1902 News Clips Wayne Co. WV USGenWeb Project NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format for profit, nor for commercial presentation by any other organization. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than as stated above, must obtain express written permission from the author, or the submitter and from the listed USGenWeb Project archivist. ********************************************************* December 21, 1901 Attorney John S. Marcum returned home to Huntington after defending Pud Cassaday in Eden, Kentucky on Murder charges. Almost two years earlier, Pud had met Marshal Kirk on the street in Eden and according to witnesses, shot him to death without any provocation. He then fled to West Virginia where he spent a year and a half working in a timber camp before being captured and jailed in Huntington while awaiting extradition. Pud was found guilty, but through the efforts of Mr. Marcum, Cassaday's "neck was saved." Pud was sentenced to "only two years" in the Penitentiary. Sixteen year old Miss Annie Angus, who lived with her mother near the Big Sandy River at Round Bottom, went out to skate on the shore ice, ventured too near the edge, slipped into the water and was drowned. **************************************************** December 23, 1901 News arrived from Wayne that few of the people who had been burned out by the recent fire in that town would rebuild. The fire victims stated that "Fate seems to be against the town of Wayne" and that the greater number of them would seek homes elsewhere. It was speculated that one or two of the merchants would come to Huntington. ******************************************************** December 31, 1901 The father and wife of Mr. West, the railroad man who was shot to death by policeman William Freeman of Ceredo, were in Huntington to tell their side of the story. They claimed that the murder occurred in Kenova and was not even in the jurisdiction of the officer who did the shooting. It was also said that West was not intoxicated at the time and that he was a man of high moral character. He seemed to have had a large circle of friends, especially among the railroad men with whom he was employed. The shooting was referred to as a deplorable tragedy. ****************************************************** January 2, 1902 Mr. W. L. Bayless, "one of Kenova's exemplary citizens" was defeated in his bid for council there by a small majority. He claimed that "there were numerous irregularities in the contest." John Boroman was arrested in Keonva for "illegal voting." No other details were available. ****************************************************** January 7, 1902 IComing down Third avenue at about eleven o’clock the previous evening, a man who identified himself as Dr. Kirk of Ceredo passed a number of boys when a trouble arose. In the mix, probably half a dozen boys, aged twelve to fifteen years, knocked him down and were upon him dealing out fierce blows when Fred Forbush, the city patrol driver, who chanced to be walking home with a young lady, discovered the goings on. Mr. Forbush immediately set about to pull the urchins off, but found it no little task. By the time the doctor was rescued, he was bleeding profusely from his face and head and looked as though he had been against a buzz saw. After being attended to by a nearby physician, he departed in a carriage. The boys claimed that the doctor started the fight. ************************************************* January 16, 1902 The post office in Delbert Johnson's store on Big Sandy river at White's creek in Wayne county was robbed of "probably one hundred dollars worth of stamps." Nothing from the store was stolen. The robbers stole a small john boat near the village, and it was supposed that "they went in the direction of Catlettsburg." ********************************************************** January 24, 1902 It was announced that several hundred men were to be put to work the following month on the two locks and dams that were to be built on the Big Sandy river, one at Catlettsburg and the other at Round Bottom. It was said that the locks and dams would be built "just as rapidly as the river and weather permit." ******************************************************** January 25, 1902 In a report from Wayne county, "Mormon ministers Godsby and O'Dell were stoned while holding a meeting at Genoa." ************************************************************* January 27, 1902 In what was described as "one of the most atrocious crimes in Huntington's history," Mr. George Rakes was named as the only suspect in the murder of his wife. Fourteen year old Jennie Waldon was the only reported eye witness to the killing. Jennie, who had been employed as a domestic in the Rakes' home, claimed that the two had both been drinking and quarreling for days, when Mrs. Rakes said that she was leaving, and would send for a cab to pick up her belongings. This infuriated Mr. Rakes, who then threatened to kill her if she left. Apparently, Mrs. Rakes did not take his threats seriously, as Jennie recounted that she "put on her hat and started out the back way." The Waldon girl said that as Mrs. Rakes reached the porch, she started to raise her umbrella, when Mr. Rakes struck his wife with a hatchet. The terrified girl immediately fled the house for her own safety. The victim's screams raised the