davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Dickenson County herald. [volume] (Clintwood, Va.) 1939-195?, 1948-07-29
A FAMOUS MURDER
CASE RECALLED

The recent conviction of Ches-
ter Ball in Dickinson circuit
court for the ambush Staying of
Maynard Lambert at Nora on the
night of May 9th naturally caus-
ed the question as to how many
persons have been convicted of
murder of the first degree in this
county in the past to arise.
According to court records, fiae
verdicts of the kind have been
rendered by Dickinson County
juries, as follows:
Wilson Bryant in 1902 for the
murder of William Hanover;
Elijah Wright in 1908 for killing
Bill Sifers; Alex Mullins in 1922,
for killing Bud Baker; Victor
Stanley in 1887 for killing Walter
Combs; and Chester Ball for kill
ing Lambert.
Bryant and Wright were duly
sentenced to hang. Bryant's SEN
4n,oo ,xyon ooy,oro,1%ol b. l;fo ;,~o
prisonment by Governor Monta-
que, and the supreme court set
aside the verdict in Wright's case.
The others were given life sen
fences.
The Bryant case was one of the
most notable in the history of
this county. Two brothers, John
and Wilson, were charged with
shooting William Vanover to
death near the mouth of Cutter
Branch, five miles from Clint
wood, early in November, 1902.
The three men lived near Shelby
Gap, KY, and had been at outs
for some time. They happened to
meet alone on Cutter Branch, and
according to one witness who
happened to pass along where
they were seated a short time
before the shooting, appeared to
have buried past differences and
were on the best of terms.
Late in the evening the Bry-
ants appeared at Clintwood and
announced that John Bryant had
killed Vanover because Hanover
had attempted to shoot his broth
err, Wilson, with a double-barrel-
ed shot gun that Hanover usually
carried. To bear out their claim,
Wilson exhibited a hole through
one side of the claw-hammer
coat he wore, that they said was
made by the blast from Vanover's
shot gun.
That was in the days of the
Dickenson County herald. [volume] (Clintwood, Va.) 1939-195?, 1948-07-29

there Mrs. Hanover pointed out
to them where she and her daugh
ter stood and witnessed the shoot
ing. The view was plain and all
agreed that it was no trouble for
the witnesses to see.
The Bryants reiterated their
claim that Hanover first sought
to patch up old differences with
them and then flew into a rage
and attempted to shoot Wilson.
The jury speedily returned a
verdict of murder of the first de-
gree, which then automatically
carried the death sentence.
Judge Sken sentenced Wilson
to be hanged, and he was taken
to Wise for safe keeping.
John Bryant next went on trial
and the jury disagreed, eleven
voting for the death penalty and
one for a life sentence. At h e
next trial he was found guilty of
murder of the second degree and
sentenced to l8 years in the peni-
tertiary.
Wilson'S case was appealed to
the higher court, but the verdict
of the jury was sustained. Then,
after long effort, the sentence
was committed to life term in
the penitentiary. He was later
killed by a guard while attempt
ing to escape from the state pris-
on farm.
John served several years and
was pardoned because of his ply
steal condition and is supposed to
be still living around Wise.
Mrs. Mary Hanover, one of the
witnesses whose testimony
brought the conviction of h
Bryants, died last year at an ar
vanced age. The daughter, now
the widow of the late John Cox,
resides with two of her children
on Pine Creek. Lille May re-
lates that she and her mother
and father walked from their
home to Clintwood as witnesses
in the Bryant case for over two
feeks, starting at daylight and
getting in home after night, and
that her father, the late Noah
Hanover, carried a pistol to de-
fend the family in case of attack.
She says that they crossed t h
Bill Vanover Ridge, between
Brush Creek and Georges Fork,
often by the light of the moon,
and at other times when it was
cloudy by the Pickering light of
a lantern.
Dickenson County herald. [volume] (Clintwood, Va.) 1939-195?, 1948-07-29

