Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-05-12

MILAN, Mo-, May IA most afro
cious crime was committed last night
near Browning. Gus Meeks, his wife
and two children were murdered out
right and another Of the Meeks' chill
dren. girl seven years old, was so
badly injured that she may not recover.
The circumstances leading up to the
crime are about as follows:
There are number Of criminal eases
pending in Lynn and Sullivan counties
against VIM. Il. Taylor and George Tay-
lor, brothers, the former being banker
OF Browning, and the latter farmer.
The charges against them are forgery.
arson and larceny. Wm. Z. Taylor,
Gus Meeks and others are Jointly in
dcted and Meeks pleaded guilty at the
last term and was sent up 10 the pen
itentiary.
About a month ago he was psrdoned
by Governor Stone, In order 10 use him
as = witness against the Taylors, who
were, In consequence, anxious TO be rid
OF him.
II IL said the Taylors had arranged
with Meeks TO give the latter wagon
and team 10 get out OF the county, so
that he might not be present when the
case against the Tsylors was called for
trial. From Meeks' mother IL Is learn
ed that yesterday her son received
LETTER FROM THE TAYLoRs
at Browning, telling him to be ready "a
10 o'clock last night TO go away; that
Gus Meeks and children waited for
Taylor until midnight, when two men
whom Meeks said were George and Bill
Taylor, came 10 their home In wagon.
Meeks aud his family got into the
wagon and started for Browning.
The details OF the crime, as near as
can be obtained, were told by the little
seven-year-old girl, who was sniferfrg
greatly as she recited the story. IL APP
pears that when the Meeks family aud
the persons accomp mpanYing them reached
a point near the school house, In Lynn
county, n short distance west OF Brown
ing. they were net By two other men
who were lying in wait. Gus Meeks
was first shot, and Mrs. Meess
Jumped She also was killed.
The murderers then took stones
and beat the brains Gus
OF the two children and left the other
for dead. The murderer then, 10 is sup
posed, loaded the whole family into the
wagon and hauled them nearly two
miles 10 the Taylor farm where they
were buried under straw stack. Al
half-past four o'clock this morning the
eldest child came TO her senses and made
her way 10 the residence OF Mr.. Car
ter near by. The Carter family sent a
boy
TO THE TAYLOR FARM
where he found the murdered family ss
stated by the Meeks girl. The Carter
boy then saw George Taylor and inDo-
Gently told him OF the murder as de-
scribed by the almost dying child.
George Taylor Immediately started for
Browning on horseback, got bis brother
william and both departed on horse
back. Their departure from Browning
was before the knowledge OF the mur-
der had reached there. The people OF
the neighborhood placed guards
around the straw stack where
the dead bodies we're found.
u
covered that bloody quilt around the
bodies was on FIRE, the evident purpose
being 10 cremate the bodies. The littls
glrl recovered sufficiently TO descries
some OF the parties, and upon her svl-
dense, one Sharon McCullohab. OF
Gould, aud George Hewlett, OF Line
county. have been arrested as pariici-
pants in the crime A party OF citizens
from Milan and Browning found at the
place OF the murder the revolver ADD
stone, with which the murderes bad
shot the father and mother and
BEAT OUT THE BRAIss
OF the two children and left the other
for dead. The child says that they
struck. beat and kicked ber Into insen-
sibility and thought her dead. AZ this
writing the Tsylors have not been ar
rested, but 10 is not thought possible
they can escape.
Great excitement prevails and " tho
nurderers are fully identified the lsr
will have 70 be very strong 70 prevent
summary punishment