attention of numerous neighbors who sent word on foot to the police department and within minutes of the hatchet's first blow, "half a dozen wires leading to the telephone exchange were calling for police headquarters. Officers Sam Davis and George Neal "heard the jingling of the telephone bell" but could not reach it because the door to the police chief's office was locked. After realizing that the unrelenting call must be urgent, officer Davis climbed through the transom window to take the call, but by then Mr. Rakes had already boarded a west bound train. It was reported that Mrs. Rakes underwent three hours of surgery by two physicians, but even though she was alive at the time the story went to press, there was "no hope" of her recovery. Mr. Rakes was still at large and Police were following up on leads that he was seen to be heading in the direction of his brother's residence at Dock's creek, in Wayne county. ****************************************************** January 29, 1902 The Big Sandy had reached it’s highest point of the season and it was predicted that it would not rise much more, because the cold weather had shut off a considerable amount of water from the small streams. Dick Vinson, of Big Sandy, was sentenced to two years in the Kentucky penitentiary for killing William Thompson. Vinson was reported to be the son of County Judge R. F. Vinson of Louisa. Evidence showed that he killed Thompson near Blaine, Lawrence county, the previous February. Owing to threats made, all parties entering the courtroom were searched. ***************************************************** January 30, 1902 George Rakes, described as that demon like man who separated his wife’s skull with a hatchet a few days earlier, was found cold in death in an open field within a mile and a half of his brother’s home in the Dock’s creek area of Wayne county. A Mr. Perdue of that vicinity told police that Rakes had come to his home asking Mr. Perdue for a Winchester rifle. When Mr. Perdue told him that he did not own a rifle, Rakes proceeded on his way. Two days before the discovery of his body, a man fitting Rakes’ description was seen trying to cross Twelve Pole river on a log, but the log had hit some drift wood in the middle of the stream and rolled the man into the water. The witnesses said the man did manage to swim to shore. By all accounts, the weather in the area was generally miserable that night, with hail, sleet, snow and freezing rain. It was believed that Rakes, wet and exhausted, collapsed in the field and froze to death. The Guyandotte river at Logan was at it’s highest point and the water was rising rapidly. It was said that if the rain should melt the previous snowfall, one of the greatest rises known in Guyan in many years could be the result. Big Sandy was also very high and it was reported that hundreds of fine raft timbers were coming out from head waters. Ben F. Wilson, a timber man from Ceredo, reported that someone stole an entire raft of telephone poles from the mouth of Twelve Pole. It was said that other timber men in the area had lost portions of rafts. ****************************************************** January 31, 1902 It was reported that a man who lived in the vicinity of East Lynne, had a strange dream that in an obscure spot not far from his home a pot of jewelry and gold rested just beneath the surface of the earth. The following day, he went to the spot and dug for about an hour, before unearthing a skeleton. He reported his discovery to the neighbors and the local authorities, who believed that the remains were those of a Mr. John Barrows, a peddler from Ashland, KY who had turned up missing from the vicinity about a year earlier. It was said that the unidentified man who had the dream would probably be arrested for the murder of Mr. Barrows hardly a dream come true. It was announced that street car service to down river towns had been resumed after the lines were cleared of ice and snow by a crew of hundreds of men. ***************************************************** February 5, 1902 Following the big washout at Welch and Thacker the previous summer, Wayne Polley and Oliver Curnutte, two Wayne county farmers, caught a box of sweet tobacco in the drift that came down the Sandy. They divided the contents and had been chewing it, without incident, until the Saturday preceding this report. It seems that on that occasion, Mr. Polley had taken a chew and noticed that it tasted peculiar. Soon his mouth began to burn, so he threw the tobacco away and sought medical attention. Dr. Bandfield at Buchanan did what he could, but Polley’s mouth and tongue were horribly burned and one side of his face was paralyzed. He was reported to be in serious condition. Melville Adkins, son of Isom Adkins was got his overcoat caught in a flywheel, which wound the coat up until Mr. Adkins was whirled around with the wheel at a violent speed. Miraculously, his only injuries were a broken arm , a broken collarbone and a severed ear. ***************************************************** February 11, 1902 "Mormon Saint J. F. McDowell and Elder Moore, of Ohio" were in Wayne county to meet Revs. Short and Kurtman, Christian ministers, in a four day debate on the following subjects: First, Resolved that the Book of Mormon is of divine origin, and entitled to respect of all Christian people. Second, Resolved that