West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1900-11-22
ANOTHER TRAGEDY.
Two Prominent Preston County Par
meFS Quarrel and One Kills
the GlheF.
David A.. Nine >hOt Three Times By
John Wes!ey iieaiiy, His nrotaer.
in-LaW.

iiSs'Oh county was the scene OF
another fatal shooting sorape on
Tuesday morning of this week. and
the indications are that cold blood
ed murder has been committed
The tragedy occurred over on
Salt Lick, back of Amblersburg.
where more shooting scrapes have
taken place than in any section of
the county. This time the parties
concerned were David A. Nine and
John Wesley Beatty, two of the
most prominent citizens Of that com
munity and both well to do farmers.
Both church members, heads OF
families, brolhers-in law, and living
on adjoining farms. Beatty's wife
was Caroline Nine, sister TO the
man killed, and il seems that several
years ago, when old man Nine died
and left considerable estate TO be
divided among his heirs, there was
trouble between David and Beatty,
as the former was administrator of
his fathers estate, and as such deed
ed part of the farm TO his sister.
Mrs. Beatty, in accordance with
their fathers will. This made Beatty
so mad that he left home and refused
to live with his wife till they decided
her share to him. Then he returned
home, but seems to have had a
grudge against Nine ever since, al
though they seemed to be on good
terms and no one thought there was
anything between them now.
Last Sunday, Mines folks were
all at church, and Elihu, the seven
teen year old son of Beatty, slipped
up to Mines house and drew the
staple to the cellar door and was
helping himself to cider, when
George Nine, a son Of David A..
who works down at Mannheim, ar
rived home and caught the young
chap "dead to rights" So Monday
he went TO Terra Alta and swore out
warrant for him, and Parker Beat
ty, the constable, went down and
arrested Elihu, who was out split
ting wood. But his father did not
seem to care for that, as the consta-
BILE went to him to see if he would
come to Terra Alta and help the
boy out by going his bail or doing
whatever might be necessary in the
case. Beatty refused to do anything
and said the boy was incorrigible,
and to go ahead and let the law take
its course. The boy was given
hearing before Justice John w. Hill,
OF Terra Alta, who sent him to Jail
here to await the action of the
Grand Jury next month.
The next morning his father got
down his Winchester gun and went
over to see Nine. He found him
husking corn in the barn with a
neighbor who was helping him.
Beatty had few words with Nine
about settlement and opened fire
on him shooting him in the arm.
Nine turned TO run, when Beatty
shot him twice in the back, dropping
his man, who expired in about ten
minutes. The murderer then coolly
Shouldered his gun and returned
home. He told his wife what he
had done and picking up a Ratchet
and taking the gun along, he said to
his wife that she would never see
him again, and departed. A war
rant was at once gotten out and
Charley Wheeler, the constable at
Rowlesburg and Parker Beatty.
constable at Terra Alta and Deputy
Sheriff w. NJ. Schaeffer of King
wood and Others nave been hunting
for him ever since. 1t was report
ed yesterday evening that he had
returned home and the possee
would get him and land him in Jail
here by this time, but so far there
is no further word Of him. The
funeral of the murdered man was
held yesterday and he was buried
at the clover church" as il is called
over there. He was about sixty
years of age and his children are
grown and some Of them married.
His wife, the widow, was a daugh-
ter OF Chris Shafer. The deceased
was a good citizen and leaves con
siderable property. Beatty is about
fifty years Of age and has family
nearly grown. He is well to do
also and why Nc would commit such
an uncalled for crime j. a mystery
to his friends. lie is rcd headed,
although he colors his hair TO tone
IA down little, and Of frey tenn
per and ugly disposition when
aroused.
Il is said that the order for
Russell g. Harrison's honorable dis.
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