Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-02-22
A West Virginia Tragedy.


A double iraaedy ocrur,,d IL thy woods
five mies from Rom e., W. Va, yesterday
morning. Oscar Evans, a farru hand, shot
John Hoke and Jacob Kirby. The last
named died a few moments after he shoot
ing. Hoke lies in critical condition.
Evans, who heretofore has been regarded
as an easy-going business man, has been sr
rested. The men had quarrel some time
ago over the amount Of their respective
shares for making q stretch of road. About
week ago Hoke and Evans met while
hauling bark, and Hoke, jumping FROM his
wagon, horsewhipped Evana. The fight
between the three meu, Hobe and Kirby
against Evans, wes a terribly bloody one.
It took place in wild, lonely spot on the
Big Mountain, south Of Romney. No one
was near to interfere, and tie three men
fought TO the bitter eud Evans. after the
whipping he received at the hsnde OF Hnke.
provided himself With large old-fashioDed
army revolver, which he loaded and carried
in his overcoat pocket. Yesterday morn
ing Evans was driving up the mountain
road with heavy load OF bark when his
horse stalled While he was trying to urge
the animal on Hoke and Kirby came along,
and ordered him to move out OF the way.
Evans declared his inability 10 move, and
an angry dispute followed. According
to Evans story, Hoke and Kirby then ad-
vancad to attack him. Evans shot Kirby
twice through the body, and he then fred at
Hoke, but missed him. Driven desperate,
Hoke, Selling this opportunity, rushed at
him. They grappled and terrific struggle
began Evans was finally thrown to the
ground, almost beneath the feet OF his horse.
Holding him down by the throat, Hoke
shouted to Kirby, who was lying on the
ground some yards away, to come and help
him. Evans was nearly choking beneath
the clutches OF Hoke's fingers at MS throat,
when Kirby, with the blood streaming from
his wounds, unclasped his knife and stag
gered towards the struggling men. Evans
could see the blade of the long knife glitter
as Kirby, raising it high above mis- head,
dragged himself forward. having fallen on
his knees from faintness when within s few
feet of him. Though in the throes Of death
himself, Kirby made one desperate effort to
strike the man who had shot him, but as he
reached the PROSTATE man he gave groan
and fell over dead Hoke taking one of his
hands from Evans throat, reached out to
get the knife from the dead mans clutch,
when Evans suddenly turned over, and, by
quick movement. released himself,
and picking up his revolver fired,
just as Hoke rushed upon him with the
knife. The ball entered Hoke's body Just
below the heart. The mon cinched again
in another life and death struggle. Hoke
dropped the knife, but Evans clung to his
revolver with one hand, while with the
other he tried to disengage himself from the
hold of Hoke. Finally, he succeeded in
breaking away and firing again, this time
the ball entering the right leg of Hoke.
The first shot, however, had so weakened
Hoke that he rolled over as though dead,
and Evans then beat bin, over the head and
face with the butt of bis revolver. He be-
lieved he had killed him, when leaving the
PROSTATE form on the road, Evans came to
town, told the story of the terrible encoun.
ter, and gave himself up to the authorities.
Hoke, however, was not dead. but, after
Evans left him, recovered sufficiently to get
on his horse and attempt to ride 10 town.
He did not get far before he dropped from
his horse and was removed to q farmhouse
close by, where he now lies in q serious con.
dition. The above story of the tragedy is
in substance that told by Evans. Hoke
tells different story. EIe says that Kirby
and himself were in their respective wagons
all the time, and were frat attacked by
Evsne.