Bluefield Daily Telegraph McDowell Co. WV 1900 McDOWELL EXCERPTS Bluefield Daily Telegraph Feb 11, 1900 Dr. G. T. Epling was up (in Bluefield) from Keystone yesterday. Bluefield Daily Telegraph February 11, 1900 At 12:45 last night Mr. Felts was brought to this city (Bluefield) and taken to the home of Cap't. Baldwin, on Summers Street. He was shot just a few inches below his heart, the ball passing entirely through his body. However, no vital point was touchedm and Dr. J. Francke Fox, who is attending him, thinks there is little doubt of his ultimate recovery. Detective Felts has gone through some tough experiences, and several years ago was literally filled with balls and given up for dead, but he walked six miles and came out all right. Mr. Felts' wife was with him all day yesterday, and his father and brother came in on No. 3 last night from Roanoke. Lee was also brought to this city. His injuries are not considered as at all serious. There was no reward offered for the arrest of Lee, and all [the detectives] will get out of it is the regular fee allowed in State cases under the law. Lee has been twice convicted of murder and escaped from the penitentiary. Bluefield Daily Telegraph February 24, 1900 SAM JONES LECTURES A train has been arranged to run from Bluefield to Pocahontas and return next Monday night; train from Simmons and Vivian to Pocahontas and return, the occasion being the lectures of Sam Jones. The trains will arrive at Pocahontas about 8 o'clock. Seats can be furnished for 1000 people. Seats can be gotten at the door. Remember the date, Monday, February 26th. Note: Sam Jones was a man of God who lectured upon the Scriptures. Great care, planning, and effort went into presenting his lectures in Pocahontas to folks from the Mercer/Tazewell/McDowell area. Bluefield Daily Telegraph April 7, 1900 COAL FAMINE IN EUROPE; FLAT TOP'S PROSPECTS GOOD The coal famine which exists in Europe and which is daily becoming more intense presents an opportunity for the introduction into Europe of the product of the Flat-Top Field. The department at Washington has recently received reports from its consuls in Europe to the effect that in many places factories are shutting down and even schools are closing on account of the great scarcity of coal. It will be of interest to the operators of this field to learn that the prospects for the introduction of the dusky product into Europe are very good. McDOWELL EXCERPTS Bluefield Daily Telegraph April 7, 1900 E. J. McQuail, buyer for the Turkey Gap Coal and Coke Company is up (to Bluefield) from Ennis. Mrs. John Cooper of Coopers was in the city yesterday to visit her sister-in-law, Mrs. Wilde, who is quite ill. BLUEFIELD DAILY TELEGRAPH Apr 7, 1900 T. L. FELTS SHOT SERIOUSLY WOUNDED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ARREST A McDOWELL MURDERER Meager details of a most deplorable tragedy reached this city yesterday morning. About thirteen miles from Swords Creek, VA, in Russell County, Detective T. L. Felts was shot and wounded, possibly fatally, while attempting to recapture an escaped murderer. who, a few rounds later, was shot by Deputy Marshall H. M. Baldwin, son of Cap't. D. H. Baldwin of this city and at one time mayor of Bluefield. It is difficult to obtain an authentic account of the lamentable affair, but from the information on hand it appears that Bill Lee, who was tried before the criminal court of McDowell County for murder, convicted, and sentenced to serve a life term in the state prison recently escaped from the penitentiary at Moundsville. Several days since information reached Mr. Felts and Deputy Marshall Baldwin which indicated that Lee was hiding somewhere in the vicinity of Swords Creek. Messers. Baldwin and Felts and two other members of the Baldwin Detective Agency at once started for Swords Creek. More definite information was received on Wednesday night and on Thursday night the hiding place of the escaped murderer was discovered. He was in a deserted house about thirteen miles from Swords Creek. For about six hours Friday the detectives watched the house where the desperate man was hiding, but he did not come out, and wishing to take him alive and without bloodshed, they made no attempt to force an entrance. Mr. Lee was probably ignorant of their proximity. Finally, a clever ruse was resorted to. A boy mounted on a horse rode to the front of the house at full speed screaming as if in abject terror. Lee rushed out to learn the cause of the disturbance, and Mr. Felts, who was nearest to the house, leveld his gun and ordered the convict to halt. Lee did not halt, however, and was so near the horse, it seems, that Mr. Felts did not fire for fear of hitting the rider. Lee threw his arm over the horse's neck and in this manner swung himself on he side of the animal opposite to Mr. Felts, and drawing a long-barreled pistol, shot the detective. Mr. Baldwin, who was just behind Felts, threw himself on the ground in order to get a clear shot at the convict, and shooting under the horse, he brought the desperado to time by sending a ball through his hip. When Baldwin and Felts apprehended him he show fight and getting behind a horse opened fire upon the officers. On of the shots struck Felts and put him out. Detective Baldwin, however, brought the desperado to time by sendng a ball through his hip. McDOWELL EXCERPTS Bluefield Daily Telegraph April 7, 1900 E. J. McQuail, buyer for the Turkey Gap Coal and Coke Company is up (to Bluefield) from Ennis. Mrs. John Cooper of Coopers was in the city yesterday to visit her sister-in-law, Mrs. Wilde, who is quite ill. WILL MEYERS KILLS AN OFFICER IN THE DISCHARGE OF HIS DUTY \Another horrid murder has been committed in McDowell says the McDowell Recorder. A young man lies dead and a father and mother are heartbroken because a bad-tempered young man carried a pistol and used it with deadly effect. Last Monday Deputy Sheriff W. M. Payne, of Bradshaw, gave a warrant for the rest of Will Meyers,of Perryville, to his two sons, Sam and Sheridan. Meyers was wanted here for promiscuous shooting some time since. The two Paynes went to Meyers' house Monday night and demanded him to surrender. Meyers refused and opened fire with a pistol. Sam Payne was shot in the breast, while Meyers was slightly wounded in the side and shot through the wrist. After several shots were exchanged, Meyers broke from the room and escaped. Sheridan Payne pursued him for some distance but was unable to capture him. Meyers went to his uncle, Donk Paynes's, secured a horse belonging to his mother and escaped to Tazewell County, Virginia. Sam Payne, who was wounded in the region of the stomach, was removed to his parents where he died Wednesday after great suffering. Payne and Meyers were each about 35 years of age. Reprinted in the Bluefield Daily Telegraph from the McDowell Recorder,February 24, 1900 NOTE: WV State Library has on microfilm The McDowell Recorder;s editions published in Welch, WV, from Jan 6, 1915--Dec. 7, 1917; from Jan 14, 1918--Dec1919; from Jan 21, 1921--Dec 21, 1929. The year 1920 is missing.