Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1916-01-20
WEST VIRGINIA NEWS.

More than 10000 automobile licenses
have been issued in West Virginia since
the beginning of the fiscal year, the first
of July. There are some 5000 motor
cycles in this State.
Announcement is made that the next
annual convention of the West Virginia
Sunday School Association will be held
at Morgantown May 10th TO 18th. 1t is
expected that 1000 delegates will be IN
attendance.
Miss Lavinia Engle, OF Washington,
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. James M. Engle,
formerly of Jefferson county. has started
a campaign in Fairmont, this State, for
the complete organization OF Marion coun-
ty in the interest of the equal suffrage
cause.
Twenty convicts employed in the tailor
ing shop OF the State Penitentiary went
on strike, contending that they were un-
able TO do the tasks assigned them. The
strikers were araigned in the peniten-
tiary police court and all were sentenced
TO solitary confinement. They lose the
time they had gained for good behavior.
AT the present session of the United
States Court in Parkersburg "a former
employees of the Fairmont postoffice,
who a couple of months ago went on
strike because they didn't want a DEM
ocratic postmaster, were indicted by the
federal grand jury. Yesterday VIM. H.
Fisher, one ofthe indicted men, committed
suicide by shooting himself in the head at
Fairmont.
Eldridge Davis, negro murderer in
the West Virginia Penltentiary. condemn
ed TO die on Friday, made novel plea
TO Governor Hatfield for communication
OF his sentence. Davis wrote letter to
the Governor, in which he said he's too
strong TO die. He says he will be able
TO do lot of hard work in the peniten-
tiary during the remainder of his natural
life if his sentence is committed to life
Imprisonment.
Thirteen brave boys OF Elkins, w. Va,
have signed an agreement whereby they
undertake during this year to undergo the
most rigid tests of will power that ever
a lad has undergone. They have agreed
TO eschew lea, coffee, soda water, ice
cream. candy, cakes, pie, pastry of any
kind and chewing gum for the whole year.
They will abstain from these things in an
experiment to show whether or not they
have harmful effect on growing boys.
A valuable violin, made in Charleston,
was presented to President Wilson few
days ago by Senator Chiffon on behalf OF
the maker of the instrument. Senator
Chiffon loves to sit and play over on the
violin the old tunes which remind him OF
home and the West Virginia mountains.
his favorites being "Sour Mountain"
Arkansas Traveller" and "The Devils
Dream" II is said he proved the ex-
cellent tone of the violin he presented to
the President by playing him few Of his
old favorites.
There is said TO have been good deal
OF excitement in Berkeley Springs last
Saturday night, when Alva Davis was
acquitted in the circuit court Of the murder
OF his ter-mother. He had been &C
cused OF strangling the woman, but the
evidence against him was purely circum-
stantial, and the defense submitted the
case to the jury without putting any wit
nesses upon the stand. The State made
hard fight to convict Davis, but the jury,
after celebrating about two hours, return
ed a verdict of not guilty. During the
trial and while the jury was celebrating
threats were made that Davis would not
be permitted to leave the courthouse
alive, in the event the jury acquitted him.
Sheriff Rupenthal heard OF these threats,
and after the verdict had been rendered
rushed Davis to jail under heavy guard.
Word was brought later TO the sheriff
that mob was being formed to attack
the jail, in front of which a crowd had
gathered, and the sheriffthereupon spirited
Davis away by the back entrance. The
wife and little child of the accused man
were driven up 10 the front of the jail in
a buggy and remained there to throw the
mob off its guard while DAVIS was being
taken out the rear way. He was hastily
taken to Hagerstown and kept there until
Judge Woods issued orders for his release.