J. c. Smith was Commonwealth
Attorney. The two officials con-
ferred and it was decided that
the matter should be investigated
before any steps were taken. Ac-
cordingly, Smith and the late Ira
Hanover, (Ira was a near rela-
tive of the slain MANI rode to
the mouth of Cutter Branch that
night where the body of Hanover
was at the home of Harve Bry-
ant, brother of the accused
men, and where a large number
had gathered.
There the prosecuting attorney
learned that the killing had been
witnessed by Mrs. Mary Hanover
and her 12-year-old daughter.
Lille May, from the back yard
Of their home on the hill over
looking the scene of the shooting.
According to the statements of
the two witnesses, they heard a
shot or two and ran to the back
yard and saw man crawling and
Laundering up the branch, and
two men around him, one shoot
ing him with a revolver that
glistened in the sunlight. Finally
the man collapsed, and then one
Of the men stood over the pros
trate body and fired two shots
into it. Then, they said, one Of
the men picked up a gun and
walked behind a cabin that had
been occupied by some Hungari-
an stave makers, and fired h
gun. The two men then stood and
looked at the man on the ground
for few moments and then start
ed down the river. A little later,
they heard shot fired in the di-
rection the two men had gone.
A short time later, Mrs Vano-
yer, one of the witnesses men,
toned, fastened to the home of
her husbands parents, Mr.. anu
Mrs. Yves Vanover, who then llv-
ed over toward Georges Fork, to
let the news be known. There she
learned that John and Wilson
Bryant had just passed through
and had advised a member of
the household that they had kill
ed William Hanover.
The Bryants were lodged in Jail
that night.
The November term of court
convened soon after and h g
Bryants were speedily indicted
and arraninged for trial.
The defense asked for separate
trials, and the Commonwealth
elected to try Wilson first.
1t was shown that Vanover was
shot through the body and head
several times with a large revolt
yer. Witnesses testified that there
was no blood on the shot gun
that the Bryants claimed Vanover
fired at Wilson and that they said
bo oJ,,x0rca ~ 11n%;l oto0+ IN lao%Io
Dickenson County herald. [volume] (Clintwood, Va.) 1939-195?, 1948-07-29

Vernia Long has returned from
Croker, Mo.
Evening star., 1948-02-18
Navy Efforts 10 Free
-Four Marines Fail
BY the Assoeioted Press

TSINGTAO, North China, Feb. 18.
United States Navy efforts to ne
gotiate with Communist captors of
four American Marines appear to
have been unsuccessful, Admiral
Charles M. Cooke, jr., said today.
Naval vessels continued to lay on
the Shantung fishing port OF Hal
wang. Butthe Reds have not reap
peared since they met Marine Capt.
John Bristow of Santa Barbara,
Calf.
Capt. Bristow met messenger
from an unidentified Communist
colonel last January 81, and re-
turned for meetings the following
two days. But there were no results,
bevond a report that the Marines
are well"
The Red officer chad no authority
to act" Admiral Cooke explained.
HE was very friendly. There was
no acrimony. But he refused to give
anv information except that
they had Marines who were being
cared for"
The admiral said the Navy still
had no confirmation of Commun-
ist broadcast that one Marine was
killed when four were captured. He
was identified by Pfc. Charles j..
Brayton, jr., Governors Island, N. Y.
The four held captive are Corpl.
William L. Pollard, Fort Worth,
Tex; Pfc. Carroll w. Dickerson,
Olathe, Kans.,; Pvt. Robert Hart,
Pittsburgh, and Pfc. Thomas Kapo-
diStra. Buffalo. N, Y.
Evening star., 1948-02-18
Transit Rate Hearing
Again Begged Down
BY the Associotsd Press

