Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-04-26
TEN YEARS FOR GRAHAM,
PREACHER HORSE THIEF.
PLEADED GUILTY TO HIS CRIME
AND BEGGED THE COURT
FOR MERCY.
NOVEL METHODS PURSUED.
INGRATIATED HInSELF BY EVAN
GELICAL WORK THAT HE
MIGHT STEAL HORSES.

Special to the Register
KEESER, w. Va, April 25.-Rev.
John II. Graham, alias John Fl. Batliff,
the pretended evangelist from Metz,
Marion county. who few months ago
stole horse from Sampson Taylor, a
farmer near Keyser, was yesterday
sentenced by Judge Daley to serve a
term of ten years in the State peniten-
siary. Graham is without doubt the
most notorious horsethief ever carrying
on such business in the State, being
wanted in not less than a dozen differ
ent counties in this State besides at
least one in Virginia.
Using the gospel as a mask, and pre-
tending to be travelling evangelist,
Graham succeeded in carrying on his
work, combining his operations to the
Isolated country sections for the most
part. where he would often hold two
weeks revival services in the school
houses OF churches by helping the
boys OF his congregation do their chores
he managed to locate the lay of the
premises and get his eyes on the best
steed in the stable.
His success in many places seems to
have been remarkable. many sinners
being brought to repentance through
the power of his prayers and preaching.
A few nights after the conclusion o!
Grahams services a horse would dis
appear from the barn of some member
OF his congI egation, yet in a majority
OF the counties where it is now known
he was the thief, he was not suspected,
so strong an impression did he he make
upon the people as being devout Chris
tian, serving his Lord in the humble
manner of an evangelist
After his arrest near the Virginia line
for the stealing of horse near Keyser,
which he was astride at the time of his
arrest, letters began to pour in from
all parts OF the State to the sheriff of
the county and to Prosecuting Attorney
G. n. Finnell, and strange to say each
enc told of the disappearance of some
horse about the time the rather stout
~ built fair completed man with left
arm off near the elbow, palming him
self off as Methodist preacher" was
in the neighborhood.
GAHlO4iS LuG N4ttlulO " llO nave iOSL
horses are the following: Ed. Work
man, of Bald Knob, Boone county;
Hamilton Gump. t'airmont, Marion
county; j. w. Six. st. Leo, Monongalia
county; Albert B. Brake. Auburn,
Rltchie county; c. C. Hamilton, Bears
vile, tyler county; a farmer near
Stanton. Va, and various others.
AS result OF Ggaham's work Mr.
Brake, of Richie county, is now con-
fined in the hospital for the insane at
Weston. 1t is stated that a pal of Ora
hams, pretending to be a detective,
went to Brakes house the day follow
ing the disappearance of his horse and
under the ruse of helping him to find
it entieed him into the mountains,
where he was kept for several days un-
til Graham could make good his es-
cape. Brake soon after became raw
ing maniac and had to be sent 10 the
asylum.
During his confinement in Jail Ora
ham has worked a system of selling in
formation as to the whereabouts of the
stolen horses, and has derived consider
able revenue therefrom, as a number
OF horses have been recovered on his
information, .wo of which were found
In the lumber woods near Davis.
Graham possesses a clerical air and
would not be taken. for the criminal
that he is. When brought into court
yesterday ne was attired in the Prince
Albert coat worn during his preaching
career and in his ministerial tone con-
fessed to the crime and begged the
courts mercy. When confronted with
the question that he had served a term
once before, having been sent up from
Pocahontas county in 1887, under the
assumed name OF j. H. Ratliff, for
term of two years, Graham stammered
and nesitated knowing it meant at
least five years more on his sentence,
but nnally replied, Eyes, Judge" Judge
Daley then sentenced him for ten
years.
Should Graham be prosecuted on all
the charges that have come up against
him ne would never be able to serve
his term out should he live to be two
centuries old. He will be taken to
Moundsville in a few days.