Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1904-10-22
OLD MANS TRAGIC DEATH
Found Dead in the Mountains
Back Of Cherry Run.
SKULL CRUSHED IN BY A BLOW
Prospecior Named Chspsplle Comes To a
Violent and Mysterious End and Cir
n,,rs,ancss tndica,a Murder
cumstances Indicate NGrder.

EuNHStdHCeS lhuldic HEfocis
A sensational story Of the disappear
snce Of an aged aud well-known min
ing exnert and prospector, and the
subsequent finding of his BODY by a
searching party under circumstances
which strongly suggest foul muir
| der. comes to The Herald from
back in the mountains of Morgan
county. where the people have been
wrought up to an unusual pitch of
excitement for several days over the
occurrance.
Some months Eago, when the search
for coal in. the mountains about five
miles back of Cherry Run was being
prosecuted with vigor by prospectors
who believed the giant hills contained
rich deposits of the fuel, there came
to the scene from Washington an old
expert named Chanpelle, quiet and
mysterious individual, who went
about his work with little to say to
any one, but in such manner that
UIOuRub W utu duu tiio pcOpic nv
represented full measure of the suc-
cess be so persistently sought. His
search was rewarded by finding de-
post in one of the hills called Sleepy
Greek mountain, aud in short time a
shaft was sunk, the find confirmed and
the land passed from the hands of the
original owners to those of a syndicate
of capitalists.
The old man.Chappelle remained on
the scene. watched over the shaft
with the vigilance of man guarding
a treasure house, refusiug to speak to
any one regarding the probable valu
CT his find, and generally keeping his
own counsel as to the plans of the
owners Of the place. of whom the
aged expert was supposed to be one.
1t was known. however, despite the
reticenoe of the old man. that valu-
able field had been discovered, and
that there was prospect of sem
sational Developments when the land
came to be fully exploited.
Old man Chappelae was an eccentric
individual, taciturn to an unusual de-
gree. and apparently suspicious of all
with whom he came into contact.
While neither surly nor morose. he
was not compsnionable or communi-
cative, and the people among whom
he lived knew little concerning him
or his plans regarding the coal mine.
In order to defeat any surveillance on
the part of those with whom he was
compelled to associate, he lived at two
places. For awhile he would board
with one family. then remove to an
other neigh porhood and live with an
other family, alternating his place of
residence at irregular intervals in
order, 1t is now believed. to purposelv
make his movements matter wholly
of conjecture.
Thursday of last week the old man
disappeared as completely as though
the mountains he roamed over had
opered and engulfed him. No one saw
him go into the wilds of the hills he
loved so we'll, and the people at one
boarding place supposed he was at the
other. Several DAYS elapsed. and the
old man failing to emerge from the
hills, searching partv was organized,
scores of men leaving their customary
employment TO join in the hunt for
the aged urospector. The hills of tue
wild and desolate region weie
tramped, foot by foot. and hourly the
search grew more anxious and Letter.
mined.
Finally, when the searchers " re
about to abandon their efforts as futile
and hopeless. "a party of ten came upon
the form of the old expert. lying s.Lout
300 yards from his mine. parity con-
cealed in clump OF stunted ushes,
his feet wedged between tree and
rock. and his head. on which was
terrible wound, resting upon pile of
leaves in slight depression. -he old
man was dead. ana had come TO his
end in a violent manner Tenderlv
1 blC DOhS WINS anu CAdAnlhCot oht
it was discovered that life had been
extinct for several days. The coroner
was summoned, and his verdict WAS
that the old man bad come to his
tragic end in a manner unknown.
The remains were prepared for burial,
aud Wednesday he was laid to rest in
the cemetery at Snyder's church,
many of those who had known the
aged prospector following him to his
last resting place.
Since the disappearance and subse-
quent death of Chappelle. several I'M
usual and suspicious circumstances
have been recalled by people in the
vicinity of Cherry Run and the places
at which the old man boarded. 1t is
recalled that strange man and women
were seen talking to the old man on