West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-11-19
FIRE OUT At IRONA.
And the Capture ofJoe Lawson Accused
oTArson-

There was an alarm OF FIRE out al Irona
Monday afternoon. about three o'clock
the whistle was sounded long and loudly
and II was found that the company house
occupied by Mathew Higgins the pit boss
and William Lawson and his son Toe
Lawson. making three families In all. was
on hre and soon destroyed entailing loss
OF $i5oo. The house was double one and
a good building. The contents were saved
through the prompt action OF the citizens
OF irona who responded to the FIRE alarm
and II was with difficulty that other property
was saved Il Is alleged that Joe Lawson.
the son OF William Lawson is guilty OF the
henious crime OF arson aud deliberately set
fire to the building because Of trouble with
his wife and parents. ftis reported that
he made threats and then got drunk and
carried them out He came at once 10
Kinewood and hired team to take him 10
Terra Alta. plwning his watch 10 driver TO
pay for IL, His idea was to catch 49, the
fast train east and get away before being
apprehended, but the train passed through
Just as they drove into Terra Alta He
went to his brotherin-laws over there and
borrowed 50 and redeemed his watch.
Telegrams were following him and he was
arrested by Constable Dave Hoilen aud
lodged in the lookup over there. but succeed
cd In escaping next morning. BY breaking
up an old chair and prying up the aoor.
The space between slecpers was so small
that he had to take off his clothes to crawl
through, but he got away and went TO an
uncIe's near town aud got horse that
belonged to his parents. telling his uncle
that they were 10 Terra Alta and had
bought buggy and harness and sent him
after the horse. He struck out for Friends
vile. Md. was 10 GAINESVILLE that night.
In the mean time Alton Jackson. Town.
Sergeant OF Kingwood had gone to Terra
Alta after him and found the bird had
flown. He and Constable .rioiler started
on TO pursue. The latter hasfbeen teIephon-
Ing all around the country and found that
Lawson was in GAINESVILLE and started for
there al onc-. The fugitive over heard the
operator at GAINESVILLE talking 10 HoIlen
over the wire and at once passed on
toward Fricndsvile. The ofhcere arrived
In Gainesville that night and as II was very
dark concluded to remaio there all night
as IL WAS thought that Lawson would stay
all night at a relatives a, Sang Kun which
he did
Next morning the officers were hot on his
trail and captured him this side OF Friends
vile, They soon found fresh track
where a horse had turned into the Friends
vile road. from towards Sang Run. and
coupe OF miles further. Lawson had gotten
OF aud walked about half nile TO keep
warm as Il wts very cold with two inches
OF snow on the ground. They soon found
where he had taken to the woods. as he
had heard their buggy cross bridge
They we're driving rapidly and the wheels
on the bridge led him to believe that 4, was
the officers alter him. They stopped In
the road and Jackson took to the woods 10
follow his tracks in the snow. In short
distance he saw Lawson peeping from be-
hind tree and In order TO throw him OF
his guard, asked him whore Brownings
Dam was at7' Lawson looked like he was
going TO run but but hesitated and replied
that he did no, know. BY that time Jack
son was close upon him and drawing bis
revolver. demanded. hands up. They
went up and Jackson hand cuncd him aud
took him to the team. They came. back.
Hollen taking the horse to Terra Alta and
Jackson bringing the prisoner to the King.
wood jail. He was TO have a hearing be.
fore Justice y y Morris last night. bnt
the Witnesses from Ifona did not get here
on account ola wreck on the railroad. 90
that the train did not get In till about ten
o'clock and the trlsi was postponed an 10.
night