The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-01-30
MINE INSPECTOR
IN FIELDS OF
TAYLOR

Reported That Miners in That
Section Are shooting Off
the Solid"
GRAFTON, Jan. 29-L D. Vaughn,
mine inspector Of this district, has
been working near M%organtown this
week, running down reports that some
of the miners in that section are
shooting Off the solid" instead OF
Underwriting the coal as the state
mining laws require. 1t Is said that
a number OF offenders are being close
ly watched and he expects to make
arrests during the next few days. The
shooting down Of coal in this manner
is one OF the most dangerous prac-
tees known to the mining industry
and the state officials are making
every effort to stop it entirely.
One OF the costliest suits, so far
as the amount involved is concerned,
ever tried in the local courts, was
aagin before the court this week. 1t
is the suit in election Of Ellsworth
erosion against Bailey F. McVicker
and involves the possession Of a plot
of ground less than an acre in x
tent and probably worth less than
500. The case was fought through
the local courts at a previous term
for several days, appealed to the SUI
preme court Of West Virginia, and
then ordered back to this court for a
new trial. The case is estimated to
have cost the state over $4,000 to date.
Nearly 400 pages Of documentary evil
idence was introduced and forty wit
nesses were on the stand.
Following the filing OF a plea in
abatement by Colonel John Y. McGraw
who was indicted recently as being an
accessory before the fact in causing
Charles R. Durbin, the former pres
ident OF the defunct Grafton Bank, to
loan money to McGraw on notes of
John Alexander to McGraw when
Durbin knew, it is charged, that Meth
err McGraw nor Alexander were solv-
ent and when McGraw vas a borrower
from the bank in excess Of the amount
permitted by law, February Z, was the
date set for argument upon the mo-
ton.
The annual meeting Of the mer-
chants association Of Grafton was
held Tuesday night and the following
officers were elected: A. A. Doak, pres
ident; C. A. Keefer and B. W.. Perine,
vice presidents; c. V. Miller, treas
urer; ]. Guy Allender, secretary; G.
l.. Jolliffe, A. V. Cuppett, J.. v. Skel-
ley, S. X. White, N. C. Musgrove and
]. B. Bradford as members of the X
ecutive committee. Arrangements
were made for holding the annual
smoker and luncheon late in Feb
ruary.
The annual meeting Of the stock
holders OF the Grafton Banking and
Trust Company was held this week and
the following board of directors was
reelected: G. c. Brohard, A. w.
Burdett, John r. Cole, A. B. Corder,
F. o. Jacobs, A. R. Kunst, George w.
Loar, T. c. Long, Charles +. Monitor,
Joseph A. Pugh, Nathan Shroyer, S.
IL. Sommerville, l.. W. Ward and S.
X. White.
Preston county, which adjoins this
county on the east, expects to spend
moth less than $1,000, 900 on good roads
during the next two years, and this is
expected to put every foot of the coun-
TVS 112 miles Of roadway into good
condition. Concrete and brick will be
used for the roads. Portland dis
trict has already voted 100000 in
road bonds and Kingwood district has
approved a $164,00O bond issue. Lyons
district will shortly vote on a $780,
900 bon dissue also. Valley, Pleasant
and Grant district are expected to fol-
low suit within a few months and this
will make the total considerably over
the million mark.
William II. Hendricks, state agent
in charge of the boys agricultural
clubs, held meetings this week at
Pruntytown, Webster and Rosemont,
this county, and gave illustrated lee
lures on the corn club work which is
being organized here. Almost a hun
dred boys have already joined the
corn clubs.
The county court found 1t impos-
sible to get any n to serve as coun-
ty sealer of weights and measures at
the $500 salary that was offered. The
salary was raised to 5000 and |. n.
Grimes has been officially named as
this official and will shortly begin the
inspection of all weights and meas
ures in the county.
Mrs. Christina J.. McConkey, aged
81 years, widow Of the late Robert
McConkey, died Monday at her home
in the First ward. She is survived by
four children, fifteen grand children
and sixteen great-grand children.
After a short illness from jaundice,
A. ]. Harold passed away at his home
on the south side. He was IS years
of age and leaves a wife and five chill
dren.
Mrs. Della B. Criser, wife Of E. X.
Criser, died Tuesday at her home on
the south side, aged 80 years. She
was formerly Della B. Houston, of
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