BALTIMORE, Feb. ia rate
hearing for the Capital Transit Co
of Washington begged down in legal
pickering again today while the
Maryland Public Service Commits
sion tried to figure out a way to ex-
pedite handling of testimony.
The commission took a recess to
discuss procedure. ~
The hearing was resumed yester-
day after a three-week recess. The
transit company is asking a fiat rate
of five cents for each mile and a
half zone In Prince Georges and
Montgomery Counties. "Ass4
Gregory Hankin, counsel for
group of protesting Prince Georges
citizens, resumed cross-examining
company officials today.
Chairman Charles Bosley sug-
gested that MI. Hankin join with
Philip Dorsey, jr., peoples counsel
for Maryland, in getting together
with company and commission ex-
perts on the figures and types of in
formation sought by Mr.. Hankin.
D. A. Myse, company counsel, OBJ
iected that I'VE have tried to get
together with Mr. Hankin. He
termed the lawyers requests "un-
reasonable"
Evening star., 1948-02-18
Macarthur Says Japan
Will Fight 10 Retain
Democratic System
BY the Associoted Press

Japan will see "a blood bath OF
revolutionary violence" if the occu-
patton fails to smash the economic
power centered in a few families
Gen. Macarthur predicts.
The Allied commander contends
that tearing down and redistrib-
uting this economic concentration
is the first essential to setting up
free enterprise system. u
In letter to Senator Mcmahon,
Democrat, of Connecticut, made
public yesterday, the Allied COM
mander said:
The japanese people fully under
stand the nature of the forces which
have so ruthlessly exploited them
in the past.
The japanese people have tasted
freedom under the American con-
cept and they will not willingly
return to the shackles of an au-
thoritarian government and econ
omy."
Senator Mcmahon had advised
Gen. Macarthur of criticism OF
economic policies being enforced in
Japan Senator Knowland, Repub-
lican. of California charged that a
Government policy paper sent to
Gen. Macarthur for his guidance
was "communistic."
Evening star., 1948-02-18
Council Adopts Plan
For Barney Circle

The modified Eincoln Park plan
for the elimination of traffic con.
gestion at Barney Circle was adopt
ed last night at a special meeting
OF the Southeast Council of Citizens
Associations.
The motion to accept the modified
plan met with opposition at the last
meeting of the council. The COM
mittee presenting the plan was ad-
vised to study 1t further and to cali
a special meeting of the council
when a final report was ready.
The committee found the original
plan entails the installment of eight
tunnels. Two of these would mean
the widening of two streets and an
other the tearing down and rebuild-
ing of about one quarter Of Souss
Bridge.
The revised plan calls for a de-
pressed terminal south of Pennsyl-
vanis avenue Sc, and clover leaf
running under the bridge.
This plan was passed with only
TWO olSSenClng VOteS a1ter q TWO.
hour debate. The chief objection
raised was that despite the fact the
Barney Circle changes had been
talked of for years, none of the
individual associations had seen O
drawing of the plan.
The council also was reminded
that residents of the Southeast are
fighting to eliminate the transfer
point altogether. If this were done,
there would be no need for the pro-
posed depressed terminal and parts
of the clover-leaf system, it was
pointed out.
The meeting was held in No. IL
Precinct Police Station, Nichols
avenue and Chicago street Sc, and
was conducted by J. v. Moran, vice
president
Evening star., 1948-02-18
BY the Assoeiottd Press

LONDON, Feb 18.-PrincesS Eliza
beth and Prince Philip escaped un-
scratched today when their linn
CUISINE and a taxicab bumped near
Buckingham Palace.
Court sources said the King and
Queen we're uneasy over the acci-
dent. They recalled King Georges
warning to Philip about his driving
after his car crashed, without in
jury to himself. before the royal
wedding last November.
Philip was driving today from
Kensington Palace to the Admiralty
where he has desk job. Elizabeth
the heiress-presumptive, was to be
dropped off at the palace. Trafdc
was heavy.
Evening star., 1948-02-18
Boy 8, Driving on Fathers Lap,
Saves Sight of 3 Injuredin Blast

