Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-07-28
HELD UP IN DARK
RELIEVED Of HORSE
Fordwick Colored Man Has Elk
citing Experience While Re-
turning Home From Staunton

turning Home From Staunton
Fordwick, July 25.-Held up in
true wild west fashion by two men
who surprised him on dark cOun-
try road, and made to exchange the
fine horse he was riding for worth
less plug" was the experience of
Henry Hamilton, colored, of this
place on Monday night.
Hamilton, who is a highly respect
ed colored resident of Fordwick, went
to StauntOn Monday to attend
court" and, incidentally, to sell
four-year-old colt. After staying in
the city until very late in the after
noon, and not having made sale,
he set out on his return home.
Riding the colt he had travelled
as far as Mount Elliott Springs, when
in a dark and lonely piece of road,
he was accosted by two men, and at
the point of a pistol compelled to
exchange the horse, bride and sad
die for another outfit not near so
valuable. The holdup was executed
in out-and-out Jesse James style, and
the highwaymen made good their get
away.
Arriving in Fordwick Hamilton
made known his experience and at
once called on Squire D. B. Kunkle
and had him issue warrant for the
arrest of Jean Rhodes, horse trader
who lives in the neighborhood of
Goshen, and who Hamilton says was
one of the men who held him up.
The other highwayman the colored
man failed to recognize, but he is
quite positive that he has made no
mistake about Rhodes.
Rhodes is known to have been in
Staunton on Monday, and it is be-
ieved that seeing the colored man
there with his horse and knowing the
road he would take on his way home
at night, he planned the deal that he
is afterward alleged to have pulled
off in the dark.
Deputies are now after him, and an
arrest is expected shortly.
Deputized-Constable B. F. Moore,
of Craigsville, later served the war
rant on Rhodes and his companion
who proved to be Jerry Hunt, Jerry
claims Kentucky as home state.
They had the goods, all right, but
claim that Hamilton traded with
them Of his own free will and accord.
The men were given a preliminary
trial before Justice of the Peace, D.
B. Kunkle and sent on to the grand
Jury.
Brought Here to Jail
Constable B. F. Moore and his two
prisoners arrived on train No. IA last
night and were taken to the county
jail to await trial at the September
term Of court. The men are about
80 years of age and deny that they
held Hamilton up. Constable Moore
expects to return to Craigsville on
the early train this morning.
Heavy Hail Storm
A very heavy hail storm passed
over section of this place yesterday
and did considerable damage to earn
and other growing crops. 1t was
confined mostly to the mountain, but
below here, in the direction of Gosh
en-, it dipped down in the Valley and
took in the farms of J. C. Carper and
VIM. Bashaw.
The advertising man for the Polk
Miller minstrel show, which will visit
this place August II, passed through
yesterday, spreading the good news.
Polk Miller always receives a royal
welcome here and the people always
look forward to a night of pleasure
when they have chance to see him.
Little Miss Hazel Matthews left on
train No. 10 for visit to her aunt
Mrs. w. w. King of Clifton Forge.
Mr.. Bob Ramsey of Big River was
in town yesterday.
Mr.. Cattrell of Newport News is
visiting her daughter Mrs. Frank
Sibert of this place
Mr.. ]. M. Davis is suffering from
a bruised hand, which was hurt
while engaged in quarrying rock.
Lloyd Hunter, who had his leg
broken some time ago, is reported to
be getting along nicely.
Mr.. Frank Moor has returned from
Huntington, w. Va.
Mr.. J. w. Quinn of Goshen was
here on business vesterdav