The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-08-30
MURDER REVEALED
BY the Confession OEA Conviot-An In0f-
fsnsive Peddlsr KILLED aud His Body
Barned-A Royoiting Crime.

BY the Confession OEA Conviot-An Inof-
Isnsive Psddlsr KILLED aud Hls Body
Burnsd-A RSyoiting Crime.
CHARLESTON, W. Va. Aug. "a
The Mail this morning has the follow
ing: One of the most sensational mur-
ders in the criminal annals OF this
state has Just come to light by the con-
fession OF Christopher Slack. who was
sentenced to the penitentiary by Judge
Hall last spring on the charge OF burg
larry for the term OF iive years. Slack
has been serving his time at Mounds
vile, but recently there has been a lack
OF orders In the pen. and within that
period he has brooded over his past
conduct and confesses everything, for
the reason that he was afraid that the
murder would be found out and he
would be hanged. and thinking perhaps
that II he would make clean breast OF
II all his life might be saved.
He had also heard through priS-
oner that the story Of the murder had
leaked out and that he was In imminent
danger OF being convicted by the testi-
mony of acoompllces.
Depending upon his confession TO Sc
cure life sentence. he called Warden
Hawk into his cell and gave him q
graphic description of one OF the most
brutal murders that has ever occurred
in this section OF the state. He says
that about two years ago this fall, he,
in conspiracy with Elijah Keffer. his
own sister, Emma Slack, his wife. and
four others were on their way from
Clay C. II. to Ciendennin on stealing
expedition. Some four miles above
their destination they overlook ped
dler by the name OF John Wlseman.
who was also coming In the same di-
rectlon they were travelling. They at
once began to plan to relieve him OF
his money. when Keffer suggested that
the best way to do would be to Kill him.
Slack had the rifle and Ketfer told Slack
that as he was the best shot he had bet
ter do the killing. Slack was at first
reluctant. but he at last agreed to do
Il, When they arrived at point In the
nath about two miles and half above
Clendennin Keffer led the victim on
ahead OF the party, and as they were
going down into the head OF q deep
ravine Slack fired the fatal shot, killing
the peddler instantly. They at once
rlfied his pockets and also the valise
which he was carrying, and were re-
warded by $S5 In money, some watches
and jewelry. They then dragged the
body down the bank near the river, and
tied rails and ties about It. The party
camped at that point all night and
kent the body burning so that when
morning came there was nothing left
but the bones OF the peddler. The
bloody murderers all swore eternal 81
lence and took a solemn oath that the
first one who should reveal the secret
should be killed.
They returned to their several homes
on the Big Sandy river and at JarrettB
Ford, where they oftentlmes after that
left for the purpose OF plunder.
Since that period they have commit
ted many depredations, one OF which
placed Slack in the penitantiary,
After Slack had told his story to War
den Hawk the Warden telegraphed the
story to Judge Hall and Prosecuting
Attorney Burdetie. Last evening Slack
was brought here upnder surveillance
OF the warden and Senator Matthews.
Whereupon he was taken before the
prosecuting attorney and made sub
stantially the same statement that ne
had made 10 the warden at Mounds
Vile. He also stated that II he were Ia
ken TO that section he could locate the
place of the killing, and also the place
where the body was burned.
Prosecuting Attorney Burdetto and
his father, Constable Paxton, Harrison
Ash and Tom Flanagan, Coroner
Beardsley, DIR. ]. L. Davis and Mail
representative went TO the acene OF the
murder where the prisoner located the
exact spot where the peddler was killed
and also the scene of the burning OF his
body.
Harrison Ash and Thomas Paxton
Will leave tonight for Roane county,
where some OF the accessories to the
killing reside, to place them under ar.
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