Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1915-08-12

teamster.
"I'd better post you on a few de
tails" he said. "Ever hear of the
Keithley assassination"
shook my head and he enlightened
me.
"Keitherly was the prosecuting at
torney in some rather celebrated muir
der trials. He was shot to death one
afternoon as he came out Of the court
ROOM"
"Yes?" l questioned.
"Six months later Con Hoover was
shot from the laurel on this road. He
had allied himself with those who
sought to avenge Keithley."
nodded my head.
"There were Gale Springer, Bud
Dode-I could enumerate other vic
Tins, but that is all detail. What con-
Germs us Is this. Jim Garvin is coun.
ty judge. In rough way he Is the
political boss of the region and he has
built up a fortune. His own gun is
unnotched, but half dozen men who
come to abrupt ends. -
"The newspapers in louisville and
Lexington have intimated that besides
being at the head OF fiscal affairs and
operating a general store, the judge
also issues his orders to murder
syndicate
why" demanded in some disgust,
hasn't it been proven?"
"ft Is difficult to prove things of this
sort-when the defendant is more
powerful than the law and when jur.
les walk in terror" Weighborne re-
minded me. HE has twice been tried
for completely. A company of state
guards patrolled the court house yard
to reassure veniremen and witnesses.
The only result was the defeat, at the
next election, of the judge and prose
cutor who had made themselves OBJ
noXious."
why" I inquired, aren't such
male-factors taken into a civilized
circuit, on change of venue, anG
tried where Jurors are not intimidat.
ed?"
"They have been-with the same re-
suit" affirmed my informant. "You
see, while the jurors were freed from
fear, the witnesses knew they must
return home"
"Shall we be likely to meet this
highly interesting character?" I quss
toned.
"The store where our wagon turns
back" said Weighborne, "is his
place."
"Then I am to be careful not to
form or express my opinion adverse
to judicious homicide! Is that the
point?"
Weighborne smiled.
"Our plans involve bringing a
branch railroad along tie way we
have been travelling" he replied, "and
the coming of that railroad means the
death knell of Jim Garvin's power.
What is still moro to the point, our
attorney here and the man for whose
house we are bound is Galloway Mar
Gus.
"He was Keithley's law-partner, and
he is marked man. He it was who
prosecuted Garvin-and lost his off,
cial head. His actual head he keeps
on his shoulders by riding at the the
center of a body guard. l tell you
these matters so that you mny watch
your words"
"Shall we encounter open hostility
at this place." inquired
Weighborne shook his head. "On
the contrary, we shall be most courte-
ously received. Politeness is highly
esteemed hereabouts. The fact that
man means to 1ay-way' you to-
night with squirrel gun is not
deemed sufficient reason for relaxing
his courtesy this afternoon.
An hour later our conveyance drew
up at the junction of two ragged roads
where thin, outcropping ledges OF
limestone went down to the rim of
shallow stream. Beyond the water
rose beetling bluff. One could i'm
agine that when summer brought to
his hollow in the hills it's richness of
green and it's profusion of trumpet
flower and laurel and rhododendron.
there must be an eye-fiIIing beauty;
but now it was unspeakably raw. and
desolate.
Two houses were in sight. and both
were of depressing ugliness. In the
fork of the road, where the ground
was trodden hard. stood the store"
It was one-room shack built of logs
and boarded over, but Innocent of
paint. A lean-to porch. diRGgured by
a few advertising signs. gave entrance
to narrow door.
The second house sat back and
higher up the slope of the mountain.
It's solidity was that OF. mortised logs,
and it's windows were protected be.
hind solid shutters. Inside there was
plainly an abundance of space. as be-
fitted the dwelling-place of the dis.
80.