Joseph Smith, born at Sharon, Vt., 1805, was a true prophet, sent of God. It was predicted that a large crowd would be in attendance, and that they were looking forward to "some interesting discussions." ******************************************************** February 12, 1902 Two prisoners at the Wayne jail were infected with smallpox and a dozen others were said to have been exposed. As a result, new prisoners from that vicinity were being brought to Cabell jail. James G. Marcum was up from Ceredo, where he said the municipal campaign was heating up. the chief issue was expected to be "license or no license." Two unnamed women in Wheeling were arrested "for holding their skirts too high while crossing the street." It was speculated that "Perhaps their style of hosiery was calculated to incite a riot." ********************************************************* February 15, 1902 IThe Great Mormon Debate came to an end, closing the book on what was described as "an interesting week for our neighbors in Wayne." Rev. Kurtman, described as "a peculiar genius," claimed during the debate that David Witmer, who helped Joseph Smith translate the Book of Mormon, refuted the whole story, alleging that the original translations were added to after he first received them "in order to give the church more latitude." Rev. Kurtman was said to have been self educated, possessing the ability to speak not only English, but also Latin, Greek and German fluently as well as three other languages which were not named. It was also noted that he spoke so rapidly during heated discussions that it was impossible for the best stenographers to keep up with him. P.W. Workman, who was described as "a prominent citizen of Wayne" passed away after a brief illness. It was said that Mr. Workman was "well known over the county." The exact nature of the illness was not disclosed. March 15, 1902 The Camden Interstate Railway Company announced that they would be building six new depots, to be located at Ashland, Catlettsburg, Ceredo, Kenova, Central City and Huntington. A baggage master was to be in charge of each depot. ************************************************************* February 19, 1902 The Wayne county jail, was the scene of the death for a man described only as "a negro who was incarcerated for some minor offense." The jail was quarantined, but it was feared that the outbreak of small-pox, which was the cause of death in this case, would continue to spread rapidly, because "a number of prisoners who had been exposed, were discharged from the jail before the nature of the disease was known." In a related story, Crocket Flannigan, an N&W brakeman from Ceredo was also diagnosed with smallpox. He had been ill for a number of days, but, being unaware of the nature of his illness, he was not confined and it was feared that he had also spread the disease to any number of people in the community. ********************************************************* February 20, 1902 At the time, there were reportedly two known cases of smallpox in Ceredo, and five in Kenova. It was estimated that in Ceredo alone, at least fifty people had been exposed. The City councils of both towns decided to enforce a strict policy that every school child must be vaccinated. By the end of the day a total of 412 children had been given the needle. Because physicians sited them as prime carriers of the disease, Marshall Jim Marcum was ordered "to kill all the dogs and cats seen running about the streets." By one o'clock in the afternoon, more than forty dogs and nearly one hundred cats were dead. It was hoped that the "strenuous measures resorted to" would put an end to the terrifying epidemic. ***************************************************** February 21, 1902 Mrs. T. J. Bryan gave a luncheon in honour of Mrs. Z. T. Vinson, "who by her magnetic personality and brilliant conversation," was said to have become "one of Huntington's most popular young matrons. Mrs. Bryan's "pretty Fifth avenue home" was noted for it's "generous hospitality" and it was said that on this occasion, "the very atmosphere seemed laden with brightness and cheer." ************************************************ February 23, 1902 'Squire Tooley, who lived at Tooley, Wayne county, and who had numerous acquaitnances in Huntington, was diagnosed with smallpox. He was exposed during the previous term of the Wayne county court. In a related story, Dr. Spangler, of the state Board of Health was called to Wayne county to investigate the recent outbreak. **************************************************** March 4, 1902 It was reported that H. M. Jones, a brakeman living in Ceredo, died of appendicitis at the C&O hospital the previous day. Jones was 26 years old and said to be quite popular with all. A Raccoon creek revival meeting had filled the seats, but wasn’t having much luck in harvesting souls. The Huntington Advertiser reported that sinners began coming to the bench immediately after an unnamed minister gave the following explanation of damnation. You will suffer for all eternity. Do you know what that means? I’ll tell you. If a little sparrow was to dip his bill in the Atlantic ocean and take one hop a day and hop across the country and put that drop in the Pacific ocean and then hop back to the Atlantic, one hop a day, and if he kept that thing up until the Atlantic was dry as a