Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-03-09
LYNcHso FoR WIFE MURDER.
The Startling End of cfseksrsd Career
In Virginia,
hpAcSdl n IA E<,tstw

tne stortioG End or q Checkered Career
la Virginia,
ssscssi b ia 3>stIs~.
CEREpo, ". Va March 5.-A report il
current in this county that Col V. A.
Witcher, better known as "Cl,shammsr,"
who year or two ago left this county for
Virginia, was recently lynchsd there Tor :
having murdered his vie. whom be mar.
ried after leaving here. The repor, il
supported By good authority, 90 little
doubt exists as to It's correctness. Col.
Witcher was q we'll known character here
and local politician o; some note during
bis residence in the county. He WAS
candidate for the State Senate, prosecrt.
ing attorney and representative-in fact
there Was seldom sn election bu: what hs
was candidate for some efice, and a.
ways with the same result-S.ieat.
Witcher as stump speaker had but iew
equalsin the county. Notwithstanding
bis mtny humilialing defeats be va. al.
ways sanguine, aud attributed his III suc.
cess to some imaginary combination
against him. He was O lawyer by protes.
sion, but few people bad confidence in bis
integrity Aud, although having recognized
ability, he was regarded among the pro.
fession anything but respect. and ,uck
cases as he got were OF class no other
attorney would undertake.
MECH NARRlsD.
Colonel Witcher Was q man
who inclined towards domestic
surroundings. and was known as much.
ly married His 6nt mar.
risge in Virginia. his native State
appears to have been happy union, bot
bis wife died early 10 the war, leaving an
only child, a lovely daughter. The var
over, Col. Witcher settled IN WAYNE coup.
~, and sfter~srd figured in . scandal ef
some magnitude. having married . hand.
some young lady ot questionable charac.
ter, who soon nfterward deserted him and
ran away With another men. he lived
with her but short time, and, returning;
Witcher effected . reconciliation, being
thoroughly infatuated with the woman.
They seemed TO be uncongenisl elements,
and after many stormy scenes separated
forever. The gallant Colonel sealn mar,
red, this time bis domestic relations beipg
more placid This wife subss quenily dkd.
aud having inherited q ANAL e.,s,s In Viz,
ginis he left t~o or three years sgo, and
but little wss siteruard heard Of him, ex-
cept that he had again married. until tho
sequel, as stated ia the outset, and the end
OF q somewhat checksred life. came.
THE COLONEL.
Witcher fought in the war II the Rsbsl-
lion, where be gained bis tl,e. nd attained
some notoritty Bs Colossl Of Q regiment
Of guerillas Aftsy the var be ,p.ut q
number OF yesrs 10 Salt Lake City, and 10
said to have made quite q figure among
the Mormons. OF his career While there,
bowever. but little IL known. He
was . man Of pie, SAINT address, origin
ali'y, and could ,e!l coed story or make
q good sf,er-dinn.r speech. but seemed 70
DO utterly lacking In some essential part
Of bis nature, ard though having eItraor-
dinsry talent seemed TO utterly isli in those
qualities which make men reach high ct.
tsipment. Eis hnt marriage was in oas
Of ihs Grst families oi Virginia. The liz.
tie daughter VAS adopted. after the dea,h
Of her mother. by rich relative, and vas
brought up ard highly educated In ooe Of
the far Southern States She Vas gifsd
with her fathers talent aud very bssutfol
She bad every Advantage, IL 10 said. in 90
nal cnlfnta and "a. m hslla In H. -
t'opolis OF the South in which she lived.