The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-08-05
OTIS ION FACE
THE PROSPECT Of
MURDER CHARGE.
Marriage Which Led on to
Tragedy Was an
ElOpement.

Another murder has been added TO
the list Of criminal homicides perpe-
trated in Marion county within the
past year for Earl Furbee succumbed
TO the pistol wounds alleged to have
been inflicted by Clark OFT at Seven
Pines on Saturday morning. At first
the wounds were not regarded 10 be
so serious, but during Sunday Furbee
TOOK turn for the worse and lrnger-
ed until II o'clock last night. when
ne expired az the Fairm0nt hospital.
This brings to a climax the long
drawn out struggle which Furbce and
his wife began when their romance
ended The marriage Of the couple
was an elopemcnt seven years ago 10
Oakland. Nd. According 20 reports.
Miss Iona OF. a pretty and winsome
girl, was ENGAGED 10 a man of consid-
cradle wealth. but while attending a
festical az Gloycr's Gap. decided 10
elope with Furbce. and the tying of
the matrimonial knot followed at Oak
land They apparently lived happily
together, but some months ago diff
culties arose and their troubles began
10 be aired in the local courts. FuIbee
end2ayorcd 10 get possession Of the
children and secured a habcas corpus
writ 20 secure the two children. Mar
guerite, aged years, and Edgar OFT
Furbec, aged years. When the offi-,
GERS went 10 Warrington TO serve Il
Mrs. Furbee passed them on the troll
ley car, as they did not know her.
Here she boarded a b. & o. train and
went 10 Ohio. whore she remained for
a time. Later she returned TO her
home at Seven Pines, Warrington dis
trict.
Only the other week the case took
a new angle, when Mrs. Furbee ap-
peared in the Circuit court and pro-
cured almony from her husband.
Everything then went nicely until
Furbee endeavored again to secure
the children, supposedly at the solicit
tation Of his wife's folks. on amicable
grounds. Furbee secured the girl on
Friday and was shot by his brother
in-law. Clark OFT, while getting the
ivy olA 'dlulAdg lNOlAluEs
Furebe is well connected and he Is
grandson OF Aaron Furbee. nj Clio
ver's Gap. a former president Of the
County court, under whose admins
tration the present court house was
built. The grandfather is close to the
eighty mark and served in the Con-
federate army during the rebellion.
DVfnW 10 EftwLErf1 81 -
hospital last night. Prosecuting At
torney W. r. Haggerty. Assistant
Prosecuting Attorney Charles Z. Mil
Ter and Sheriff A. NJ. Glover visited
the hospital and secured Furbee's
ante-mOrtem statement. Furbee told
the authorities that he was notified
to come to his wife's home for the
children. where he could secure them
peaceably. He told how his father,
L. l.. Furbee. and he went 10 the
place and were shot at by the older
OFT. Then his brother-in-law, Clark
OFT, said: Damn It. I'll get even with
you" A moment later Furbee turn
ed around and saw Clark whip re-
vOlver from his hip pocket. Furbee I
wheeled and was attempting to beat /,
retreat when he was shot. After !
the shooting the OTIS gave themselves
up to Justice Barack at Warrington. /
Late Saturday afternoon the Otis .
were brought to the city jail in Fair
mont. Both are being detained for
completely in the crime. This morn
ing Prosecuting Attorney Haggerty
preferred a murder charge against
Clark OFT before Justice Conway .
The father. John OFT. is being detain- /
ed for shooting at the Furbees. but no .
formal charges have been brought as .
yet. The Otis have retained Attorney .
l.. c. Musgrave as their counsel.
Both of the Otis are in a very much f,
worried state at the Jail today, and .
Clark OFT in his nervous frenzy is .
said to have exclaimed, that he was .
forced to do H." This morning Pros /
ecuting Attorney Haggerty was in .
district investigating the
shooting.
At noon today Coroner Frank A. |
Lloyd empanneled the following jury .
to hear the evidence in the case: r. T.
Linn. Attorney David a. Richie. Har-
~ s Neptune. Frank Freeland and
William II. Spedden. No time has b
been set for the inquest.