West Virginia daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1894-1902, 1902-01-31

AS Gallip0Afs-TwO Are Bead and
One wiIl Die.
THE DEAD.
Peter Finster valid, U. S. Mar
shall, Athens, 0.
Pyle, blacksmith. Athens.
Ohio.
Williams, blacksmith,
Athens, O.
THE INJURED
Deputy sheriff, OF Gallia county,
Ohio.
Gallipolis, Ohio, Jan. 80 Two
men are dead, third lies dying
with a bullet hole through his
lungs. while fourth is crippled,
perhaps for life US result of ter
rihle tragedy which was enacted
here last night All of the dead
and dying are we'll kno Un men, and
all are residents of Athens. This
city Is In a perfect turmoil Of ex-
element over the bloody affair,
while kilograms from Athens say
that the city Is shocked and grief
stricken, and that the streets are
thronged with people who eagerly
wait for every addi'ioual detail of
the disaster.
The tragedy was the outgrowth
of plot, which has been forming
for several weeks onjthe part of i've
prominent young men of Athens to
perpetrate daring robbery at Gal
lipolis. The men implicate d In the
plot w.re: Bert Lamard. the lead
ing photographer of the city; Vel
don Kyle and Robert Sweat. both
young and reputable blacksmiths,
and Two men whose names are
Pyle aud Williams.
These men formed plot to rob
a Mrs. Priest, a widow of this city,
who Is reported to be very wealthy.
The origin of the plot was sever
al weeks ago, and the men were
tempeted to the work by the fol-
lowing circumstances: Mrs. Priest
had purchased monument for her
dead husband, and In paying Tor 1t
she brought the sum of 81, 900 from
her house. One OF the men heard
of this and was led to believe that
she kept large sum of m Or ey
In the house. The other men were
lei into the secret, and the plot was
formed. The men manned to 20 to
GalHpolis yesterday, and last night
they were to force an entrance to
the house, bird and gag the wo
man, and take whatever of value
could be found.
The plot would doubtlessly have
proved successful had not two of
the plotters become frightened and
informed the eff cers. Kyle and
Sweat, both of them young men,
became afraid to 60 on with the
affair, lest they be caught, and they
feared to pull away for fear of vio-
!ence ct the bands of their partners
In crime, 50 over week ago they
went to Marshal Finsterwald and
informed him of the plot,
giving him ev>9y detail. Ever
since that time they have kept him
posted on the actions of the would
be robbers.
Then a counter pot on the part
of Finsterwald, Kyle and Sweat
was formed. The young men we're
TO 60 last night to Glllipolis. With
their companions, they were to en-
ter the house, whore the officers
would be concealed. Once inside
they were to lie do wn so as to es-
cape possible bullets. while the
other men were to be placed under
arrest.
The counter plot worked but Its
consequences were terrible. The
robbers went to Gallipolls on Tues.
day, but a note was left at Athens
informing Finsterwald the aft air
would not be pulled off till last
night. Finsterwald went to CALI
polls yesterday afternoon and at
once took the deputy sheriff OF
Gallipolis in to mis- confidence.
Mrs. Priest was informed of The
proposed robbery and was removed
to place of safety. Early In the
evening the Ulcers concealed them
selves In the house. About eleven
O'Clock Weldon and Sweat forced
an entrance TO the house and then
quietly dropped fat on the floor.
They were followed by Pyle aud
Williams. The Officers stenned