Evening star., 1929-12-19
ROMNEY IS QUIET
AFTER MURDERS
Judge Thinks Early Trial to
Prevent Violence Is
Unnecessary.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
ROMNEY, w. Va, December 19.-No
violence against Walter Crabtree slayer
of three persons here early yesterday,
who was taken to the Keyser Jail for
safekeeping, is anticipated, and there
will be no Speeding-up of plans for
trial, Judge G. K. Kump, presiding on
this District Court, said today. The
grand jury meets January z, when the
case will be presented.
The funeral for the first of the VIC
tins was held today, crowd attending
rites of Ed Wolford, 20-year- la
borer, formerly in the Marine Corps at
Paris Island, S. c. Services for the
other two, Ben E. Miller, taller. deputy
assessor and former sheriff, and Justice
of the Peace H. Carter InSkeep, for 20
years a magistrate here, will be held
Friday. the former at 10 am. and the
latter at 2:30 pm.
Think Slayer Mistaken.
Romney declined to throw itself into
fury at the deeds of Crabtree, although
emphasizing its heinous nature. The
toWnspeople regard 1t as the act OF a
drink-crazed, reSentful man. The kill
ing of young Wolford and the wounding
of 6-year-old Ruth Holt are thought
possibly to have been done under mis-
apprehension, officers believing Crab
tree was looking for some one else in
each instance. The Staying of Justice
Inskeep and Jailer Miller was plainly
premeditated, however, Crabtree calling
for each personally and shooting them
down in cold blood.
BY a coincidence. Judge G. K. Kump
was instrumental in getting the magis-
trate to the door. The judge heard
Crabtree's calls. asked whom he wanted
and sent the justice to the door to meet
Crabtree.
Declares Slayer Not Drunk.
While Crabtree had been drinking,
officers were told that he talked too
nationally at the time of the shootings
to leave the impression he was en-
murder eYmedition more to resentment
over repae&ed arrests by the officers.
This theofYkis bolstered by the finding
on his peN1h of list of five names,
includingTg Tgehose of the two officers
whom he said he intended to kill.
Sheriff j. V. Saville, one of the two
officers who arrested Crabtree in his
room without resistance, was on the list,
as was former Sheriff E. D. Ruckman.
Dan Timbrook, a youth, heard the
shooting at the Wolford home, gave the
anu OIuCSLS WCIC
checking with the parents of Crab
tree as to his plans-the man having
openly told his parents of his inten-
tions-to head him off before he
reached the Ruckman home. The
family said they thought he was joking.
While they were looking for him after
the Wolford shooting, the officers heard
a shot in another end of the town, and
found Justice Inskeep had been killed.
They were told by neighbors that Crab
tree had headed for the jail.
Hear Second Shot.
On their way there they heard an
other shot, and reached the scene to
find tbs jailer dead. Crabtree reached
the Ruckman home about the same
time the officers did, saw he was block
ed, hid behind some trees until the Off
GERS left. and himself returned to his
home. He was arrested at his home,
where he was cleaning the shotgun.
Officers said he took his actions light
ly and laughed while being taken to
KeySer for imprisonment.
Crabtree has been repeatedly in jail
here on charges ranging from liquor
possession to thefts. He is laborer
and married. His parents are still
living.