The three older persons were
drilling a water test well north of
here Saturday. A gasoline soaked
rag was lighted and dropped to
check progress of the drilling.
The blazing cloth appeared to go
out, the Grindrods told a reporter,
and gasoline was poured in the hole.
An explosion followed.
My daddy got the worst of it.
He was bending over the hole" Roy
Lee, who was playing about S feet
away, said.
Il felt like crying. They could
walk but l had to show them where
to go.
Il sat on my daddy's knee so
/ could see while drove"
Hospital attaches said the prompt
action of the boy in getting medical
attention for the three injured un-
doubtedly was responsible for say
ing their sight.
Evening star., 1948-02-18
Directed Verdict Acquits
Lonqo Of Vote Fraud
By the Associofsd Press

JERSEY CITY, N. j., Feb. 10
John r. Longo, veteran political foe
of former Mayor Frank Hague, was
freed yesterday on directed verdict
of acquittal in his retrial on a
charge of fraudulently altering his
voting record.
Hudson County Judge John
Drewen said the evidence presented
by the State had been purely cir
cumstantial and not sufficient to
constitute a sufficient hypothesis of
guilt to permit the case to go to
the jury"
The ruling was announced as court
reconvened yesterday.
Mr.. Longo, first convicted in 1943
on the vote record altering charge,
won a retrial after long series of
appeals. The State contended he
altered the record to qualify for
political appointment.
Evening star., 1948-02-18
; Boys, Is, Fugitives'
From Training School,
Caught in Wild Chase.

Three 16-year-old boys who
escaped from the National
Training School Monday night
were captured near Fredericks-
burg, Va, today and are being
held for questioning about the
robbery of a house and the theft
of a car in Northeast Washing
ton.
Police suspected the boys of TAX
ing clothing, cash and jewelry from
a home on street NE and fleeing
in an automobile stolen on Thirty
sixth street NE, last night They
were captured near Fredericksburg
after a l4-mile chase by a police
man.
James Jewell. Baltimore; Garnett
Rue, Lexington, KY, and Larry
Arndt, Chicago, broke out of the
National Training School Monday
night. School authorities said the
boys were admitted there only a
week ago as juvenile delinquents.
Home Is Ransacked.
Police here and in Fredericks-
burg reported that the boys ram
sacked the home of Samuel De Vito
of 22l2 S street NE, last night and
left Washington in car they found
parked in front of the house of its
owner, Prosser Jeffreys, 3l9 Thirty
sixth street NE.
Policeman Mason Esten of Fred
ericksburg was in a scout car at
the Morgantown Bridge, near that
city, when he saw three boys in a
speeding car Police Chief S. B.
Terry of Fredericksburg said Pvt.
Esten, who has been on the force
about year, chased the car
through the city and more than IA
miles into the country. The fleeing
car ran out of gas just as Pvt. Esten
overlook it, police said.
In the car was a 38-caliber pistol
but the boys asserted it was there
when they took the automobile,
Chief Terry said. The boys admit
ted having looked into" about five
other parked cars in Washington
before they stole the one on Thirty
sixth street NE, Chief Terry added.
Loss Put At $3.50.
About SIS in cash, a necklace, two
suits, two pair of trousers and a
camera were taken from the De Vito
home in the absence of Mr.. and Mrs.
De Vito, police said. Mr.. De Vito
estimated the total value at $3.50.
The boys really tore the place
apart" Mr.. De, Vito, owner of the
Commodore Restaurant at 615 D
street NV, declared. They appar-
emily changed into his clothing and
left their own on the floor. A table
cloth had been used to clean their
shoes. The wedding gown of Mrs.
De Vito, bride of three months,
was taken out of box and thrown
on the floor.
Fredericksburg police said the
boys were being held there today
for National Training School au-
thorities and for questioning later
by Washington police. Chief Terry
said the boys were wearing new
clothing and that Mr.. De Vito would
be asked to identify it.
Evening star., 1948-02-18
Gen. Macarthur Indicates
Full Fiqht for Reforms
BY the Associoted Press

