The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-07-31
TRAGEDIES
IN WISE
The County is Not Losing its
Record for Shootings.
MURDER TRIAL GOING ON
Clifton Branham Charged With Killing
His Wfe-Repubica Primary-Big
Stone Gap CoIliery Company
is Prosperous and Busy.
Especial to The Times.Dispatch.)

WISE. VA, July 27..--Sunday morning
about o'clock Wesley Hicks. special
police for the stone Gap Colliery Com
pany. at Glamorgan, near this place, shot
and killed Dave Dykes and mortally
wounded George Fowler.
Dykes, In his dying declaration. stated
that he and Fowler were on their way
TO a dance, and that Hiclrs, who was
concealed under house, stepped out In
front Of them and commenced shooting.
Fowler died yesterday evening about
O'Clock, and his dying declaration cor
roboraees that Of Dykes.
Hicks claims that they shot at him FIRST,
the ball passing through his hat, but, ae-
cording to an eye witness, who was III
house near by, Hicks Immediately after
the shooting held up his hat and shot tho
hole through 1t himself There was no
nistol found on either one of the dead
men.
Hicks was arrested and committed to
jail by Squire c. A. Vance to await the
action of the grand jury, which Will be
in session to-day.
Dykes was about thirty years old. and
leaves wife and several small children.
Fowler was about twenty-five years OF
age and unmarried. TICKS is opoue
thirty, and also has a family.
Will Daniels, alias George Thomas, VINO
shot and killed J. H. King. chief Of police
at Stonega, on last Saturday morning
and who was fatally wounded byone OF
the officers, stated that King made his
fourth man. Daniels, or Thomas, was
raised in Leslie county. KY. and went 70
the Indian Territory several years ago.
where he killed his first man. From
there he went to Texas, where ne soon
after committed burglary. Two de-
putty sheriffs went to arrest him for THIS
crime. He opened fire on the officers
killing both.
Daniels stated that there was large
reward for him for killing tho Texas
officers.
MURDER TRIAL.
County Court Is in session and will last
from ten to fifteen days The case OF the
Commonwealth against Clifton Branham,
charged with killing his wife, will occupy
the attention Of the court for the next
four or FIVE days Branham Is ably de-
Tended by Judge T. NJ. Alderson' hon.
r. P. Bruce, John A. Hughes and Judge
w. II. Bond, while Commonwealth At
Btorney Dotson will be assisted by Hon.
o. NJ Wears in the prosecution
Branham has already served fourteen
years In the Kentucky penitentiary for
murder.
It seemed cor time that local option
would be the means Of decreasing crime
in this county but slncc last Saturday
morning there have been five men killed
and three wounded and as Wise already
holds the record over all the other coun-
ties in the State Of having the largest
number In the State prison. it seems that
It is going to keep 1t up.
Dent Owens, the fourteen-year-old son
OF T. w. Owens, of this place, who was
very badly hurt Saturday evening by
falling from train on the Virginia and
Kentucky Railroad, going at the rate OF
about thirty miles an hour is improving.
It was thought al first that he was IA
tally injured
There are several flne buildings going
UP hero. County Court Clerk w. 2. Kill
gore has under construction a dwelling
house to cost $1,000; Mr., W. G. Sandoe IS
also building a dwelling. to cost about
$4,000. Messrs NJ. J. Bruce and r. f.
Bruce have under construction a large
business house on the north side of Main
Street, which will be used, when com-
pleted, for a feed, grain and provision
store. Mr.. W. II. Roberts will erect a
large brick business house, fronting Main
and Spring Streets, In very short time.
REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.
The Republican primary Will be held
on August Sth Every one of the respec-
tive aspirants are claiming victory. r..
| L. Kilgore, A. G. Parson, J. F. Alley and
| John A. Hughes are all claiming the
| nomination for Commonwealth attorney.
| The Stone Gap Colliery Company, oper-
| ating at Glnmorgan, about one mile from
| this place, now has 200 coke ovens In full
| blast, and Is turning out a first class
| quality of coke. Tho company has about
| 800 mon on Its pay roll. This company
| commenced work last fall, and has since
| built 2l3 miners houses, FIVE nice dwell
Ing houses for the superintendents, a
| commissary s0x150 feet. large and COM
modious hotel. has a first class system of
| water works and sewerage system, cleo
| trio lights, power house, machine shops
| and storage houses Tho company pays
| good wages. tho miners making from 81
to So per day, carpenters $3.50 to SEQ per
day and ordinary workmen sl-50 to 50 per
day. Mr.. Conner. the superintendent. is
we'll liked by every ono.