Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-07-30
. A DEN OF Thieves,
AND PROBABLY OF MURDERERS AS WELL,
UNEARTHED
In Washington County, "a Huuss Equipped With
SscrsI Passages, and Fillsi With Stolen
Goods - Mysterious Dis
APPEARANCES

A number Of revenue officers lately
completed raid along the river front
of Washington county. o., which has
cleared up number of old time as well
as more recent mysteries, and enabled
interested parties to account 10 q salts
factory manner for q large amount OF
stolen property which had disappeared
from both the Ohio and West Virginia
! sides of the river. leaving no trace Of
how it was spirited away.
For more years past than o ne can
count upon the fingers OF two hands
robberies have been perpetrated in the
river towns from Sunfish to Marietta,
as often upon one side OF the river as
upon the other, ana in two or three
cases men-strangers in the country
have dropped out Of sight in manner
as unsatisfactory as it was sudden.
Among the premises invaded and
robbed were a number OF small
postoflices, aud as the local
authorities seemed powerless TO put an
end to the lawlessness, United States
revenue and secre: service men took
charge of the work OF ferreting out the
thieves. A number Of arrests were
made, but ii was evident that the ring
leaders In the crimes were yet al large,
and that the headquarters Of
the thieves had yet 10 be
located. Many facts pointed in
the direction of the Ohio side of the
river as the section where the best re-
turn would be made for the investment
OF abor by the officials, and after long
and patient enquiry and investigation,
IL became evident that large house
near the banks OF the river was the
quarters OF the thieves and the storage
place of the missing goods. Not long
since the house was raided and the In
mates arrested, and then an investiga-
ton of the premises was made.
The returns were rich. Four wagon
loads OF stolen goods, en-
bracing silks, dress goods, muslins, CAL
icoes, miscellaneous dry goods and no.
tions, clothing, groceries, and all man
ner of property, some OF which had evil
IDENTIFY been hidden for a long time, was
found. 10 secret room. the only en-
trance to which was through door pa
pered over. were sixteen Winchester
rifles. The house was filed with sew
eral secret passages, one being built
like chimney, and extending from tho
garrett TO the csllar, although alb
solutely invisible from either in
side or outside the house. The
cellar itself was curiosity, in that no
less than seven tunnels radiated in as
many different directions, one extending
for long distance and bringing the ex-
plerer out near the mouth Of run
considerable distance from the house.
This is supposed to have been used to
convey stolen goods, obtained in river
towns, TO the house without the risk OF
transportation above ground.
Many gruesomo stories are in circula-
ton in the surrounding country OF men
who disappeared In that vicinity; and
who are now supposed to have been
murdered. One in particular is Of an
oil man, who came there two or three
years ago, in a horse and buggy, pros
pecting and making leases. He had
big roll OF money. and one night applied
at the house for lodging. He was never
seen again. The next morning an &C
quaintance called to see the oil man,
and was told he had left.
How does it come he le,t his over
coat, then?" asked the enquirer, point
ing TO the garment hanging from q
nail.
ooh, I guess he's forgotten IT," said
the landlord; az hadn't noticed IT,"
"And it's mighty strange" unused the
acquaintance, "how he came to forget
his horse and buggy. l saw them at
the stable"
Hes coming back in a day or two
for 'em," said the owner Of the prop
erty, and the friend of the oil man had
to appear satisfied.
The oil man never "came back, how
ever, aud his buggy, after changing
hands several times, is still in use in
Washington county.
The prisoners made by the officers,
the names being here purposely omitted,
will soon have hearing in the Courts,
and story equal to that OF successful
novel is expected to be developed.