapon, which mad done the
Lo, I'd work, laY the almost iusenslole body
g -. Virrinian His right srrn had been
C,oLsr :, the wrist By pistol bal, viii
,bs bIoo4 Gsresmed from several SAVAGE
ashes IN Sis geek aud shoulders. Ihe
room everywhers, Rsye graphic evidence
Of the sicksuiag siruSus, Ihe eelinS' "sIs
and doors beiIg elo'ted AID sPAIIsred WIN
Mood. Physisians were 81 onc2 su2mened
- sttsnd fhs men Every effort was made
40 resuseitate the Sou;herner, but without
avail as he was quite dead. With bar.
orook. the doctors had batter success ana
sseeseded in restoring him TO health; but
il was only after long months OF CONNIE
ment, that he ultimately recovered IRON
The terrible effects Of his savage battle.
Miss Vernon never recovered from the
ss1c, ,,s the shock, giveu her, at hearing
IS tba horrible death Of her loSesr sud
went RAPIDLY into e d-cl,Le. dJitg Re"
,non,ba later az consumption Alter The
death of Miss VsrnGa, HANDBOOK oecsme
wilder and more 5issipS's5 than ever col
leciiug about him the Wo's' 9eG o. toa'
section. His hsE5y gazing durHs TIE
DAYTIME. ard Wild orgies 81 Tght, caused
mia society 10 be shuc hsd By all the respect
ABLE members of the community. dis cArte'
was suddenly broUgh; to 80 end al les'
county By q fslal ARRAY with compsuioo
over a came OF esrds, Harbsook plungiOg
E1ife deep IN tbs heart OF his second an
tsconisL His victim Sas boy OF only
eighteen year Of age, and had been tempt
"a ) nd lesd by HarOrook into habits OF vice
The IA .aily, which wss very wealthy sEOr'
Venpabes on the murtereE Uho Was com
DelIed to lssza the country. His sSreer fo'
many wears is soSsyhst vsiled IN mystery
T. Il aid, ,ha, he mSis his way TO Ne'
Orleans, snd from thence 10 c?ba, Herr
ais onsrkmsnGhip and reckless disregard o
Siie Won him al pasnvisble reputation q
a noted duslist he Is thought to hAV,
entered the slave trade On lE3 G9ine!
Coast, as a portion Of ships log S2o'
was found among his eSscls' after N
death. 1t is alleged that h
amazed q vast quantity Of wealth, IN TIN
oefsrious traffic, IS after an absences o
eighteen years, he returned to his home
accompanied BY ; dark eyed brunette