The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-07-25
Facts for the People 70 Consider.

Editor Progressive West Virginian:
have just read with surprise and
amazement letter in the Mingo
Republican signed by Hubert Cues
inberry, who says he is one of the
counsel for Ebert Whit who is now
incarcerated in our County Jail
charged with killing Farmer Hoskins
and also q premise to this letter by
the editor, in which he takes the
pleasure of stating that the letter is
reply TO an article appearing re-
Gently in the Socialist and Labor
Star, a newspaper published at
Huntington, which grossly misrepre-
sents the case.
Now | wish to state that | read
the article in the Socialist paper and
failed to see the misrepresentation.
The article was nothing more than
a comment on an uncalled for and
apparently malicious statement made
in the Republican a few days earlier
in which 1t was made to appear that
upon authority of Mr. Rhodes, the
Prosecuting Attorney, that evidence
had been procured to make out
clear cut case OF cold blooded muir
der against the accused persons.
The article stated that Hoskins
was intoxicated and unable to defend
himself and that they were thus EN-
boldened, and that they lead him
short distance away and murdered
him with his own gun.
Then in a few days the case was
called for trial and the valiant Pros
ecutor could not produce the evil
dence, and refused to give the ac-
cused persons a trial
Such reports going out over the
country. apparently upon authority
of the Prosecuting Attorney, on the
eve of the trial of person accused
of crime would be bad enough when
the state had the evidence to sustain
lit, but when the trial comes on and
| the trial is refused for the reason
that the States Attorneys have not
investigated the case, as they stated,
such reports become revolving, and
comment by all fair minded persons
| may be expected.
| Then the editor is also pleased to
remark in the same issue in which
Mr. Quesinberry's letter appears as
follows:
at will be remembered that Far
Mer Hoskins was foully murdered
on June the 5th," etc. | would sug-
gest that Prosecutor Rhodes have a
subpoena issued for the illustrious
editor at the next calling Of the case
and no doubt he will be ready for
trial and not to continue the case
| for lack Of evidence.
He then comments upon the ac-
cused having denied the charge at
the preliminary trial before Esquire
Boggs, etc. He fails to see any rea-
son for this denying of the killing
at that time, but every one else can
see reason for it who knows the
/ riosklns record as Well as the editor
does. IL the editor would inyesti-
gate the records OF The Criminal
court OF this county he could see a
reason. Would suggest that he and
/ Mr. Queslnberry be introduced to
this record and no DOUBT they would
become better acquainted with the
KIND, honest honorable and law
abiding citizens so highly praised by
them.
| | suppose they have heard nothing
of the shooting of Robert Easley, a
few years ago in this county, and
OF the indictment which Is a matter
of record IN our Criminal Court, but
| upon which no trial was ever had, so
We are advised.
| don't know where M. Quesin-
berry and the editor We're when Far
| mer Hoskins, the deceased, and an
other gentleman appeared on the
Kentucky side OF the river opposite
the city of Williamson. little over
| a year ago, after dark one evening
| in company with couple of ladies'?
and In possession of two big pistols
each, plenty Of ammunition, and a
good supply OF shot gun whiskey
and proceeded to lombard the town
| from tile other side OF the river and
/ continued to fire yolley after yolley
/ all night long, and We're captured
about daylight the next morning by
the Williamson police. However no
one was hurt, but several narrow es-
capes were reported.
Two large pistols were taken off
the person OF Mr.. Hoskins by Po-
| liceman Stevens, and at the next
term OF our Criminal Court he was
| indicted, but was never brought to
trial. See the Criminal Court rec
ords.
Mr. Quesinberry and the editor are
undoubtedly not very close observers
of passing events.
| Like Mr.. Quesinberry,-thi
this newspaper notoriety ordinarily
uncalled for in criminal cases, and
should not be practised further than
justice demands, but it can not be
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