TOKYO, Feb. 18 (P).-Despite op-
position from some American busi-
ness interests, Gen. Macarthur evil
IDENTIFY has decided on a full fight
to complete economic reforms in
Japan.
His letter to Senator Mcmahon
predicting possible Revolutionary
violence if Japan's economy re-
mains untouched, was the strongest
in a series of statements he had
made supporting current reforms.
1t is the first time the Supreme
Commander has said officially that
internal conditions in Japan have
explosive possibilities. In doing so,
he has indicated he expects growing
objection from American business
to what they have called "undem-
ocratic" reforms in Japan.
The most important of these is
decentralization of industrial mon
opolies. Some 357 companies are
being split up now. Critics have
said this program will lead to social
ism. Allied headquarters say the
program is democratic, and is nee
essary to eliminate the economic
stranglehold on Japan by a few,
powerful companies.
Evening star., 1948-02-18
Elizabeth and Philip Unhurt
In Collision With London Cab

Like most any motorist, Philip
told a traffic policeman at a con-
gested Hyde Park corner that his
car and the taxicab lust bumped
and I'm sorry it happened" Court
sources said Philip was driving
carefully.
The cabbie apologized on recog-
nizing the royal couple. He said
the few dents in his tenders were
nothing. The officers waved every
body on, since there was no injury.
All parties said there would be no
complaint.
Philips keenness for speed is well
known among his Navy friends and
other associates. King George likes
to drive fast, too, but he warned his
son -in-law last fall he should take
no undue risks.
Evening star., 1948-02-18
Policeman Fires on Man
Who Accosted Woman

A man accosted Mrs. Ida Mae
Smith, 80, colored. 1922 Howard road
Sc, early today and escaped into
a wooded section of Sheridan road
Sc, after a policeman fired three
shots at him, police reported.
Mrs. Smith told police she was
grabbed shortly after midnight by a
colored man about 20 years old soon
after she stepped off bus at How
ard road and Nichols avenue. The
man fed when she screamed and
Pvt. Jesse L. Edwards of No. IL
precinct ran to her aid.
Pvt. Edwards said he chased the
Evening star., 1948-02-18
WhottheRussions
Are Saying of Us

The MoSco1U radio, broadcdSting in
Russian to the Soviet Union, said
In order to divert the work.
ers' attention from their grave
and steadily deteriorating and
economic plight, the American
newspapers and the radio are in
every way seeking to stupefy the
American people with anti-Com-
munist and anti-Soviet propa-
ganda, to conceal and, by every
means, distort the conditions in
other countries, as well IS IN
their own.
The truth about the Soviet
Union, nevertheless, penetrates
through all obstacles to the
minds of ordinary Americans,
who know that the great Socialist
power is achieving more and
more new successes without
monopoly and greedy capital
lists"
Evening star., 1948-02-18
Snow, Rain and Seas
Cut Short Hunt for
8 From u. ). Carrier
BY the Assoeioted Press

ABOARD THE U. S. AIRCRAFT
CARRIER MIDWAY OFF HYERES
ROADS, France, Feb. 18-Search
for eight men missing from the
American aircraft carrier Midway
was abandoned today because of
snow, rain, and rough seas.
The men are believed to have lost
their lives when their shore-to-ship
launch was swamped $500 yards off
shore Monday night No bodies have
been recovered Instructions were
given to the French Admiralty as to
disposition Of any found.
Prayers for the men-one officer,
six seamen and one marine-were
said over the ships loudspeaker A
duty guard rendered honors.
The men were part Of the big
carriers $500 man complement.
They were returning from fare
well party given at the small island
of Hyeres when the accident oc-
Cured.
So Others Rescued.
Fifty-three other men of the Mid
way were rescued from the water
off the French Riviera.
The carrier was scheduled to weigh
anchor for Naples at midnight Mon
day, an hour after the accident
occurred.
Investigators aboard ship were
trying to learn from survivors what
caused the accident. Initial reports
indicated a freak sea had quickly
filled the 5O-foot open motor launch
Mid Three while leaving 1t upright
and intact. A rescue boat was
damaged when it rammed the launch
in the dark.
The Navy in Washington released
last night the names of the eight
missing men. The list:
T/Sergt. Hershel H. Donahue of
the Marines, Kinson, N. C.
Ensign Harry Duane Campbell OF
Cleveland.
William Louis Ducros. aviation
machinist's mate 1/c of Tampa,
Fla.
Albert Daniel Fisher, seaman 1/c,
of Los Angeles.
Vincent Geza Nemeth, gunner's
mate &c, of Egypt, Pa.
Raymond Julius Poncel, machin-
lists mate &c, of Minneapolis.
Chester Victor Truchel, aviation
machinist's mate 1/c, of Philadel-
phia.
Harold Oakley Williams, machin-
lists mate sc, of Princeton, w. Va.
Evening star., 1948-02-18

