The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-12-25
GRAFTON

GRAFTON. w. Va, Dec. 24-The
most sensational case that has devel-
oped In this section OF the State in
years is that Of the death by either
murder or suicide of Alonzo Piles. a
wealthy farmer OF near HowesvilIe.
Preston county. who died Friday from
bullet wounds received in, as yet. an
unknown manner so far as the author
titles are concerned.
His wife and brother. J.. w. Piles
have been arrested and are being held
In Kingwood Jail. awaiting a prelim.
mary hearing on the charge OF muir
dering Piles. The testimony Of the
accused parties Is 10 the effect that
Piles shot himself while under the in
iuence OF alcohol. His wife and his
brother had demonstrated with him.
according to their story. and endeav-
ored 10 take him home. but he refused
to do so. He drew a pistol then and
attempted to shoot himself. but his
brother made an effort to wrest the
weapon away from him. In the strug-
gle which followed the defendants
claims Piles struck his brother over
the head with the butt OF the pistol.
knocking him down. then turned the
weapon on himself and fred a bullet
through his breast. He expired i'm
the road by the side Of his wife a few
minutes later. Unusual interest Is
taken in the case. owing to the promi.
nence OF the parties who are involved
James Male Is held here on charges
preferred by William Parsons. alleging
robbery. entering a building and at
tempting 10 shoot with intent 10 kill.
Parsons alleges Male entered his
house and stole a sum OF money three
weeks ago. This week. Parsons
claims. n man entered his home. pis.
tol In hand. and was attacked by Par
sons. who was overpOwered BY the
%assailant. who escaped Before leav-
Ing. however. Parsons claims that he
tore a mask from the face Of the IN
trudor, and both Parsons and wife
say they recognized the midnight
proWler a. Male. lie was arrested on
the streets OF Grafton the next day.
and IL being held for trial.
4 prominent white churchman. Of
Huntinston & furnishing funds that
VIII be- used by Rev " Wiuhro~ =
noted negro evangelist. o. Norfolk. Va
who ia conducting o. series of reefvaf
meetinra here this month amour the COZ
ored people. a. conduct n series ~ iuter-
dc~uominauouni eVanFenHtic services
amuun the negroes ~ America. Do Ia
claimed that this a. the first timo that
an effort has been made % bring the
colorod race into the ranks of the
Christians IN any sort 81 campaign con
Quoted on lines other than those n ne
particular denominations
~ W HianninG. a graduate Of Uetb-
any College ard pastor ~ the Christian
church. Or this city has been appointed
principal uf the trades In the Central
school nuiidinr. 90 succeed a. W HoaEs
resigned
a blaze iu The basement OF the reel-
deuce ~ = k White. on Wraf Main
street caused SLIGHT damaro Monday
morninf n on early hour. but the lire
Was quickly e~NtinEuishcd
o. has developed that tho rniiraaaa 4,
thia part ~ the state viii not b. ~
rrfair benefited BY Ihe Increase h.
irfiFhf rates nF was ~ fret anflrIrafaf
local railway Officials claim that ne
coal and coke shipments on which ro
increase ~ freight A. permitted cnuafl.
tute como 30 per cent ~ the total
am1unf ~ business handird on The roads
On This section ~ West N~irrIuia Coal
lorme % per cent ~ on the shipments
handlrf on che entire ~ a % railroad
svafem