The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1900-02-15
A SAD TRAGEDY.
William senklns Killed at Nor
ton and Sam Wax
Wounded.

On Friday last, AZ Nofto"'
Of the saddest tragedies in the COUNT!
history. Asa result William jenkins o'eo
from a wound in the chest sa'u'ua!
night. and S. W. Wax is lying in oeo
with a wound in his hip.
I'M. wampler, Sam Wax and Charlie
Wax his brother, were standing OH tue
street at Norton, about dusk Friday even
inc when William jenkins came up tue
street from one direction and John b"'eS
from the other. Just as jenkins passed.
il il stated, that Wampler made some re-
mark to him, or about him, and jenkins
turned and Immediately the fling began
Jenkins fell and attempted to shoot aher
he had fallen but was prevented by wax
Who wrcnched the pistol from his hand
The FIRST shot fred by jenkins, though un-
doubtedIy intended for Wampler,t"ok effect
in the hip of Sam Wax.
The two Wakes and Wampler imn''d-
lately gave themselves up to the o'nccrs OIL
the law, and jenkins WAS taken IN charge
by his friends aud the doctors. 1t was
found that jenkins MAS shot in the r'gh'
breast below the nipple, the ball passing
almost through him and lodging in the
back near the spinal column. From Inc
frat il was thought that his wound was
mortal and this proved to be the case.
After great suffering ne died, as above
stated. Oh Saturday hight at about three
o'clock.
The evidence as to the transaction IS
very conflicting. On one side it IS claim
ed that wampler premeditated the attack
on Jenkins and brought on the difhcuity
and shot jenkins first. On the other hama
il il claimed that as jenkins passed,
Wampler remarked "there is the man who
tried TO have me shot" and that jenkins
turned and replied Eyes, and | will do 1t
now" and Immediately fired, his ball TAX
ing effect in wax's hip, and that there
upon wampler drew his pistol and shot
jenkins.
The remark of Wsmpler above quoted
had reference to a difficulty which he had
had with jenkins several days before. 1t
seems that Wampler, who is all employee
of the Virginia Coal and Iron Company
had been directed by that company to
build a house and put fence on tract
of land near Black Creek. The Company
claimed the mineral on the land and the
heirs of Dave Stidhsm claimed the sur
face. These heirs live in Kentucky but
had several years ago, 0y power oil attor'
!, ney, authorized the Virginia Coal and Iron
Company to lease the property and hold
possession for them. The company ha;
E had a tenant upon the land for several
wears. About Christmas thestenant left
and Jim Countiss, who was setting up al
adverse claim to the land, sought TO take
possession Thereof. On Wednesday Wamp'
Ter was engaged with force of men IL
putting up a fence and preparing to cree
0 a house Oh the land, when jim Countls'
and William Jenkins, who was acting Al
: attorney for Countiss, came to where the!
were at work and demanded that the.
cease work and get off of the land
wamplsr replied thai he had instruc
T tions TO build the fence and the house ant
u that il the Company had no right on tn
lard the matter could be settled in tn
. courts. 1t is claimed that jenkins toll
y Countiss that he had the right to pu
), Wampler of by force and advised him t.
u do so. After some parleying, however
! Countiss lett and Wampler had a friendl
talk with Jenkins urging that the matte
o be settled in the courts, and that Jenkin
g left and wampIer supposed there woul
be no further trouble. After dinner, how
!, ever, jenkins returned in company wit
u Jim Countiss and John Bates. They wer
70 all armed with shot guns. IL was the
raining heavily and Wampler's men ha
y oil left and gone home and Wampler ha
% taken shelter in house near by. Jenk
ms, Bates and COuntiss came to the hous
lr where be was end told him that if he di
not get of of the land they would shoe
n him off and made other similar threat
M Wamper told them that he was unarme'
l. aud finally told them that if they wei
B. mean enough to shoot an unarmed ma
rs that they could do so. After telling hi
n that if he again went on the land the
s. would shoot him, they left and wampl'
returned home.
'e That night s. w. Wax, who is also a
employee of the Virginia Coal and lro
st Company, came to Wampler's house an
7. wampler related to him what had occurie
q during the day. The next morning The
both agreed that il was best for them M
10 to again 20 upon the land without leg
ne advice, and Wax came to Big Stone Gs
to see Mr.. Bullitt, the company's attorne
o. concerning the matter. Mr.. Bullitt to
- him that no Que had the right to tai
possession of land by force-that if ii
Company was in possession COuntiss Won
!. have no right to forcibly take possessio
" and il, on the other hand, Couniiss was
possession the Company would have !
right to forcibly GUST him; and adyis
him to 20 back on Friday morning Al