The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-08-03
Fight Grew Out
of Dispute Over
Possession of
Children
SEVERAL SHOTS FREQ
Wife's Mother Accused of
Trying to Shoot Him
Yesterday.

Wholesale shooting resulted from
3 family feud in the country road
near Seven Pines, Warrington dis
trict, this morning at 5 o'clock. over
the possession of two children. and
as a result three arrests have been
made and Earl Furbee, of GlOver's
Gap. Is in a dying condition at Iair-
mont Hospital, this city
Clark OFT. brother of Mrs Earl
Furbee, is charged with having shot
Furbee in the LETT side. John OFT.
the father of Mr. Furbae, is chrgcd
with having threatened to kill Fur
bee. while Mrs. Mary OFT, wife of
John OFT. mother OF Mrs. Furbee. is
charged with having fired thre shots
at Furbee on q former occasion.
II appears that Mr.. and Mrs. Fur
bee had some domestic trouble in the
local courts. and one Of the matters
that bobbed mp was the question of
possession Of the children. l.. l.. Fur
bee. of Gloycr's Gap. father Of the
man who was shot said this after
noon that his son was notified bv the
Humane Society to take care Of his
children. who were not being proper
ly cared for. After having received
such notice. he and his father went to
the OFT home yesterday afternoon and
secured the daughter. Marguerite,
aged 3 years. At that time IL Is
said that Mrs. Mary OFT, mother Of
Mrs. Furbee. shot three times at Fur
bee. but failed to hit him. Arrange
ments were presumably made by the
Otis to send the son. Edgar OFT Fur
bee, aged years. to Mr.. Furbee. but
the little boy cried and desired not
to accompany the persons who were
supposed 10 take charge OF him.
L. l.. Furbec. in continuing, said:
"They sent word to my son that he
could peacefully secure the boy IT he
called this morning"
Accordingly. the father and son
went to the OFT home. the father ac-
companying the son because he sus-
pected some trouble might crop out.
According TO the elder Furbee, he and
his son were in the public road and
had not yet reached the OFT home
when John OFT. Mrs. Furbce's faith
err. procured a shot gun and proceed
ed to fire away. The shots went over
their heads and struck the ground
before them. either the aim was poor
or else he was endcayOring To scare
them. The elder Furbee then said he
told the OTIS that he had come on an
amicable mission NJ their solicitation
and, according 10 his story, the Fur
bees started away.
At this iuncture. Il IL alleged,
Clark OFT followed the Furbees and
whipped n revolver out OF his hip
pocket and deliberately shot carl in
the lcrt side OF the back. The father
picked up his son and conveyed him
TO the Fairmont State Hospital.
where his condition was precarious
late this afternoon.
The bullet was extracted late this
afternoon a. the hospital, There Is
probability Of the bowels being per
fOrated. i'm the event of which FCrbce
Is likely 10 die
After the shooting. the OTIS arr re-
ported % have gone 10 the office OF
Justice Barrack al Warrington and
surrendered them Ives. bringing the
shot gun with them. They are Icing
detained az Warrington. and were
still in that city up until late this aft
ernoon. but will probably be brought
20 the Jail in Fairmont afotr the for
NAL lodging Of felony charges.
II was learned from other sources
today that the OTIS yesterday had
made an effort 20 procure p writ fIom
the local authorities 70 hold Furbce
for abducting the child, but apparent
ly nothing WIS done In the case.