Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-10-28

Morton, VA, October 27.-Doo
TAYLOR explated his awful massacre OF
the Mullins family on the scaffold, a
few minutes after 2 o'clock this after
noon.
He met death boldly, and under the
moose, dressed in a suit of pure white
linen, preached his own funeral ser
mon to the crowd OF assembled wit
nesses OF his death,
THE CRIME.
The crime for which Taylor paid the
penalty at Wise Court House, Nir-
! ginla, to-day, was committed May II,
1892. aud was more in the nature OF
massacre than an ordinary murder.
ira MullenS, a man who was so lame
| that he could not walk, lived at Pound
| Gap near the State line between Ken
lucky and Virginia At the time the
murder was committed he had been to
Letcher county. Kentucky, TO dispose
| OF tract Of land and was returning to
| his home in company with his wife, his
daughter, his brother John Mullens and
| his wife and son. This with a silly boy
who was the driver composed the party.
| Mrs. John Mullens and her son escaped
to tell the story.
Mrs. John Mullins was this principal
witness against Taylor. Her evidence
was to the effect that Ira Mullins and
family were in wagon a short distance
in front Of her, and where the pathway
led into the main road, when she heard
a voley fired. Fastening up TO where
they were, she saw the horses and
driver dead. Immediately Doc Taylor
and two others, John and Henan Flem-
ing, came out of the woods that lay be-
tween the pathway and road aud com
menced firing az close range Into the
wagon,
IRA MULLINS AND HIS WIFE
and son were killed.
At that instant her husband, Joe
Mullins, aud her son came up the path
way. The guns of the murderers were
turned on them, and John Mullins fell
iteless; his son fed and escaped alive.
In the meantime Mrs. Mullins had
alighted from her horse and run up to
them and begged "For Gods sake, quit
shooting, as they are all killed now"
when one of them turned TO her and
said that II 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
no had sold, which was about $1,000
They then mutilated the bodies OF their
victims In a most horrible manner.
Taylor some time afterwards made
his abode with the Flemlngs, where he
was in tolerably safe hiding. Fearing
capture there he went to Norton, board
ed freight train and went 10 Blue
field. The athorities Of Norton wired
DETECTIVE W. C. BALDWIN,
of the Norfolk and Western railroad,
who arrested him as be was boarding
Westbound passenger train. He was
tried in the Circuit Court by Judge
Norris. The verdict was guilty and he
was sentenced to death, being taken TO
Lvnchburg for safe keeping. His coun-
sci secured 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 resentenced TO be hanged to-day.
lie leaves family all grown aud well
respected.
1t was claimed by his friends that he
was insane and petitions were ctrcu-
lated last week TO ask the governor to
extend his time, or commute his SEN
tence to life imprisonment butnot many
signed it. He was very eccentric and
had queer religious ideas, kind Of
faith which may cause some to think
HE mind was unbalanced,
Doctor Marshal B. Taylor was born
in Scott cGa1ty, Virginia, about fifty
eight years 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 practced his profess
sion. In a short time be removed to
Wise county where he continued the
l.