The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-12-30

two miles or thlh CiEy last ulBut' ~
lentless mob burned 10 death preg-
pant woman aud riddled with bullets
her grayhaired parRmour. The blacken-
ed and disdgured corpses Of the VIC
tins, Mrs. Thomas West end William
peyeres, were found In the ruins Of the
wonians home to-day by the fourteen.
year-old daughter OF the murdered
man,
The tragedy was one Of the most bru-
tai ever enacted under the gruesome
sway OF dread Judge Lynch. Despite
Ire Dleadlngs Tor her fathers life. OF 4
half chad, frightened child and the
prayers and tears OF the N and helpless
woman, the mob went through with It's
work. with cold-bloodOd. cruel deliber-
alton, and only LEFT when certain that
b1th man and woman were dead
The affair was the outgrowth OF the
MD story OF falthless wife and Yenge-
fui husband Several months ago De-
veres, a middle-aged wldower, was ac-
cused by Thomas West. prosperous
f.rmer. OF Intimacy with Mrs. West.
Quarrel followed quarrel throushout
the fall. until West instituted divorce
proceedings and declared that Deveres
must die. The men met in Lebanon.
West snapped his revolver. which miss
ed fre. and DeYeres killed him on tho
spot. ON the plea OF self-defense, the
murderer secured hail and scandaliIed
the nelEhhorhood by Immediately TAX
ing his two daughters and moving into
Vests house. The relatives Of the
murdered husband swOre vengeance
and last night II came. Close TO 10
o'clock a band OF men rode up to the
West homestead and demanded admit
tance.
AMsrsIIsss Mob.
"Torn West Is dead. Now It's your
turn" the spokesman called and De-
yeres and the woman awoke to ind
their house surrounded. Mrs. West
rushed to a darkened window and be-
gan Wild hysterical plea for mercy.
A dozen bullets answered her cries and
the demand for immediate surrender
was repeated. Deveres. too, asked for
q hearing, but his request was greeted
with shower Of shots.
"we'ii give you ten minutes to open
W. Then you burn" said the mob's
ieader. and his men quietly retired from
the door. A hurried consultation was
held inside the house and then white
ard terror stricken. the little girl Of
Deyeres' was thrust out TO plead with
the mob. Clad in her night robe. bare
fJote1 and unprotected. she br1yely
walked out into the moonlight and
sobbbed out n prayer for her white
haired father's life.
"Get out. You're liable to got shot
yourself" ruffian said. and thorough
~ panic-stricken. the child tied to the
cabin OF negro neighbor.
Mrs. West then appeared at the door.
-. A. 49, A Ian I'M n
last appeal for mercy. It was unayail-
ing and In another moment the house
was hred.
Died In Agony.
The shrieks of the imprisoned
wretches failed to move their torturors,
who, as the flames reached the living
room, could see man and woman in the
agony Of death by FIRE. Just before the
roof fell in the woman was seen 10 reel
across the room and plunge headlUng
into the fire place among the burning
Goals, and there she died. wild with
pain Dcvsres, at the last moment, made
a dash for liberty, but q score Of bullets
stopped him half a dozen steps from
the door.
This morning the little girl led her
negro protector 20 the Scene and there
the bodies, scurched beyond recoEnl-
lion, were found, untouched by the
lynchorS There is but little doubt that
the members OF the mob will be captur-
od. as they were without masks and
made no attempt Mt secrecy.
1T ID not improbable that the FrencH
OF last night will be rc.onactcd In the
vicinity shortly, us the Outrage has
aroused the most Intense indignation
among the people NJ the county. Be
cause Of the fact that Vests relatives
had threatened vengeance, there is a
strong belief that they are responsible
for last nights crime. The unccrtain-
~ however, nB 10 lust who was lmpll-
Gated, has no far preYeptod turther
trouble.
May be Identified.
TIE child OF Devcres, who was q Wit
ness to the tragedy. Ia dangerously III
rs the result of the fright and exposure,
but upon her recovery she may be able.
81 10 hoped, TO Identify some Of tho
lynchsr1 The might was brilliant with
moonlight and the unmarked faces Of
the members of the mob should be eng-
ily Identified % soon MS the child IN able
10 Hppcpr IN court.
The scene OF the horror was visited
by crowds Of curious people to-dny and
II wAB wc1l towards noon before tho
bodies were cared FOR by nm Undertaken.
MTa Vests corpse wuH charred al
most beyond human scmhlancC. Over
come by tho flames. she had fallen Into
the largo. oid-faahlOncd Fireplace Of
the liylng room and the head WIS al
mort burncd from the body.
Deyorc'B body was pierced by nj lenHt
twenty-five bullets. Before his dnSpur-
ate dHBN for liberty no had been fright
fully burned and would probably have
died without the Eunshot wounds. His
hair and beard were burned on, his
cl1thcn wcre In chhrred Bhrrds and his
face hilnicfhd and biaclcfed.
No arrests have 70 far beon fnhds,
hut developments arc expected to.mor.
row
Another Account
Another dispatch saysi Tho mob cuii.
nd for DsVsreH to come orl first, hut
Mrs. West and hcr little Eiri cnmo t1
the door. The child wns pulled outside
ana e Volcy Of bullets 1rtd into the
house. When tle nrcs were built
nround The house D6verea rushed out
Win hlH pistol flfnR on the mob. ITO
was chased 70 u corn nhOek. ffpni which
he kent up the 1ring until Killed, ll8
body was riddltd with bullets aud then
he WIS remnitd. lie was not burned
awe NJ war tho woman There was
no rifbrt to hnye the woman, but n H.
Bonorhlly believed hle had bcrn fntally
shol before the hO1Se WaS ifed " that