The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-06-26

and wife lay. they sprang upon Gibson's
PROSTATE body. and before he could make
any outcry had him chicken into insensi-
bility. He struggled and fought them.
but tho odds We're against him. and they
%strangled him 10 death. his wife lyins
by his side. and. according 10 her own
confession. helped 10 bold his arm.
The five who killed Gibson were Clark
Lewis. his brother Wiley. Jerry Brown,
Wilbur Slaughter (all colOredl, and Albert
Wars. Il white man. They carried the
body out the back door. up around the
brow OF the hill above the house. and de-
posted it an the abandoned Coal Valley
coal mine. ON the way up tho boys would
stop 10 rest occasionally. and then "a bot
tie was passed around. and Clark Lewis,
who has a peg" leg. would dance a jig
over the corpse. From his effects they
secured "A gold watch and a considerable
sum Of money. Tho watch the negro
Clark Lewis retained. but Nirgle demand
ed that the money be hers.
When the wife had her husband out OF
their way her house became the rendez-
vous for this band of outlaws, and she
acted as their queen, for indeed NlfBie
Gibson had as much power over these
cOwardly murderers as a real queen over
her subjects. They came and went nc
her beck and call, and when there was n
robbery or burglary to be committed II
was Nirgie who schemed the details anu
"bossed the job"
The members Of the Elan ceased 10 work
and made no pretensiOns at laborine.
Small burglaries We're the beginning or
their crimes cor mitted for a livelihood,
then highway robbery and bigger halls
were made. Albert Wars himself was "a
splendid knight of the Road Tor ne
help up n great many persons single
handed. He was never caught IN the act
but once. and then escaped from the
clutches Of the law. and was never con-
yicted.
The robbing Of stores became so fire.
duent that the county officials and MOn--
gOmery police went 10 work in earnest 10
ferret out the crimes. There ls no record
of how many robbcries D theiis these
fellows committed. but they were be-
coming a nuisance. I'm time Wiley Lewis
was suspected OF having % "a job OF
burglary and finally he was arrested.
Tho officials had susplciOncd several or
the clan. but mover for "a moment thought
they had stained their hands with MUIR
der.
When Wiley Lewis was arrested he no
once confessed as 20 several recent rob-
berries. lie was asked as 10 where the
booty was concealed. and after much
persuasion told that they had the GOODS
stored away in the old % valley
When he mentioned The mine he was
noticcablv agitatcl. The officers gave
him freely Of whisky, and when they
started with him 90 the mine % look for
the stolen HNNA0 If |Nl'A IT, N"I|AM AlN"N
they would find something else in the
mine besides the goods. When question
ed further he confessed that GlDsOn's
body was In the coal mine
A search revealed the truth Of his
statement. and hidden beneath the rub
Dish Of the mine was tho skeleton Of GLIB
son. the clothing proving the identity.
The news spread rapidly when VIII
bur Slaughter. the young cOlOred lad who
had participated in the murder heard
Of the arrest. he came 20 the officers ana
wanted to tell what he knew. lie was
taken in custody. and became a State
witness. giving a full and complete ace
count Of the killing Of Gibson.
These arrests We're fully a year after
Gibson had been murdered. and during
that year the clan had robbed and plum
dered right and left. ana had put out OF
the way eight more victims.
II is generally conceded that At least
eight men arc nystoriOusly and strangely
missing. and the guilt strongly points
10 the Lewis gang as knowing All about
them. Upon Wilbur Slaughter's confess
sion the other arrests were made.
Within one month after the arrests
five were tried and convicted. The three
named were sentenced 10 be executed
Virgie Gibson confessed TO murder IN me
second degrees and received a sentence or
eighteen years In the pe%nitentiary; VIII
bur Slaughter went up for life, and Wiley
Lewis trial was deferred.
II IS generally thought that there are
several OF the gangs victims buried In
the old mine. II would be impossible 10
search Il thoroughly without some guild
ing clews. for the mine IS a couple OF
miles long and branches In many places
under the hill. After the arrests were
made some cOnfedcrates Il friends or
the Lewis rang went TO the mouth OF the
air vent 10 the mine and blasted tons or
earth down. so as 10 prevent entrance by
the officers. This IS n good indication
that there are other bodies there.