Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1912-08-22
Michael Clancy and James De.
vine Stabbed by Joe Devona
Shortly After Mid
night
Both Die On Way
To Hospital

Probably one Of the most cold-blooded
and atrocious crimes ever committed in
this city occurred Saturday morning al
about 1915 o'clock, when Joe Devona,
en- Italian employed as bartender in =.
G. loves saloon, Fourth street Glen Elk,
fatally stabbed Michael CLANCY and
James Devine, driving the knife through
their hearts, the victims dying few
minutes later on their way to 81. Mary's
Hospital.
The crime which appeared to be more
the act Of : maniac. than Of sane man,
was witnessed by several people, bui
occurred 90 quickly ttat there was nc
chance for interference After stabbinp
the men Devona rushed past the by
ISLANDERS, fourished the knife, and in the
excitement disappeared.
A few minutes after the crime was com.
mitted the police under the direction Of
Lieutenant Nicholas M. Whyte were
securing Glen Elk, for the murderer, but
it was not until about 2:30 o'clock that
he was found in room under Annegane
saloon at the end of the Glen Elk bridge.
When Lieutenant Whyte and Officers
Simms and Shope entered the room De-
vona was sitting on the bed with his
shoes and coat off. Immediately upon
seeing the officers the Italian threw up
his hands, crying; PPM here, I'll gol'
Lieutenant Whyte and Officer Simms
placed the man between them and started
across the Glen Elk bridge, followed by
an hundred or more people. Az the Of
ficers proceeded with their prisoner the
crowd increased in number, muttering
threats against Devona.
AS the police turned into Fourth street
there was probably one hundred and fifty
in the crowd and cries Of "Get a rope
Lynch him." began to ring out. Draw
ing their revolvers the officers ordered
the crowd to keep back and started at a
faster pace down Main street with their
prisoner who was by this time quaking
with fear.
Hardly had the trio turned into Court
street when the mob, as by common
impulse, started to rush upon the officers
with angry cries OF "Take him from them
Get rope, we'll lynch the Dago'
Seeing that they were hard pressed
Lieutenant Whyte and Officer Simms
fired several shots over the heads OF the
crowd. And as evidence that some OF
the mob was prepared to!take the law in
their own hands, several shots were fred
by some OF it's members.
BY this time the officers had reached
the Jail. the door Of which was being
held open, and the prisoner WAS rushed
into cell.
From all appearances the cold-blooded
murder was premediated. According to
bystanders Devona came out OF loves
saloon, with long knife clutched in his
hand. Whether there were any words
passed or not could not be authenticity
ascertained but hardly had Devona
turned from the door when he made
lunge at CLANCY indicttng wound in the
heart. Again he drove the knife into bis
stricken victims neck. Devine by this
time made an attempt to interfere, and
Devona turned on him, striking sweep
ing blow, which cut the unfortunate
mans heart out, making wound about
six inches long.
After being stabbed, Clancy staggered
straight across the street, the blood
squirting from his wounds, while Deylne
started to run, with Devona after him.
The wounded man fell on Glen Elk
bridge, while his murderer, running into
the Italian fruit store next to Lover and
Lista's barber shop, threw bis knife in a
tub Of water and then rushed out. 1t
was then he apparently disappeared but
really went down ehort fight of steps
and into the room under Annegans
saloon.
The dying men had hardly fallen be-
fore bystanders had run to their sides.
Seeing that they were MORALLY injured
Devine was rushed to st. Mary's Hospital
in an automobile and CLANCY in a car
riaee, but both victims OF the murderous
attack, died on the way.
Great excitement followed the double
tragedy and If the murderer had been
within short time after the
crime was committed, while the crowd