Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-11-19
LETTER FROM PAGE.
Correspondents Alexandra Gazette.

Correspondence Alexsndria Gazette.
LURAY, Va., Nov. ia recent
murder here last week calls to mind
the fact that within the last half score
of years there have been in Page half q
dozen of the most mysterious, bruta
and unavenged murders. The deeds
were SO perfect in their plots, so hidden
in motives and so completely eDvel-
oped in mystery that they remain now
Just as when consummated. The last
was the worst of all Willis D. Kib
ler, an old bachelor 70 years of age,
lived at the base of the Massanutton
mountain, four miles west of Luray,
He was quiet, good citizen, secretive
in his habits of business, and uncom-
municatiye to all save those whom ne
liked. From this and his fondness oi
money and the fact that he spent but lit.
tie, he was thought to have saveda good
deal of ready cash. He was shot from
within the kitchen of his house with
his own double-barreled shot gun in
the face, Drained with what is sup
posed to be his own axe, his throat cut,
and when found about FIVE o'clock in
the afternoon by his nephew was lying
dead outside of the window.
So far the only one connected with
this horrible crime is his nephew, the
only person who lived with the old
man. His history, so far as given
by him, is as follows: Finding the
body, he carried it and placed it on
the bed in the kitchen on which his
uncle usually slept, removed the gun
from the bed, carried water to the hogs
and some other feeding and then rode
to neighbor's whom he got to stay at
the house, and then spent half the night
notifying his father and others. Five
days after he was arrested he gave
up his uncle's pocket book, con-
tanning $6S.90, though at the inquest
he stoutly denied having or knowing of
any of his uncle's money. Two days
after mis- arrest and whilst in Jail, part
of the notes and bonds of mis- uncle,
some $500 worth, were found in the lot
at the stable scattered over the grass,
evidently just put there. These are
the main features, from which it will
be seen that all is not known. There
has been general feeling among our
people at the perpetration of this foul
deed, and not less than 500 people were
at the preliminary examination. Mar
shall Mccormick and E. T. Broyles are
defending the nephew, Newton Kibler.
Not for some years has there been
such activity on the part of the brandy
officials in Page as is now being exer-
cised. Several seizures have been made
and in the case of Reuben Triplett, at
Rileyville, his still house and fixtures,
built for distilling whisky by steam, has
been dismantled and his brandy seized
and his operations entirely closed.
Other seizures have been made and the
prospect is that the brandy men will
have to keep their weather eyes open,
as the officers are around spying out
the land and no one knows what they
may take fancy to do. The large
apple crop last fall has increased the
number of distilleries, and there are
upwards of so in Page alone.
The new Jail being built is now finish
ed to the second story. 1t is to be 8
modern building, fire proof throughout
aud burglar proof from within and
without. The contractors are from At
lanta and come with good recommend
atoms as jail builders as specially.
1t is. thought the governor will offer
a reward for the arrest of the murder
ers of Mr.. Kebler, and no doubt after
an administrator has been appointed
by the coming court stems will he tax
en- that a reward will be offered by his
administrator for the arrest of the par
ties, as his estate will be amply ably to
pay it, and certainly it will be good,
and wise way to dispose of part
of it.
Recent rains have sprouted the
wheat, and SO far as known the farm
ers think the injury on account of the
drought will amount to but little.
Henry Bruinbeck, one of our oldest
citizens, was buried a short while
since. He was one of our wealthiest