Kidnapping of 1918, 1950

Source:  THE W.VA.HERITAGE ENCYCLOPEDIA,  Vol. 23, pages 5111-12 "Kidnapping Episode Created Sensation In Raleigh and Mercer Counties In 
1918"

Article originally published 26 Aug. 1950 in the Centennial Edition of the
Beckley Post-Herald.  Reprinted with permission.


Love, coupled with a shooting and "kidnapping" go to make up one of the 
most sensational manhunts in the history of Raleigh and Mercer counties. 

Although the incident began at Camp Creek in Mercer County, the subsequent 
flight of the culprits ended with their capture at "No. 2 Hollow" near 
Winding Gulf in Raleigh County. 

In the spring of 1918, Matland Farley, who had been dating the attractive 
daughter of Kenney Abshire, also of Camp Creek, was surprised by the girl's 
father when he was with her. 

Matland had been warned by Abshire to quit seeing the girl.  An argument 
resulted when Abshire surprised the couple and Matland Farley shot Abshire 
in the chest with a shotgun, wounding him seriously. 

The girl, reported to be very much in love with Farley, fled with him and 
his brother, Mathew, to "No. 2 Hollow" near Winding Gulf. 

--Had Bad Reputation 

The two Farley brothers had a bad reputation as moonshiners and both were 
"slackers" from the Army.  The United States was at war with Germany at the 
time. 

Upon invitation of Mercer County sheriff, E. T. Lilly of Beckley, who was a 
deputy sheriff from Raleigh at the time, went with a group of local officers 
into the Camp Creek section to hunt down the two brothers and the girl. 

They spent the night looking for them, but the three had already fled to 
Winding Gulf section following a "tip" that officers were coming. 

Returning to Beckley the following day after the fruitless search, the 
officers received a report from a Winding Gulf man who said he had seen the 
trio near the company store there and told them where he thought they were 
hiding out. 

Lilly, along with Sheriff W. L. Foster, and C. R. Harless, Luther Cole, 
H. P. Stone, John Kalor and Russell Gautier, all deputies, set out for the 
Winding Gulf community that night. 

--Met Informer 

They met the informer at Winding Gulf at midnight and he told them the two 
men and the girl were believed to be hiding out in a house in the Farley 
community near No. 2 Hollow. 

Arriving at the house early in the dark of morning, the officers found it 
vacant, but there was evidence that the trio had been there. 

After scouring the surrounding hills Lilly and some other deputies came 
upon the trio hiding in a hollow. 

With guns drawn and ready for a battle, they went in after them, but the 
three surrendered readily, begging for their lives. 

The Abshire girl later told officers that she had dreamed that they would 
be caught and said: "I'm glad it's over." 

--Got Prison Terms 

The two brothers were convicted as draft-dodgers and each received five 
years in Fort Leavenworth prison, but they were released after serving about
two years. 

Matland Farley, before going to prison, asked the Abshire girl to wait for 
him and told her he wanted to marry her when he got out.  The girl did wait, 
and a few years later they were married and raised a family.  Matland was 
later killed in a dispute in Slab Fork District, where he was working in the 
mines. 

The "kidnapping" incident created a sensation throughout the country, and 
the Cincinnati Post sent a reporter here to cover the story.  The above 
photograph of the Farley brothers and the Abshire girl appeared in the Post 
at the time. [There is a good photo of the three printed in the paper that 
accompanies the article- MBD] 


Submitted by Melissa Bailey Duggins <mduggins@lexcominc.net>

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