Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-06-04
astiseellansu,ls 8saaitts.
BLAcKMAlL IN THE MOUNTAINS
Remarkable Story From Western North
Carolina. A

Carolina. A
BR1sro1, Tenn, May ga Few
days ago the press dispatches told
brief story Of double tragedy neal
Altapass, in the mountains Of Mitchell
county, North Carolina 1t was statee
that Deputy Sheriff Buchanan wa:
shot and killed by q man nance
"Faul," and that "Faul" in turn was
shot and killed by a friend Of the dep
uty sheriff.
This appeared to be all there was o.
the story, perhaps a case Of hate ane
revenge, or simply another mountain
tragedy, with the shedding of BLOOD
fol no cause except for the satisfac-
ton of a disposition to be king bully
among the mountaineers.
But the facts in this case reveal an
entirely different story and uncover q
chapter of perfidy that is indeed q
rare specimen among the usually frank
and sincere people Of the southern
mountains, and which not only ended
in disgrace for one family, but sent
an innocent young man Of high respec-
liability to an untimely grave.
It was not "Faul," as was announced
in the press dispatches, who killed the
deputy sheriff, but Manassas Sorrells
mountaineer of more than ordinary
pretensions, who had diabolical plan
of robbery, in which it appears his
wife was his willing partner. lending
her aid in a manner that was as dis
graceful as 1t was shameful.
Lived In Good Style.
Sorrells. who had the reputation OF
being man of bad principle. never
theless lived in good style and In an
apparent state Of high responsibility
at his home near the village Of Spruce
Pine. His wife-now his widow-is
described as a rather handsome and
shapely woman, who appeared to de-
light in the rustic Of silk garments,
and who seemed to make special ef-
fort to be attractive, especially when
gentlemen guests were In the home
No one in the community, no matter
how they may have regarded Sorrells
and his family, appeared to suspect
even such a thing as the remotest
probability that Sorrells and his wife
had conceived plan Of blackmailing
In order to extort money from mengin
the same community in which they
lived, for as many as may have be-
come victims Of such scheme lad
cause to keep 1t q secret, and SO 1t was
that silence was preserved through
many years, it may have been, OF ex-
tortion in which the wiles Of a wo-
man were the winning card. But now
that the circumstances have come 10
light, this appears to have been the
purpose of the woman's fancy attire
and the daintiness that marked the
decorations of her home. And now
that the whole scheme has been ex-
ploded, and Mrs. Sorrells is in jail sat
Bakersville, N. c., to answer 90
bench warrant charging her with such
shameful conduct as has been indicat-
ed in the foregoing, and her husband
lips are sealed in death as the result
of the Altapass tragedy, she is said
to have confessed at the preliminary
trial that she had been guilty OF lur-
ing men into her home for the pur-
pose of extorting money from them.
Through a double tragedy Of the
bloodiest nature, in which guilt and
innocence "bit the dust" together, II
now looms up that back Of all the
pretensions Of Sorrelrs and his at
tractive wife was a diabolical plot to
hold up unsuspecting men and ROD
them of thousands Of dollars through
a cunning that has never before had
its like in the mountains.
Facts vouched For.
The facrs as revealed in this case
are vouched for by a reputable traV-
cling man of this city and by relatives
Of Senator Jace Burleson, who was
a victim of the dainty garments and
bewitching smiles Of Mrs. Sorrells
Senator Burleson has already given
his testimony in the sensational scan
dal, and it Is to the effect that Sorrells
and his wife robbed him of $4,000 cash
as the price of silence at the conclu-
sion of a successful effort to entrap
him.
The Bristol travelling man who re-
lates the inside facts Of the tragedy
near Altapass, was in western North
Carolina at the time it was enacted
and Is acquainted with Senator Burle-
son and others Of the more prominent
people involved in the affair. This
man was present and saw the bul-
let-marked bodies of the two victims
Of the double tragedy. The picture
presented in the lifeless forms OF the
two victims impressed him with the
peculiar wantonness which must nave
fastened itself upon this man Sorrells
and the woman who, it appears mao
consented to join him in q scheme OF
robbery that scarcely has a parallel
outside of the great cities. where
among so many different classes OF
people, the unusual is not unexpected
Plot Against Senator.
The incident which was destined 70
produce this unusual picture through
a. flow of blood, had its origin IN an
invitation which Manassas Sorrells
extended to his neighbor, Jace Burle-
son, to join him on hunt. Burieson
who Is one of the most prominent
and wealthy business men In western
North Carolina, and who has, since
the day he received that invitation
been elected to the state senate oi
North Carolina, from his district ac-
cepted the invitation, after having
been repeatedly assured by Sorrells
that the latter knew where they coulo
find several coveys Of birds on MS
lands. This was in last october
Burleson and Sorrells agreed upon a
date for the hunt, and on that da!
Burleson went to the home or Sor-
rells to be his guest, taking along MS
gun and dogs. He was very fond OF
hunting. and especially liked shooting
birds ON the wing, and he anticipated