Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1906-11-02
AN <EaED
MURDERER
LOIuisr rED IN MINGO COUN
yAI.xDRuMMER. AFTER
HAVING EI.UDED ARREST
FOR SEvEN YEARS.

Aue hoito"fnS interesting story
Of the capture of an alleged murder
er is taken from tho Charleston
News:
In the early months OF 1899, Tom
Connolly respectable citizen OF Ad-
Olson. Webster county. was foully
murdered at his home. Suspicion
pointed To the Prater family as the
guilty men and old man Prater with
his two sons. Dave and younger
son. were charged with the crime
IL was alleged that Dave did the
shooting. They were placed In the
Addison jail and according to the
statement made by Dave Prater to
Marshal Cunningham. walked out OF
the jail few weeks later at midnight
through an open door. lid man Pra-
ter was captured and had his trial
as an accessory to the murder. He
was convicted and sentenced to a Ave
years term In the Moundsvilie peni-
tentiary and has served his sentence
Dave Prater and his younger
brother after wandering from April
to June of that year In the eastern
and northern part OF the state, wend
ed their way back to the western end
OF the state 'and then parted COM
pany. Dave changed his name and
settled down, living In a cabin near
Devon. Mingo county. The younger
brother. fearing arrest. worked his
way to Kentucky and settled on
Knox creek I'm pike county OF that
state unknown to any OF his new
neighbors and Il is said lived n
peaceful life until his death fow
months ago. With his death came
whispers OF tragedy I'm the noun
tains OF West Virginia I'm which the
dead had played part These re-
ports came te' the ears of E. Il. 81
mon, a travelling man OF Charleston
whose father Is the assessor OF Roane
county. and Mr.. Simon learning Of a
$500 reward for Dave Prater. found
a clue to the location of the man.
The travelling man secured ca
pias from the sheriff of Webster
county. and with another man for
assistance proceeded to Mingo coun-
ty and to the cabin OF Dave Prater,
who at the time was leading a quiet
life In the hills OF that county. Sat
urday with his companion he found
the alleged murderer in his cabin
about ten miles from Devon. The ar
rest was accomplished with much
hazard. Riding up to the cabin on a
horse, he called Prater out TO the
fence and placed him under arrest.
Prater quietly submitted and asked
him to accompany him to the cabin
and get necessary articles no wish
ed to take along with him. The two
men complied with the request and
upon entering the cabin were sur
prlsed to find four men inside and
tseveral Winchester rifles stacked in
the corner OF the room. They were
completely dumfounded by the arri-
val OF the special officers and while
his assistant covered the compan-
ions OF Prater, Simon and his prls-
oner on a horse proceeded to the
nearest railroad station where he
placed his prisoner on the train and
came TO this city. Deputy Marshal
cunningham Joined them at Hunting
ton yesterday and lodged the prison
er in jail in this city until today
when he was taken back to Addison
to stand trial for the murder OF
Connoly.
Prater told the deputy marshal
that he was glad TO go back as ne
had no rest for the whole time he
has been enjoying his freedom, con-
tlnually brooding over the matter
and at times was despondent.