bone, it wouldn’t be sun-up in hell. **************************************************** March 17,1902 James Wise, who lived on a fimily boat near the mouth of the Big Sandy River was arrested on a charge of fraudulently obtaining a pension. He waived examination and was held, awaiting the action of the U.S. Grand Jury in April. Harmon Self, an N&W operator at Wilsondale, sent a friend to Wayne to procure a license to marry a neighborhood sweetheart. When his friend arrived there, he received a telegram from Mr. Self, stating that his intended had decided to marry someone other than himself, and so he would not need the marriage license. Apparently, he himself "had more strings to his bow than one," because that same day, he went himself to Wayne and took unto himself as his bride, Miss Josie Newman, making herself Mrs. Self. It was presumed that she would, from that day forward keep only unto her "Self." ***************************************************** March 17,1902 James Wise, who lived on a fimily boat near the mouth of the Big Sandy River was arrested on a charge of fraudulently obtaining a pension. He waived examination and was held, awaiting the action of the U.S. Grand Jury in April. Harmon Self, an N&W operator at Wilsondale, sent a friend to Wayne to procure a license to marry a neighborhood sweetheart. When his friend arrived there, he received a telegram from Mr. Self, stating that his intended had decided to marry someone other than himself, and so he would not need the marriage license. Apparently, he himself "had more strings to his bow than one," because that same day, he went himself to Wayne and took unto himself as his bride, Miss Josie Newman, making herself Mrs. Self. It was presumed that she would, from that day forward keep only unto her "Self." ********************************************** March 18, 1902 The municipal election in Ceredo was said to be "one of the most interesting held in that municipality in a long time." It was reported that politics did not enter into the race, one ticket being a "Citizen's" ticket and the other being an "independent Citizen's" ticket. A.G. Brown, who headed the Citizen's ticket was elected by forty three votes. The town went dry by a majority of three, the results of the vote being loudly contested by the so called "wets," who demanded a recount. At a dance near the mouth of Dock's creek in Wayne county, a fight broke out between Lindsay Chadwick and his nephew, with a poker and a number of boulders being employed as implements of war. The nephew was reported to have been "considerable used up, as the other fellow had the poker." ***************************************************** March 19, 1902 The recent continuance of the Triple-State Natural Gas & Oil Co.'s pipeline into a new field was said to be sufficient that the industries which had previously been cut off, due to insufficient quantity, would once again be supplied with gas for their operations. The Warfield field, located "a few miles the other side of Inez field," was the latest source of natural gas to supply Huntington's mills and furnaces. The safe at the Bloss's drug store in Ceredo was blown open and an undisclosed amount of money was taken, along with some "valuable papers." It was believed that the same burglars were responsible for the thefts of "small amounts of money and liquor," from the Ceredo Saloons of Fred Stock and Brown & Company. ************************************************************ March 22, 1902 The five year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Newman, of Buffalo Shoals, Wayne County was brought into the city for medical assistance after bean became lodged in her bronchial tube. Drs. Salter and Baker "turned the X-rays on the child and the obstruction was located. The child was anesthetized, "a deep incision was made, and the obstruction removed." Doctors indicated that the little girl's condition was favorable and it was believed that she would make a complete recovery. ********************************************************** March 25, 1902 Joseph Wilson, described as "one of the most influential men of his locality," was brutally murdered and robbed in Thacker, Mingo county while there on a buying trip for his cattle ranch. Wilson, who lived at Mill creek, in Wayne county had left his hotel room for a stroll the previous evening, and never returned. It was reported that many people were aware that he was carrying a large sum of money on his person. When his body was found, his personal effects had been removed as well as any cash. The cause of death was said to be a fractured skull. The murder weapon was thought to be a "huge club" which was found near the body. "Some of the best detectives in the country" were called in "to assist in ferreting out the mystery." Wilson was 45 years of age, and the son of Leander Wilson, "one of the pioneer citizens and leading businessmen of the Big Sandy Valley." ************************************************************* March 28, 1902 The flames were well under way, by five o’clock in the morning, when a fire was discovered at the Kenova general store belonging to William Nunn. The fire was believed to be of incendiary origin. Damages to the building and it’s contents were estimated at $5,000, about half of which was covered by insurance. **********************************************************