West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1897-11-04
A BLOODY battle.
Two Men Fight To a Finish for
the PaYOPS OF Fair Women.

place inst on the line between Pres
ton and Barbour counties, at the
house Of William Pierce, steel
worker who came out there from
Pittsbnrg several years ago and
purchased good farm and moved
his family there lie works in the
Smoky City" and gets good wages.
and used to- come ont to see his
family and send them money. but
IT is said that for some time he has
neglected TO do this, and suspi-
cioned his wife Of flirting with
other fellows. There are three
girls, one about eighteen, one six
teen, and the youngest only six.
The girls are SAID to be pretty and
pert, ard have some gay company.
A young man named John Cole
bank had worked there and run the
farm for them for several years,
until last May he married daugh
ter Of Allen Ridgeway aud quit the
Pierce place. Then Mrs. Pierce
employed q. q. Bolyard to work
the farm for her. lie was man
with family and lived in the edge
of Barbour, while Colebank resided
in this county. The latter still
persisted in visiting the Pierces,
and Bolyard gave him orders to
stay away. Colebank was great
fighter and not afraid Of ANYTHING.
and threatened to kill Bolyard if
he fooled with him. The latter had
lots Of grit, too, and each one knew
that If they ever came together, it
would be a battle royal. The fight
came off last Saturday, and Cole
bank is buried and Bolyard in Jail,
said to be fatally injured.
1t seems that Colebank went TO
the Pierce home and got into a
scuffle with one of the girls, trying
TO take ring from her that he
claimed was his. One of the girls
was away from home, aud their
mother out in the corn field with
Bolyard ut work. The little girl
ran out and told the latter that
ColeMnk was IN the house abusing
her sister. He at once started for
home, and Colobank seeing him
coming. got heavy iron poker and
hid behind the kitchen door. The
girl went out to the spring, as she
knew there would be fight. When
BOlyard came in he closed the door,
and Colebank struck him n terrible
blow aimed at his head. Bolyurl
knocked the lick off on his arm.
breaking the force Of it some. hut
still vt felled him to the ground
and cut terrible cash in his head
and almost broke his arm. He got
up and they went into it and
fought all over the lower part of
tho house, smashing up most of the
furniture in the kitchen, dining
room and sitting room, throwing it
at each other and breaking it over
each others head. They even tore
down pictures from the walls and
smashed them over each others
head, and broke up the piano stool
IN the same way. Finally Bulyard
found his strength failing, and saw
re would be killed, unless he could
soon end the contest, as he was get
ting weak from loss of blood and
the hard lick he had received on
the head in the beginning, so he
thought of a revolver in the house.
and fought around to it and opened
fire on Colebank. The first shot
struck him in the wrist, as he nat
urally threw up his arm to protect
himself; the next hit him in the
shoulder, and then Colebank turned
to run and received two shots in
the back, one in the right side and
one in the left, this latter beng the
one that finished him, as it lodged
Just below the heart. Colebank
walked ont and down to the fence
near the spring, about seventy. five
yards, and there fell dead. Bolyard
followed him, but made no further
effort to modest him, and when he
fell dead, got on his horse and rode
home, where he WIS arrested next
morning, but the physicians refused
10 allow him moved, as they said
his recovery was doubtful.
Since then we learn that he was
taken to the Jail at Phiippi, and
the latest report Is that he is dead
lIc was beat up in a terrible man
ner and his skull supposed to be
fractured. DR.. Trahern, Of Meats
vile, and DR.. Campbell, Of Dan
vile, we're summoned and give
B0lyrd surgical aid and prcbcd
for The bullets in Colebank's body.
finding but one, the second one
fired, which was in his shoulder.
blade. The revolver was q 81 cali bro.
and at such short range 1t did the
work.
A young man named Frank
Bennett was working in sight OF
The house, about 800 yards away.
and saw both mon go to The house
and knew there would be 6ght
and some one killed but was afraid
90 go near, tlll COlebank fell. and
then he hurried TO him, and found
him gaspiug his last breath. lie
heard the shots fred and could hear
The battle, but knowing the dos
r.orotn ghor4Of.r 81 H-tI 800.