Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-08-03
ITALIAN FIENDS
,vv,cK TEE EOME or A WAYNE COUNTY
PARHER
And Murder Father, Mother and Children In Cold
Bleod, and Then Burn the EOuss-Rslahvs
Armiug-Msagsr Details and SpeculadOns.

true, Is most O2rOarlOuS one, and
swift and adequate punishment will
most certainly follow, at the hands Of
the people, if the murderers are caught:
Wayne county, w. Va, was the
scene Of one Of the most horrible muir
ders Friday night that ever blackened
the criminal calendar Of that State.
''On the night mentioned Mr.. Brum-
field, his wife and five children were
murdered in the most horrible manner
Imaginable and their bodies consumed
by flames,
''The only theory advanced for the
crime, as told by Mr.. Payne, just
from the scene Of the murder, is re-
venge and the love of gold. On Friday
night, about midnight,
a PARTY OF FIFTY ITALIANS,
Employed as laborers at the Norfolk
and Western railroad, became drunk
and started upon a tour of devastation.
The Brumfeld family resided some dis
lance from the railroad camp, and were
thought 70 have q considerable amount
of cash in their possession.
after raising a big noise, the Itali-
ans, In body, made their way to
Brumheld'S residence. After arriving
at the residence admittance was de-
handed, but refused by the inmates.
Rails and clubs were secured by the
drunken dagOs and the doors and win
dOwS forced. Mr.. Brumfeld and two
half-grOwn sons made brave fight in
defense Of their home and life. The de-
tenders fought with desperation, using
every availagle article as weapons, but
without avail, as their number was hf-
teen to one.
AFTER THE BRAVE DEFENDERS
were brought to the floor with repeated
blows they were murdered In most
cruel and cOld-blOOded manner. Their
Threats were cut from ear TO ear, ana
their bodies repeatedly stabbed with
knives carried by the Italians. After
disposing OF the men folks, the now in
furiated dagoS turned towards the help
less women and children. Whether the
,gomen suffered outrage is not stated by
NV informant, but II is supposed they
aid. Mrs. Brumheld and her three
Httle children were the next victims Of
the drunken devils. After completing
their helish work the dagoS searched
the house for valuableS and then COM
pleted their work by setting fire 10 the
house, consuming the bodies.
FOR THE REAL MOTIVE
of the crime we must look further than
surface indications, on the theory ad-
vanced bv several persons. Mr.. Brum-
field is a very prominent and influential
and wealthy citizen of Wayne county.
Some two or three years since he was
elected as a County Commissioner
About that time the question Of new
Court House at Wayne c. ii. was being
discussed. Mr. Brumfeld opposed the
erection of the new building most Bit
terly, and made many enemies by his
actions. The Court House was built
aud il is thought that Friday
nights work was the result. Brum-
fields enemies piled the dagoS with
LIQUOR until drunk, then pointed out the
path to the residence, and paid money
for the commission OF the crime. The
citizens of Wayne county are most thor
.oughly wrought up over the terrible
murders, and propose hunting down the
fends and seeing them swing for the
awful crimes.
A lynchiug bee is fully expected 10
case any of the murdererS are captured.
The scene OF the crime is thirty-tive
miles distant from here and remote from
telegraphic communication.
The Huntington Times Of yesterday
morning said:
fr,rr wa
in town that tragedy had occurred on
Twelve Pole river, above Dickson, In
which Boss Brumfeld and his wife had
been murdered by Italian laborers on
the n. & w. Railroad. We tried to get
the particulars, but could only succeed
i'm getting the following: A young man !
bv the name of Fuller, school teacher,
near the Shoals, some six or seven miles
from the place where the tragedy Oc-
Cured, was in town yesterday and said
that young man told him the evening
previous that he met the Brumfeld
bows going up Twelve Pole armed with
guns and revOlverS, and said that the
Italians had murdered Boss by shooting
him twenty-five times, and had shot his
wife twice. Ii will be remembered
that the Times, a few days ago, gave an
account Of Brumfeld shooting one Of
the dagos for carrying away his wheat.
IN there is anything in the report OF the
tragedy it is the result Of the former
trouble.
ssTbe WAYNE Court House Mail yeSter-
dav said they heard nothing of it, so it
may be only rumor.
The true explanation OF the murder
Gus raid by the Italians is doubtless the
fact that about ten days ago one OF
Ross Rrumfield'S sons shot and wounded
an Ttalian. under the following circum-
stances. Ever since the work OF build
inc the extension OF the Norfolk
and Western railroad through West
VIRGINIA has been In progress,
farmers have been put to serious annoy
ance and loss by the depredatlonS OF
italian and Hungarian laborerS. There
have heen countless rows growing out
~ mis- cause. and from time to time
the press OF Cabell, Wayne, Logan anu
adjoining counties have alluded 10 1he
matter. About ten days ago the TWO
Brumfeld boys mentioned, wnlle pass
ing through their farm, saw TWO Italians
raiding a wheat stack. Iney rehloh-
strated with the wOrkmen ana even
went IN the trouble TO explain 10 theu
that the stack was not straw, oue
rntbresbed wheat. The Italians went
AWAY bnt later in the day they re-
tnrned and the boys found them carry
ing of the grain. One Of the boys hau
shotgun, and he hreo on oS
men, badly woundlng one
them, the uniniured one HaAlns
his escape. Later some ltalsns caulS
back with q wheelbarrow ana Carried
of their wounded comrade. Inc Drum