, 1891-08-04
MURDERED AND BURNED
MURDERED AND BURNED
Horrible Crime Committed by
Drunken Dagos.
They Attack a Kentuckian,
Kill His Family,
Set Fire to the House and Burn
Up the Bodies.
Murdered and Cremated.

CATLETTsBURG, Ky, Aug. 3.-Wayne
county, w. Va, was the scene of the
most horrible series OF murders Friday
night that has ever blackened the GRIM
NAL calendar of that notorious state. On
the night mentioned a Mr.. Brumfield, 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 a Mr.. Payne, just from the scene
of the murder, is revenge and the love of
gold. On Friday night, about midnight.
II party of fifty Italians, employed as la
borers on the Norfolk & Western railroad.
became drunk, and started on a tour of
devastation. The Brumield family re-
sided some distance from the railroad
camp, and were thought to have a consld-
cradle amount OF cash in their possession.
The Italians in n body made their way to
Brumficld's residence, and upon arriving
there abundance was demanded and re-
fused by the inmates. Rails and clubs we're
secured by the drunken dagos. and doors
and windows forced open. Mr.. Brum-
field, with two h%alf-grOwn sons, made a
brave fight in defense OF their homes and
lives. The defenders fought with desper-
alton, using every available article as
weapons, hut without avail, az their enc
mics were fifteen to one. Alter the brave
defenders were brought to the floor with
repeated blows they were murdered in a
most crdel and cold-blooded manner.
Their threats were cut from ear to ear and
the bodies repeatedly stabbed with the
knives carried bv the Italians. After dis
posing OF the men folks the now infuylated
Italians turned to the helpless women and
children. Whether the women were out
ragged is not stated. but it is supposed that
they we've. Mrs. Bruufeld and her three
little children were the mex victims Of the
drunken devils. After completing their
hellish work the mur6erers searched the
house for valuahles and her set fire to
the house. consuming the bodies.
For the real motive OF the crime we
must look further than surface indica
lions. The theory advanced by several
persons is that Mr.. Brumtield was a very
prominent, influential and wealthy citizen
of Wayne county. Some two or three
years ago he was elected as a county COM
missioner. About that time the question
of building a new court house at Wayne
Court house was being discussed. Mr..
Brumfeld opposed the erection of the
new building bitterly. and made many
enemies by his course. The court house
was built, and it is thought that Friday
nights work was the result. that Brum-
fields enemies piled the Italians with
liquor until drunk, her 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 muir
ders. and propose hunting down the
tiends and seeing that they swing for their
awful crime. A lvnching bee is fully ex-
pected in case any of the mrrderers are
captured. The scene of the crime is
thirty'five miles distant from here. and
remote from telegraph communication.