The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-10-28

MoRrox, Va, Oct. 27.-Doc Taylor ex'
plated his awful massacre OF the Null
Inns family on the scaHoId few min
utes after o'clock this afternoon. He
met death boldly, and, under the moose,
dressed in n suit Of pure white linen,
preached his own funeral sermon to the
crowd Of assembled witnesses OF his
death.
STORY OF THE MASSACRE.
The crime for which Taylor paid the
PENALTY at Wise Court House, Va, to-
day, was committed May II, 1892, and
was more in the nature OF massacre
than an ordinary murder. Ira Mullins.
A man who was SO lame that he could
not walk, lived at Pound Gap, near the
state line between kentucky and Vir-
gipia. At the time the murder was
committed he had been to Ietcher
county, KY, TO dispose OF tract Of
land, and was returning to his home in
company with his wife, his daughter,
his brother. John Mullins, and his wife
and son. This, with silly boy who
was the driver, composed tho party.
Mrs. John Mullins and her son escaped
to tell the story.
Mrs. John Mullins was the principal
witness against Taylor. Her evidence
was to the effect that Ira Mullins aud
family were in wagon short distance
in front OF her, and where the pathway
led into the main road, when she heard
a yoley fired. fastening up to where
they were she saw the horses and
driver dead. Immediately Doc Taylor
and two others, John and Henan Elem
ing, came out OF the woods that lay be-
tween the pathway ard the road aud
commenced firing at close range into the
wagon. Ira Mullins and his wife and
son we're killed. At that instant her
husband, Joe Mullins, and her son came
up the pathway. The guns OF the muir
dercrs we're turned on them and Joe
Mullins fell llfeless. His son fed and
escaped alive.
SAVED HER own LINE.
In the meantime Mrs. Mullins had
alishted from her horse, and, running
up to them, begged, "For Gods cake to
quit shooting, as they are all killed
now" when one OF them turned to her
and said that il she did not leave there
damn quick" they would kill her, too.
She then ran away and left them. They
proceeded to rifle the pockets, securing
from Ira Mullins the price of the land
he had sold, which was about $1,000.
They then mutilated the bodies Of their
victims in the most horrible manner.
TAYLOR for some time afterwards made
his abode with Flemings where he was
in toerably safe hiding. Fearing cap
ture there he went to Norton, boarded a
freight train and went to Bluetield, w. Va.
The authorities OF Norton wired Detec-
tive W. G.. Baldwin, OF the Norfolk &
Western railroad, who arrested him as
he was boarding a west-bound passeng-
er train. He was tried in the circuit
court by Judge Korris. The verdict
was guilty and ne was sentenced to
death, being taken to Lynchburg for
safe keeping. His counsel secured n
writ OF error and argued the case before
the court OF appeals, which sustained
the verdict OF the lower court, and he
was brought back and re.sentenced to
be hanged to-day.
CLAIMED TO BE INSANE.
He leaves family all grown and well
respected. 1t was claimed by his friends
that he was insane, and petitions were
circulated last week to ask the governor
to extend his time or commute his SEN
tence to life imprisonment, but not
many signed it. He was very eccentric
and had queer religious ideas, kind OF
faith which may cause some to think
his mind was unbalanced.
DIR Marshall B. Taylor was born in
Scutt equity, Virginia, about tifty-eight
wears ago. After having acquired a
primitive education he went TO Lee
county and studied medicine. From
there he went to Letcher county, Ken
lucky, where he practiced his profess
sion. In a short time he removed to
Wise county, where he continued the
practice OF medicine until his arrest.