Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1921-05-06
HEw1s6oRe WEsT VIRGINIA
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY IN lvECHBuRG HOTEL

Last Friday. April 29th. LuciuS
J. Holland, prominent attorney of
the Biucticld. West Virginia bar
very well and most favorabl\
known to many here. and Miss
Virginia Sizcr, of Blueiicld. his stem
o&rapher. were married in Lynch
burg and took rooms in hotel
there. From newspaper accounts
OF the tragedy i! appears that Mr..
Holland had been on the verge OF
Il nervous breakdown ever since his
arrival i'll LNncnburg on TUESDAY.
lie talked and acted so strangely on
an auto drive over the city that the
driver reported the case to Il de-
tectlvc who talked with Holland
and his companion. Miss Sizcr. Mr..
Holland told the detective that tnrv
wanted to be married at some out
of-thc-way place where no news
paper would get hold of it SO that
they could get married and return
to Bluefield and keep the marriage
secret. He seemed to fear criti-
clsm for marrying his stenographcr.
tic was advised to go to Amherst
Court House, and went, but at the
CLERKS Office was unable 10 identi-
~ himself so that n license was re-
fused. The next morning he ar
ranged with Major Percy, a mem
Der Of the bar and an acquaintance,
to be married III his (Percy's) office
by justice. His bride is describ-
ed us Il beautiful, popular, and one
OF the most beloved, young ladies
OF Bluefield, active and prominent
rs Church worker. All this and
other things told of his talk and
actions while at the Carroll Hotel
satisfied those who came in contact
with him that he had lost his mind
SO that he did not know what nc
said or did. The fear that he would
be criticised for the marriage seem
cd to weigh heavily on his mind.
On Monday morning about 8 O.
clock after he had settled his bill
and the two had packed their grips
and were waiting in their room,
Tor the train for Bluelield,
Mrs. Holland, all at once, ran out
OF the room screaming for a doctor
and with her throat badly cut. She
soon collapsed and fell to the floor
and in spite of all three surgeons
could do bled to death in about
thirty minutes. The cut with IA
razor had been deep and fatal. Mr..
Holland. who followed her out, re-
turned to his room, boltcd the door
and when the room was entered
he was found lying in his own
blood on The floor with his throat
cut from ear to ear. He had cut
himself with the razor while sitting
before looking glass. People
here recalling that Mr.. Holland
suffered Il nervous collapse wear
ago. feel satisfied that he must have
been mentally unbalanced and Who'll
iy irresponsible when he slew his
wife and then himself. He had
ever stood high in the confidence
and regard OF all who knew him,
il lawyer OF excellent standing, a
, gentleman of fine character. Il good
citizen and consistent member of
the Presbyterian Church.
The body Of Mr.. Holland was tax =
cn by his kin at Gastonia, n. c.. for
burial and that Of his bride to her
! nome at 'Blueficld.
Mr.. Holland first married Miss
| Willie Frank McCllng. OF Lcwisblirg
oldest daughter Of Mrs. Mamie Is.
McCluns, now Mrs. Marion 4. Lcmm
of Hudson Falls. y. Y. This wife
to whom he was most devoted, died
several years ago leaving six young
children the youngest an infant
! who did moi long survive its mOlh-
rr, the oldest being Miss Nancy
! Holland, who was for several scs-
si0nS Il student in the Seminary
mere, and OF. course well known.
! Shocked and Gricvcd by this
| dreadful tragedy HE hearts of many
devoted friends here 90 out in SYN
pathy TO Mrs. Lcmm and the
! stricken orphan children. Mr.. llol-
/ land came to West Virginia from
GaStonia, y. c.. and had lived at
+ Bluclicld for Is or 20 years.
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