Patrick County Virginia USGenWeb Archives News.....PATRICK VICTIM MAKES STATEM’T BEFORE DYING November 22, 1924
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Ron Martin cindyandron@bellsouth.net June 3, 2022, 10:51 pm

The Danville Bee November 22, 1924
PATRICK VICTIM MAKES STATEM’T BEFORE DYING
Further Details of Homicide Received From County Seat
(Special to the Bee)
     STUART, Va. Nov 22-Fletcher Whitlock, who is in jail here, held as an 
accessory after the fact in the murder of Ida Whalen, the twelve year old 
daughter of Green Whalen, has denied that he planned the alleged outrage 
previous to the shooting of the little girl.   He has heard that John Wagoner, 
who is held as a prison in Martinsville jail has accused him of this.
  Whitlock is held on the specific charge that he harbored and fed Wagoner while 
the posse of irate Patrick citizens were scouring the woods for him, concealed 
him and made possible his escape into Henry County, where he was later caught.
  Enquiry in official quarters reveals that the little victim made a dying 
declaration before she passed away from the effect of a bullet which literally 
severed the spinal column.  The child is said to have maintained fortitude in 
the face of death and to have recited carefully the incidents which occurred 
which she charges.  Wagoner seized the bridle of her horse and then tried to 
drag her down.  The statement was taken she approved it before lapsing into 
unconsciousness.  It will furnish the State’s case for an attempt to invoke the 
death penalty on Wagoner.
  The details of the affair secured by the officials reveal some new pertinent 
points not hitherto recorded.  In substance the story of the affair is that the 
little girl last Sunday evening rode over to her aunt’s house about a mile from 
the DeHart home to secure a sack of apples.   It was dusk when she was returning 
at which time she sighted Wagoner approaching her.   She spurred the horse on 
hoping to reach a fork in the road leading to her home before the man could 
reach her but he was too quick.   He seized the reins and tried to pull her off 
the horse where upon the child screamed loudly.  Just as she did so, Gaspard 
Martin, a neighbor, came around a bend in the road, only a short distance from 
where the youth and the girl were engaged in a tussle.  Wagoner seeing aid 
approaching drew the revolver and shot the girl deliberately through the back.  
Again he leveled the revolver and taking aim fired, but the bullet failed to 
strike the girl who was limp on the back of the horse now loping towards Martin.   
Wagoner then put his gun in his pocket and turning walked away. 
  Martin seeing the girl was desperately wounded, gave attention to her rather 
than to the criminal as Martin was not armed and he was aware of Wagoner’s 
character.   He took the girl down from the horse, leaped onto it himself and 
raced to the DeHart home to summon help.   It was quickly forthcoming.   She was 
carried home and she lived for three hours.  The nearest telephone was then 
reached and Sheriff Mays, Dr. Akers, and Commonwealth’s Attorney Burton all 
hastened to the spot only to find the girl dead but with her statement recorded.


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