The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-12-25
-..'s..WKS 1T MURDER.
Tha Rinding OF a Hat Leads to Investisa
SION and q Murder Trial May Result

The Kfnding OF a Hat Leads to Investiga-
sion and Murder Trial May Result
Late developments may yet show that
John Taylor was murdered before the
train ran over him in October last" said
@ prominent lawyer to n Posr reporter
few days ago.
1t will be remembered that on the
morning of the 18th of last October the
manglcd remains Of John Taylor we're
found etrcwn along the railroad track near
che L. & N. depot. The supposition was
that he had been killed by night train
while in an intoxicated condition, and in
che investigation before the coroner's
jury on the day Of the tragedy, no facts
we're ELECTED that would uphold the theory
Of murder The consequence was that
John Plaster, the man to whom suspicion
attached as the one, with whom ne mad
been on drunk, and with whom he was
last seen, was dismissed from custody.
The father of young Taylor was dissat-
is6ed with the verdict of the coroners jury
being firmly Of the opinion that his boy
had been the victim of some foul play.
Investigation was commenced and it IS
claimed that many facts have been dis
closed which go TO show that the Taylor
boy was murdered on the fatal night.
But little can be learned from those
who have been carrying Oh the investga-
tion but n few facts have leaked out III
spite Of the efforts of those interested to
cover up their tracts.
IL seems that the finding Of q hat other
than the one worn by Taylor, near the
place where the body was found aroused
che suspicious Of the father Of the deccas-
cd. No Importance was attached to the
finding of this hat at the coroners inquest.
The elder Taylor said nothing about il but
commenced to make inquiries and, accor-
ding to one Of his attorneys, it was learn
cd that one Of the brakeman on west
bound freight train which passed through
here che night Taylor was killed came in
te Shawnee the next morning minus q
hat: Inquiries among the railroad men
about Shawanee developed the fact that
the crew on this freight had spoken of
having put some fellows of their train
near here on their down trip. The theory
is that Taylor and his companion John
Plaster got on the freight train at the de-
pot and getting into row with the brake
man, be commenced to eject them. In
the scufae which ensued Taylor jerked off
che hat Of his ejcctor and carried it with
him as be was pushed from the rearo the
moving train, This, push it is claimed.
vas the cause Of his death and he was left
to lay on the track for following Grains to
mangle beyond recognition.
"This theory" said one of The interested
parties accounts for the mysterious state
naents made by Plaster at the coroners in
guest, you remember he said that after
leaving town he remembered nothing
more being SO drunk, until he found him
SELF, several miles below town. Now, it
is hard to believe that man can walk
several miles in cold bracing night ali
and be unconscious all the time. II is
probable that the man on the train seeing
The fatal result of ejecting Taylor refrain
Cd from treating Plaster in the same way
and he was not put off until he got near
where he was found next morning"