West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1898-06-09
The EAH WH0 CAUSED MINNIE
HOLMES DEATH
Was the Rev. Charles White, Of
CIarkSbnrS.
He Confessed All and Was Driven
From the Town.

nave Oeen pnOll5hlng considerable
matter about the Minnie Holmes
Mystery" The young lady was a
daughter OF Hon. NJ. G.. Holmes.
one Of the most porminent citizens
OF Clarksburg and she went to
Pittsburg about two weeks ago,
where she met a man who went to
a 5otel with her and registered AS
{. White and wife. They left next
day and the young lady took pas
sage on Il. steamer for Morg ntown.
Az dark she was sit ing on the upper
deck and seemed to lie greatly
troubled. She complained of beir Q
cold and the clerk gave her his
coat TO throw over her shoulders.
AT Braddock she was missed and
thorough search of the boat failed
TO find her. Her friends were noli
lied and with the Official searched
for her several days. before her
body was found. lodged under
some coal barges, when they were
moved. She was taken home to
Clarksburg and buried amid sad
ness and gloom among II large circle
of friends. The p,stor of her
church, Rev. Charles White, re-
fused TO conduct the funeral SER
vices. In the meantime the police
were working on the mystery and
soon cleared it all up as the follow
Ing from the daily papers show:
"Fhc Minnie Holmes mystery is
passing through the evolution where
there is little mystery left. Rev.
Charles White, pastor Of the Pres
oyterlan church at ClarLsburp. j.
he man who was with the girl i'm
Pittsburg and who registered at the
Central and the Merchants hotels.
lie has said so himself aud mas left
Cl"rksburg. suddenly in disgrace.
La the Exp,sltor there appeared
an account Of the inquest over the
remains of the girl. and of evidence
produced that showed that there
was IA clerical looking man who
registered At the hotel with Miss
holmes as "Charles White ana
wife, CITY," aud it was not known
then who this man was or where he
came from. Now il his come 10
light. and to party Of men who
visited him at his home in CIarks-
burg, Rev. Charles White acknowl.
edged that he had been with the
glrl at PIttsburg, and that he had
registered at he hotel AS indicated
IN the published report.
AT harrisburg, when he was con
fronted by Il rumber Of the leading
men of his congregation. Rev. White
At hrst denied that he had been at
PItlsburg at all, but being pressed
IN the matter, he acknowledged
that he bad met the girl there by
appointment, and that they were
together vt the hotel He had tele
graphed her that he would be there
After making the confession.
White fled. He was told that he
would be shot if he remained in
town, and he departed, "a ruined
man, deserving all the censure that
ne Will receive.
Charles White graduated from
the University at Morgantown a
few years ago. He stood high IN
his class and has become a preacher
Of great ability. HIS parents and
sisters live at Morgantown, and
they are eminently respectable. re-
fined, Christian people. There were
four brothers in the family, three
of them Presbyterian preachers and
the other civil engineer, all Of
them graduates Of he University.
Charles was by all means the
brightest mem Der OF the family.
and was pushed forward more than
the others. lie is about 80 years
old. Miss Holmes was the Organist
IN the church of which he was the
pastor, and in this way their ac-
qunlntance became intimate. He
WAS married some little time ago 90
Miss Ella Patton. Of Clarksbnrg
and they have one child, babe in
arms"
White is Mt Morgpntown with his
p'rents, Mr.. and Mrs. r. T. White.
OF SunnysIde, and wrote for his
family, who went to bun. He de-
MES that there was any Improper
conduct between the unfortunate
girl and himself. and saws that she
was mentally unbalanced and that
he went TO Plttsburg to look after
her, but nobody believes that story.
Her father was born and raised in
Preston county, and left here many
years ago TO hunt for his brother.
who had gone as a nissionar, 20
| China ana could not be heard from.
lie went TO southern China and
found that his brother had been
murdered by the heathens. lie
then went to trading. and made
some money rs q tea merchant. lie
operated IN the Philippine Islands
several years. and il an applicant
now for Government position
there. since Dewey has captured
Manila. he finally came back TO
bis native heath and settled i'm
Clark sburg, where he now stands