Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-06-23
THROUGH THE HEART.
The Chief Of Police Of Mounds
vile Murdered.
The Murderer in Flight, with an
Armed Posse on His Trail
"A lynching Very
Probable.

Wv
committed in West Virginia was psrpe-
trated at Moundsyille about half.past six
o'clock last evening, the victim being Rev.
j. 7. Thatcher, Chief of Police Of THE town
and q respected citizen. The tragedy
created the most intense excitement in the
usually quiet town, and if information
at hand OF this writing is to be depended
upon, the indignant citizens will mete out
swift punishmentfo for the crime, as soon as
they can get their clutches upon the muir
dsrer.
The particulars of the murder, with its
immediate causes, ere As follows: On
Monday evening Gene" johnson, a gen.
orally worthless citizen Of the town, q coal
miner by occupation, made an assault up
on James Porter, for which he was fined
$40 and costs by Justice W. Il. Edwards
Johnson not appearing, an order Of arrest
was issued yesterday and placed in the
hands Of Marshall Thatcher, who, last
evening. proceeded to secure his man.
Calling at the house of Johnson, near the
coal works, at the uppSr end OF town, the
officer was met by Ars. Johnson, who, IN
response to an inquiry for her
husband, seized o Ratchet and threw it al
lbe Chiefs head. The officer evaded
the blow with some difficulty, and ther
seized the woman, placed her under arrest
and started to take her TO jail. She re
| sisted, tooth and t~oe-nail, ard while thu
Marshal was struggling with her, her huS
band appeared on the scene, armed with {
double barrelled shotgun. He ordered
Thatcher to release his wife, and upon th'
officer refusing to do 30, Johnson raised nj
weapon and levsling it at Thatchers breast
fired one bsrrel, the heavy charge striking
tie victim in the left breast immediatel!
over the heart, the wound causing instan'
death.
Without p~ausing a moment, johnson
threw his gun to the ground, and passing
into the house, made his escape by the real
entrance. The shooting had been witness
ell By several persons, and the alarm Wa'
at once given, q large crowd starting IN
few moments in pursuit Of the murderer
| Sheriff w. II. ShaVacre OF once offered 0
reward of 800 for the apprehension
Of johnson, to which the town
authorities added 5000, and spurreo
on By hope OF this reward, as well as BY
deep desire to see the murderer captured
and brought to justice, a large number Of
determined men were soon Oh the lookout
for the fugitive and guarding every avenue
Of escape. The excitement throughout
the town and ~neighborhood, as the news Of
the terrible tragedy spread, was soon a
fever heart, and it seems probable that
Johnson will De swung up to the nesrest
tree in the event OF his capture.
The murderer is thus described: Age
about 25 years, height 5 feet II inches,
weight sbont 1855 pounds, slender and
straight in build, dark complexion, with
dark hair and m )Gstsehe, Roman nose and
freckled face. He is s son of that JohC-
son who, some ten years $50, killed james
Gessthouse, at the b. & q. depot. in
| Mouudsville, for which crime be was tried
and acquitted. Last night the elder John
son and the wife of the murderer were ar,
rested and committed to Jail without bail
az accessories to the crime, amid the most
intense excitement.
The body of the murdered Asrsbsl was
removed 10 his home, where Justice I'D,
wards impsnelled the following jury Of in
quest: l.. B. Purjy. A. BrYson, John
Brooks, Thomas J. Patton, J. NJ. Booth,
James P. Farrell, James Nottingham,
NJ. Brooke, +. J. Dorsey, NJ. Harris and
w. s. Hamacksr. After viewing the re.
mains the jury adjourned until this morn.
ing, when the inquiry into the cause and
manner of the murdered mans death will
be resumed.
Rev. Thatcher, the victim, was q man
universally respected in Moundsville, and
hsd many warm personal friends He was
a minister of the Holy Evangelical Church,
aud stood high in the community 40 which
he resided. He leaves q wife and eleven
children to mourn bis untimely death.