Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1920-08-05
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

guilty Of killing Charles B. Longer
beam, farmer and athlete, by a jury
in the Clarke Circuit Court at Berry
vile last week, in q trial lasting three
days. Punishment was Hxed az four
years and six months in the peni-
Tertiary. The evidence against Pear
son was circumstantial, but the jury
returned a verdict after an hours de-
liberation. Longerbeam died sudden
ly on the mountain road side, near
Berry's Ferry, May l9. 1t was said
at the time that heart trouble caused
the death. At the funeral, John Shep-
herd, Longerbeam's farm hand, told
member Of the family that Pearson
and Longerbeam had trouble just be-
fore Longerbeam died. The body was
exhumed and a postmortem examina-
ton revealed that Longerbeam had re-
ceived severe blow in the right side
which split the liver. The shock,
three doctors declared, would have been
sufficient to cause instant death. At
the trial, Shepherd, Irwin Wiley, Mrs.
Thomas Pearson, wife of the ac-
cused, and Miss Gertrude Pearson,
daughter Of the accused, eyewitnssses,
said they did not see Pearson strike
Longerbeam. The prosecution, how
ever, showed that Longerbeam fell,
collapsed, and died while within a few
feet Of Pearson and while the two men
were quarreling. The defense sought
to show that Longerbeam received the
fatal blow in falling off wagon, but
doctors said the distance was not
enough for a fall to produce such a
severe wound.
Prohibition has had the effect Of al
most putting the courts out of business
in Gallatin and Robertson counties,
Kentucky. Reports from that section
say that the jails are empty, the
sheriffs have nothing to do, and the
criminal courts have been suspended
because of lack of offenders to try.
There has not been a prisoner in the
Jail of either county for several
months. There is not a man from
either county in the State Reformatory.
Robertson county has not had term of
criminal court in more than a year.
while Callatin county criminal court
has been suspended since last Novem-
oer These two counties voted out
liquor before national prohibition be-
came effective last July.
An extensive mandatory for dye-
stuffs will be established on the gov
eminent properties at Nitro, near
charleston, w. Va, where the big ex-
piosiVes plant was built during the
war. 1t will be under the direction of
the Southern Dyestuffs Corporation.
which has organized with S1,OOO.OOO
capital. c. L. Masters is general man.
aeer and chief chemist Six govern
ment buildings have been purchased
ana they will be added to later bv
erecting several other structures
making available 10000 square fee
OF floor space. The plant will be
equipped with machinery for the pro-
duction of direct colors, acid coIors
and other dyestuffs.
Brooke Blackford, a Jefferson coun.
~ boywhowent ito Fort Sill. Oklahoma
10 enter training after having enlisted
TOT one year in the aviation service. is
now cadet at the West Point Military
Academy. The change from aviation
10 west Point was brought about by the
iailure OF candidate from this district
IN MS entrance tests. A vacancy wac
thus Unexpectedly created, and Young
biackford took the place he had hoped
10 ger after years experience in avia-
non. He is son Of Mr.. and Mrs. 7.
Z. blackford, of Shenandoah Junction.
Judge ]. M. Woods, of the Berkeley
Circuit Court, has granted an iniunc-
ton restraining the Berkeley and
Hampshire Turnpike Company from
collecting tolls on the Tuscarora pike
until the road is put in proper condi-
ton.
Harry S. Dulin, near Leesburg, Va.
iast week sold his Guernsey bull, milk
Maids Ultra King" to Geo. w St
Amant' OF Boston, for $1,000 This
beats all records for Loudoun county
cattle.
In accordance with the policy of re-
trenchment inaugurated by the Penn.
sylvania Company, III men on the
cumberland Valley division have been
discharged.
There are still many floating mines
in the North Sea and mine s,.aa.a-.