Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-10-11
INCARNATE FIENDS.
The Widest yellow Back" 0utdOne In
Truth.

ing story of the crimes and final suicide of
one of the most desperate criminals of the
South.
Benz. w. Furlong, who committed sui
eide here two weeks ago, had led a life of
singular desperation. From the time
when he was q boy to the time of his
death he was a terror 10 every neighbOr-
hood in which he lived. At the age
of - q responsible position in 4 saw
mill owned by his brOther-in-law ut Pine
Bloom wac given him. One day n colOrcd
teamster was found in his wagon dead with
his throat cut. 1t was developed that
young FurlOng had n quarrel with the
teamster which ended in the tragedy. The
murderer disappeared and was gone several
years. When he returned he resumed
his desperate career without ever having
been called to account. A little over two
years ago Mr.. X. +. Repnard a wealthy
gentleman of Savannah fitted up saw
mill at Nanceville on the Brunswick and
Albany road in which he invested $1,000.
He placed Ben Furlong and his brother
John in charge of it and having the ut
most confidence in them, left it entirely
to their management. The charge of
such a large business turned Fur
longs head completely. He began drink
ing heavily, ncglecting his wife and
family and took to the companionship of
wantOns. One day he rode up TO his
house with q woman from Savannah and
and taking her in presented her to his
wife, saying: "pocahontaS, how do you
like this; amt she n beauty" The dcs-
pendent wife broke into tears, whcreupon
the husband seized her by the hair and
dragged her across the floor,
STAMPING UPON lei
and breaking n chair TO pieces across her
body. The pair then rc-entcred the bug
gy and drove off, leaving the wife upon
the floor unconscious. There she was
found several hours later by some passing
n%cighbors. When her story became
known the utmost Indignation prevailed.
Parties of men started out in pursuit OF
the rccrcant husband.
lie was caught up with at q country
house where he sat with n Winchester
rifle across his knee. 'Tll blow the
brains out of the first man who
darcs to come near me-" he
said detcrmincdly. For several hours the
posse stood at q respectful distance, deem
ing discretion the better part of valOr, and
then retired and left Furlong master of the
situation. Mr.. Rcpnard soon became
aware of the state of affairs and dispatched
an agent to VAUDEVILLE to take charge Of
the business. When the agent arrived at
the mill he found that John FurlOng had
received information of his coming and
had scraped together so, 600 Of the mills
money and skipped out for Texas. Three
months later news was received of Johns
tragic death in that State. He bid in
some property at Sherifrs sale and offered
part payment in notes. That was not in
the bargain" said the Sheriff. "IOu are
q liar" retorted John.
THE REPLY WAS A BULLET
from the sherifrs revolver which pierced
Johns heart. In the meantime Ben Fur
long threw off all restraints. When
ever he made his appearance
the officers all seemed to
withdraw in his favor. On one occasion
he boarded the train bound for Bruins
wick and going into the colOrcd coach
took a seat. In front OF him sat a negro.
Throw that cigar out of the window"
ordered Furlong, 81 have paid for my
seat and do not want 10 be disturbed,
Instantly FurlOng caught the negro by
the head, pulled it back over the seat and
made several lungeS with his knife into
the negroes throat. Furlong jumped off
the cars and escaped into the woods. On
another occasion Furlong sought out
engineer Brock on the Brunswick
and Albany road and asked
him if he wanted money which was due
him. On Brock making an affirmative
reply, FurlOng said: IF you do, take
that firing at the same time and striking
the engineer in the abdomen. About six
months ago FurlOng gave some evidence
of reformation to encourage which his
friends united and started him once more
in business, with head quarters ut Sniff,
on the Brunswick & Albany road. But
his reformation was of short duration. He
always went armed, and would shoot into
a crowd of cOlored people Just for the pur-
poseO of
SEEING THEM SCATTER.
On September first he started on a big
debauch, and was so desperate that even
his c~onfederates feared him. On the night
of Thursday, September %, he called his
wife and children 10 him, asked them to
pardon him for his past bad conduct and
declared that the morning light would find
him a new man. After kissing them he
returned to his room, where he was found
an hour later in a comatOse condition, and
by his side was an empty laudanum bottle.
The end came before morning, and with
the news of lFurlOng's death went rumors
of
A DARKER CRIME.
No one would speak for over a week, and
then the story came out which established
the fact that Furlough had been driven to
suicide because Of a murder which
he had committed two weeks before
and in the commission of which he had
two confederates. On the down freight
train on September Z was Jesse Webb, col
ored. who was in search Of employment
He was put of the train at Sniff Mill, where
Furlong spotted him az a man who had
previously entered into a contract with
him. Webb refused to 90 along with Fur
long. whereupon the latter seized him, and
h~andicapping him put him under the guard
of J. NJ. Lotion. 4 white man from Atlanta
and Tom Sharon. Webb made a break for
Loffen running toward the swamp with
Furlong in full pursuit A discharge from
Furlong's rife brought Webb to the ground
in a clump OF bushes about 400 yards from
the house. When Furlong returned to the
house he put all under notice that he
would kill the first one that peached. Fur
long. Loften and Sharon, each earryinga
double-barrelled shotgun, went down to
where the wounded negro lay. Furiong,
in his desperation,
CUT THE VICTIMS THROAT
For three days and three nights they kept
the victim there in sight Of help n Jet