Thursday, December 10, 1914
J. H. Smith shot and seriously wounded a man named Joe Beef at Thornwood Saturday night. Beef was in Smith’s pool room and was drunk and disorderly. Smith tried to get him out and he attacked Smith. Smith took refuge behind a counter, but Beef came after him with a heavy iron cigar cutter. Smith drew his gun and shot once to stop him; but he came on and was shot in the body. This did not stop him, and he was shot again, this time through the chest, the bullet passing near the heart and coming out at his back. Still he came on, and third ball hit him near the eye, ranging down and missing the brain. On Sunday morning Beef was taken to the Hinton Hospital, and was able to sit up in the train and smoke a cigarette. He has been employed in the woods. On Monday Smith was tried before Mayor Kramer, and was not held for the grand jury, a clear case of self-defense being established.
L. Scherer, claim agent of the C&O, who was shot and seriously injured by a tramp, at Covington, last Thursday morning, will recover is the last report from the Clifton Forge Hospital. He was shot in the abdomen and was hurried to the hospital, an operation was made without loss of time and to this he probably owes his life. A suspect has been arrested and the officers feel confident they have the right man. Mr. Scherer was standing on the railway track three miles from Covington and a man shot at him from a passing freight train. For a number of weeks robberies have been committed on railroad property in and about Covington and Mr. Scherer was to trace down the robbers.
The month of November in this section was warmer than usual, having an average temperature of 41 on a normal of 39.6. Highest on the 3rd, 71 degrees, lowest 8 on the 24th. It was the driest November of which any record has been made, the rainfall amounting to .73 of an inch. Normal for the month is 2.86. The wettest November was 1900, 5.83 inches. Clear days 12, partly cloudy 7, cloudy 11. It was the prettiest November we have ever had and had it not been for the uneasiness about the water supply would have been the most enjoyable. The great amount of fall pasture which held into December caused one farmer philosopher to observe that our winters always fitted in according to our hay crop. Stock raisers have been greatly favored in the saving of feed.
Calvin Grose and Milton Grose, of Nicholas county, were convicted of robbing the post office at Deepwell, Nicholas county and each sent to the pen for four and a half years at the recent session of the Federal court at Charleston. Both are under indictment for robbing the Mill Point office and other offices. They are addicted to the use of drugs and have been criminals for eighteen years and have served terms before. Milton Grose went under the name of Luther Wily.
At the Circuit Court last week Judge Dice ordered Sheriff Cochran to destroy over a hundred pints of liquor which the sheriff has held since the place of Tony Sagtone was raided last summer shortly after State prohibition went into effect. Tony is now serving a six months sentence and a $300 fine for violating the Yost law.
Dear Old Times: – As natives of Pocahontas county we watch for the Times as we would for a friend. It brings good cheer from my dear old home. It brings news we never get in a letter. We always get it on Monday. We have lots of folks here from West Virginia, but none from Pocahontas county. We have prospects of a good crop; tomatoes are knee high now; oranges and grapefruit are hanging yellow on the trees. We had a big pot of green beans for dinner the other day. If you, Mr. Editor, will pay the express, I will send you a nice crate of tomatoes when they get ripe.
C.M. McLaughlin
Detroit, Fla.
Nov. 30, 1914
TOP ALLEGHANY
We have been having very bad eastern windstorms, ice and sleet for several days and the telephone lines in this section are badly torn down and broken.
Loring Kerr had the misfortune to get his leg broken Saturday while hauling wood.
William Wimer lost an automobile in a mud hole above Lee Wilmoth’s. We have not heard how much reward he is offering for its discovery.
The writer saw a toad hopping along the road one day last week.
THORNY CREEK
The weather has been very dry but we are having good showers now. Rain was badly needed as water was getting very low. In some parts of the Hills people have been hauling water to use for several months.
Little Dale Fertig is very sick with whooping cough and is threatened with pneumonia.
Morgan Grimes is still confined to his bed, seriously sick.
Died, infant child of Mr. and Mrs. Willie Dilley.
NEW HOPE
We are glad to see some rain again after so long a time without any.
The young folks had good success with their box supper Saturday night, making enough to picture the schoolhouse and get paint and hymn books for the church.
John Mitchell Sharp passed through this part Tuesday returning with a fine young horse which had been in pasture on Elk during the summer.
Mrs. Jerusha Shinaberry, of the Hills, has been visiting her daughter, Mrs. Perry Bussard, the past week.
Miss Maybell and Monna Grimes, of the Hills, accompanied by Fred Moore, of Browns Creek, were guests of Miss Grace Moore Saturday and Sunday.
DUNMORE
Very wet and moist. Flat roads in fine shape for easy travel. The bridge has been completed across Thomas Creek. It was badly needed. We hope to see the creek bridged at the McLaughlin school house next summer.
Charles McLaughlin and Win McElwee have moved in their new homes.
The Dunmore roller mill is crowded. They have ground 3,000 bushels of buckwheat this fall.
Billy Shinaberry was pulled off his horse by a telephone wire and the horse drew him on the ground till Billy hollered “enough.”
Mr. and Mrs. Willie Dilley’s little child died Friday, December 4.
There was a big spelling match last Friday night by the schools of dunmore and Greenbank. They broke even. A large crowd attended and a good time prevailed.
There will be an entertainment and oyster at Dunmore in the near future. L. S. Cochran or E. D. burner will be toastmaster, so everybody come and bring the children.
Capt. C. B. Swecker says while he was away on his southern trip he visited some of the big undertaking houses and bought some up-to-date burial outfits for men, women and children.
BUCKEYE
Will say we are having plenty of rain and mud at this time.
Lots of sickness now in this community. mrs. Cam Armstrong is some better.
Clark Kellison had the misfortune to lose his driving horse. So the old man will have to hoof-it when he goes visiting.
Aaron Kellison, the champion cornhusker, who has been here since the fist of October, will leave today for his home at Johnson, Barbour County.