West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1897-04-01
TUCKER COUNTY TROUBLES.
The Contempt Case aud the ThOmp.
son Tragedy.

n very intelligent writer in the
last issue of the Davis Republican
critIcises Judge Holt rather severely
for his basly action in the recent
contempt cases at Parsons. 4 suit
had been decided against ore Of the
prominent citizens of Davis by a
jury IN the Circuit Court OF Tucker
county, and petition WIS gotten
mp by the lawyers and signed 10y
sixty or seventy Of the Leading eth
zsns Of Davis. (among them our
own John W. Blaker, Of X Haywood,
now living at DAvisC, praying the
Court for new tri u. His Honor
considered the petition steelll
contempt of Court and issued ules
against every signer Of the petition,
summoning them before him and
putting all to considerable c Jst and
trouble. lawyer Parsons, who pre-.
sented the petition. was ined Si5.
the attorney who wrote il S25. and
two other parties who circul ited il
$40 eacy. and several others various
sums. The whole matter caused
big row and finally ended in a
shooting scrapc. IN which Frank T..
Thompson, Manager Of the Black
Water Lumber Company, was killed
by Col Bob EIstham, who was
wounded in three places himself,
and will be tried for murder il he
RECEIVERS. These two men were on
the special train ut Parsons that
conveyed the petitions back TO
Davis the evening Of the trial and
got into u fight, AS the elimination
OF an old feud between them EIst
ham is big, strong man, afraid Of
nothing on Garth or alb we or below
it. and has been terror to that
section OF country for several years.
When he was drinking ho was quar-
relsome and reck less, and every
body was afraid OF him. lie Yves a
nom Der of Gen. John Mozby's
gucrrillas during the war and saw
lots of blood shed, go that he has
but little regard for humaR life.
Thompson WAS very popular and
had made fortune by hard work
and good management in the lum-
Der business, although he was only
thirty-fve years old. His death IS
public calamity to Davis and
Tucker county, and the feeling is
very strong against Eastman. who
was drinking at the time Of the
shooting, 30 it is said.
The excitement ran 80 hrgh in
Davis that the prisoner was taken
to Parsons for fear of lynching by
the lumbermen. The Mayor closed
all the saloons and swore in several
extra policemen for fear Of riot
and mob vengeance. Eastman was
shot IN the side and in one arm, but
these being flesh wounds, we're not
dangerous. The third shot struck
him fairly in the forehead, but
glanced around the skull and only
inflicted Il slight wound. His head
must be harder than any descend
ant Of Ham. Bot to get back 10
the original subject Of this article.
there IS considerable criticism Of
the Judge for choking off the right
Of the American citizen to petition
to higher authority, n right which
has never been questioned.
The preliminary hearing of Col
Eastman, charged wi Ii the murder
of Thompson, which began at Par.
sons on FRIDAY, was concluded
Saturday, by the Justice holding
the prisoner without bail. The
Justice did not care particularly to
pass in the matter. AMI it may not
come before Judge Holt for dspo,
sition until trial Court rcgullrly
COnvenes.
Mr.. and Mrs. Boyd eastman, Of
Orange, Va, arrived IN Parsons,
and several brothers of Col. East
ham residing IN Virginia are now
with him. The defense will retain
able counsel and vigorous attempt
will be made to prove self defense.
Messrs. Maxwell, Strictly and Wag
oner arc Eastham's local attorneys.
The Prosecuting Attorney will be
assisted by u number OF able after.
neys, including Hon. Aston Cor
don Dayton. 1t is claimed by the
prosecution that Colonel Eastman
made use of remarks on the day Of
the shooting which would show
premedltatiOn on his part.