West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1905-01-12


to hang or shoot him at once, say
ing he was anxious to die, and wish
ed to be legally executed. The
sheriff placed Warner in the Jail and
opened communication with rela-
tives at Parsons, w. Va.
The above news dispatch is short,
and does not give much history of
the man, but it hints at whole lot.
The biography of the man who wants
to be hanged or shot can be imagin-
ed.
Tom Warner, by which name he
is known, has lived in the noun
tains of Tucker county nearly all his
life, when he was not In Jail some
where else. He burst into notice
like meteor some thirty years ago
by being arrested in Barbour county,
just across the Tucker county line.
a gang of desperadoes, calling
themselves Red Men, were terrorlz-
ing the community. Many citizens
had been called out of their homes
at night and beaten and mistreated.
The gang painted their faces red
while on their raids, and the COM
munity was kept in constant excite
ment.
Suspicion had fixed on Warner as
one of the gang, and one morning
after raid had been made on the
settlement near Meadowville, Bar
bour county, the officers came down
unexpectedly upon Warmers house,
and caught him washing the red
paint off his face. He was convict
ed, aud spent some time in prison.
AT that time there lived in Tucker
county an influential citizen, Captain
Ezekiel Harper, neighbor of Var
ner. He took special interest in
Varner's behalf, got up petition to
the governor, and succeeded in OBJ
tanning a pardon for the man.
Things went on without incident
for some years. One dark night a
large sawmill at Roylesburg, in
Preston county, was burned. Itwas
supposed to have been accidental,
until some time afterward when
Warner was hauled into court in
Tucker on some other charge. He
grew reminiscent, and said that he
had set the mill on fire, and that
Captain Harper had hired him to do
1t because of spite against the mill
company growing out of a dispute
in business matter. ..
People were not inclined to be-
lieve that Captain Harper had any
hand IN it. 1t was looked upon as
an effort to blackmail, and Captain
"A al pei 81 utuOuuCeu u.
Captain Harper was a bachelor,
then about seventy years old, and
lived with servants in a fine house
four miles from the town ofParsons.
He had been confined to his room
with sickness for some time, when
one morning the servants spread the
alarm that masked men had carried
him off. OF course it created a ire
mendous sensation. Searching par.
ties secured the hills, but could find
no trace Of him.
a day or two later, however, he
hobbled out Of the woods and reach
ed his house He had a story that
would rival the tales of the Morocco
bandits. He said that Tom Warner
and two strangers had kidnapped him
and carried him to Varner's house
in the mountains, where they de-
handed a heavy ransom, and threat.
ened ia case Of refusal, TO railroad
him to the peniteutiary ON the
charge Of burning the mill at Row.
lesburg.
Captain Harper knew the despic-
able character Of Warner. and knew
that ae would betray anybody for
money Aying a $40 bin in his
pocket be slipped it 60 Warner and
told him 20 make tracks Warner
did so. lie left the two strangers
in charge of the prisoner When
Warner did not return after few
hours the strangers become susp.c..
Gus ,lat be had betrayed them, and
had gone 90 bring officers They
also made tracks, and Captain liar.
per was lef, at liberty 90 yet back
home the best he could.
Warner and his confcdcrates were
arrested Warner turned States
evidence, and long period oftusls
followed Captain Harper died not
long after and ihe men finally cs
capped lhe penIienGary
Warner has now turned up in
Cumberland, where be wantsd the
sheriff 70 shoot him Some people
in Tucker county viii regret tbatthe
sheriff could no, see bis way clear
90 do so.