been sha arply 'oseDn
criticized by one of the largest news
papers in his Kansas district 1or
not holding hearings sooner on
Government pay raises. Mr.. Rees
was accused by the Wichita Bea-
con of stalling on the pay ooost
question.
The editorial, however. was on
base in at least several respects. 1t
indicated that general Government
pay raise hearings already were un-
der way by the committee, and 1t
asserted that postal pay raise hear
ings we're being blocked. The truth
is. of course, that no pay hearings
of any kind have been held by the
House group.
In fairness to Mr.. Rees, it should
be pointed out he has devoted a
great deal of his time and energy
to the civil service retirement bill.
A large share of the credit for the
measures passage belongs to him,
since he fought shoulder to shoul-
Ger with the bills House sponsor,
Representative Stevenson. Repub-
lican, of Wisconsin, for its passage.
Mr.. Rees evidently felt it would
be best to win enactment OF the re-
tiremen measure before tackllng
the pay raise legislation. Now that
the retirement bill Is certain OF
passage. don't be too surprised II
YOU see Mr.. Rees battling in there
once more on behalf of Government
pay raises.
INFORMATION PLEASE-Any-
body know what "costimers" are?
Well, neither does the Army De-
.partment. Nor, for that matter,
Webster's or Funk and Wagnalps
unabridged dictionaries.
1t all started when bureau OF
the Army Department, which Is
slated to be transferred into the
Air Department, had to list all OF
its present supplies before 1t made
the shift.
Among the supplies Asted-and
nobody knows who put 1t GOWN
were the "costimers." With the well
known Army penchant for red tape
near crisis has developed, as top
brass walk up and down corridors
muttering: "Costimers, costimers-
what in the devil are costimers?"
Tire e~wholes@sapply alist~is.'zheing
help up until some one finds out
what "costimers" are. Maybe some
of our readers can solve the Penta-
CONS dilemma.
MORE HOLIDAY WEEK ENDS
employees will enjoy
fhree Friday : night Ito Tuesday
morning holidays this year by vir-
tue of the fact that three national
holidays. fall on Sunday. This be-
ing the case, they get Monday of,
making for the. long week ends
> The first @of the ethree-day holi-
days viii occur this week end, WREN
Birthday is observed.
When Government employees leave
their Offices Friday afternoon, they
won't be due back to work until
Tuesday morning.
Evening star., 1948-02-18
Death Ruled Suicide

Coroner A. Magruder Macdonald
today issued a certificate of suicide
in the death of Thaddeus Ford,
At, colored, $50 TWenty-fourth street
N. E., who was found yesterday
hanged from a water pipe in the
basement of the home of a sister,
Mrs. Juliene Suggs, 1929 Eleventh
street N. W. Police said the man,
a bartender, was unemployed.
Evening star., 1948-02-18
Truman Asks Approval
OF New Radio Rules
BY the Associoted Press

President Truman asked the Sen
ate yesterday to approve new set
of international rules for radio and
other forms of communication.
They were agreed to last October
by representatives of 78 nations
after a series of meetings in Atlantic
City.
One document requiring Senate
approval is a new international tele-
communications convention which
replaces a 1882 agreement. Also
submitted was a new set of inter-
national radio regulations replacing
a 1888 agreement,