South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1889-03-01
A DOUBLE MURDER!
Ofcar Evans Shoots and Kills
John Hoke and Jacob Kirby.

tur usually peaceful communit,
was thrown into q fever of excite
ment by the announcement that o.
car Evans, who lives near Mr.. Isaac
Psncako'a, UP the river. had sho
John l.. Hoke and Jacob Kirby, kill
iiiIg the latter aud moi tally wou I'd
ing the former. The report wa.
soon confirmed by the arrival here ol
Evans in charge Of Justice NJ. +. Po'
ling. Evans was taken TO The Office
OF States Attorney X. w. DALEY
Jr.. where be remained short time
and was then cent 10 jail.
nOKE, KIRBY AND EVANS.
John Hoke was probably Fifty
years Of sge, and Of medium size.
He had vito and several children,
and lived about q mile and a-bsli
east of town. On The Winchester road.
lie came here several years ago, il ia
said. from Cumberland. For some
months he had been engaged in bau-
ling bark from tue sides of Bio
Mountain, near the farm OF Mr.. John
5. Pancake. about seven miles south
of here, to the railroad station at this
place. He had in his employ Jacob
Kirby, well. built, fair compile xioned
young man of perhaps % years,
over whom lie is reported 10 have
had great influences. Kirby's mother
and sister had been staying ut Hoke's
house. The kirtys hail from Fred
erick county, Va. Oscar Evans, who
was raised on Lost River, in HARDY
county, has been living in tue neigh.
DO: hood Of the Glcbe, in this county,
for several years past. lie is a
small, Misunderstanding man, and the
last person one would ever select to
do such desperate work IS that for
which he is now imprisoned.
THE STORY OF TIE CRIME.
"A thousand different rumors have
been. and arc yet, floating around az
TO tho cause Of The crime, as we'll as
the manner in which it was done.
1lcre being no witnesses of the deed
but the parties interested, and two of
them being now dead, il is evident
that but little credence is to be given
Co any OF these reports. The follow
ing, however, is said 10 be, in sub.
stance, What Evans had to say about
1T:
tie and Ioke had both been get
ting bark out OF the hollow which
rnnspp into Big Mountain just east
OF MIR. John Pancakes house. Ia ono
part of the road leading up This hol-
low there were many mud. holes,
through which it was difficult to pull
hbigNicaM OK bark. Hokc proposed
TO 8vans' hat they should buili a
new road around tie bad places, but
Evans refused &c assist in its con-
structicn. Hoke then made the
road, and notified Evans not to 90 on
IL. fJ.seems thai Mr.. Ike Pancake
had something to'Go with the road,
and hs told Evans he should have
helped build the new STREET. b.. Eva.s
then gave Mr.. Pancake $40 as his
share OF he expense. A few days
aftcrward Hoke caught Evans on the
new road with bis WAGON. He thrash.
ed Evans with bis wagon whip, and
told him he wonld do il again il he
found him there any more. Evans
made complaint to Squire Polling,
who warned Hoke not to repeat the
ofTensc. This probably angered
'Hoke still more. On Thursday
morning Evans was coming down the
hollow with load OF bark, when his
wagon stuck in tho old road Just
where the lower end OF the new piece
turns into it. Presently Hoke and
Kirby came along on the rev read,
and stopped directly in front OF Il.
vans wagon. Hoke was on top of
tie wagon, and Kirby was on the
saddle horse, driving. Hoke said /:
'Hcrc's tho =
We've got him just where we want
him and told Kirby to catch Evans.
Hoko started TO get down of the
wagon, and Evans fred al him, stri =
king him 10 the hip. Hoke statte d
10 run. Evans struck after him, and
when Inc overt ook him he was about
20 steps below bis (Floke's) wagon.
Here Evans shot IIOke again, (ihis
time IN tho breast when Hoke
closed With him, and they fell to tho
ground Evans began pounding
HOke over the head with the butt Oh
his pistol Hoko called Kirby Il
come md bclp him. and bring hin
lis knife. Kirby stared to tue les,
cue of his partner, ard was about Il
steps OF when Evans fred at lum anf
shot him through the heart. Kirbt
csmo on. but fcll,jusl ns he reac be
Evans. Tic lay 40 close 10 Hok
tbol the knife ~ his land wfs ~ith'r
ie" inches Of Ilokes fingers. r.
vans said he knew Kirby was dca,
ds soon Ns be fell. Evans then LEI
Hoke and went 10 bis team. lie so
on one OF bis mules and started dow
The hollow. he bad gone bat shor
distance when h saw Hoko runnin,
through the woods g. VIC left OF whcr
the hgbt had occurred. Evans wen
90 down TO the residence OF Mr. IL
Pancake, and told HAT cCntlems
'ihc lUss vas settled hc lad kilie
kithy and wounded lIokr' tie war
ted Mr.. Pancake 20 bring biin {
town, SO be could give Himself "
Mr.. Pancake told bin be w4s not
magistrate. and referred BIN
Squire Polling Evan .l.. lr.,r
dor'0 CO. Mr. Polling r .uoH b