Thursday, September 21, 1899
DUNMORE
And it rained once more.
Quite a crowd attended singing at Dunmore Sunday evening. Remember the singing at Stony Bottom next Sunday.
Uncle Henry Rider died at his home near Frost Friday morning, aged 84 years.
We understand there will be a new county road around the snake den.
Mrs. Julia Lockridge and daughter are out on a visit.
GREEN BANK
Editor, The Times:
I congratulate the people of our county not only for the Greenbrier Valley Railway, now in course of construction, but also above all for the gracious rain, abundant harvests throughout our borders, health, home, friends, peace, prosperity and all material goods aboundingly bestowed. Inspiring us with new life, new hope and renewed energy, which cannot and will not be overcome. Things new and old are now brought from the storehouse of this Queen County, Pocahontas, the fairest of the fair, coming up out of the wilderness as a bride adorned for her husband, stately, majestically, grandly. We touch our hats and give her a free right of way on the first train to Washington, W. J. Bryan, conductor.
Adieu,
Fraternally,
J. R. Warwick
MURDER
Mrs. Jacob Simmons Shot and Instantly Killed In the Presence of Her Family by Jerome Kellison.
Last Monday night, Jerome Kellison and Charles Apperson went to the house of Liz Cloonan on a branch of Swago Creek to see her two nieces, Liza and Es Campbell. Learning that they were at the home of Mrs. Anne Simmons, working on blading cane, they went on there accompanied by a small boy named Jason Cloonan. Dennis was sent to the house where he told his sisters that one of the little girls was sick and they were wanted at home. This has since been proven to be a ruse to get the girls to leave and come home. This was about ten o’clock at night.
While they were talking with the boy, Kellison and Apperson came up and wanted to talk to the Campbell girls. Mrs. Simmons appeared and told them that they could not see the girls at her house. She finally said that they could talk to them in the yard if they wanted to. The girl, Liza, went out and talked to Apperson, but Es would not talk to Kellison. Kellison was very much enraged and commenced to curse and abuse Mrs. Simmons. W. V. VanScott was in bed, got up and came out and Kellison went away.
VanScott went back to bed and Kellison came back and was more abusive than ever, swearing and using obscene language. Mrs. Simmons stepped down from the porch ordering him away, saying she would permit no such language to be used at her house. He shouted, “ – – you, don’t come out here!”
She was about two steps from the house when Kellison, who had come in at the front gate, raised his pistol and fired.
The bullet took effect in her right breast and she fell and died in a few minutes. She never uttered a word after she was shot.
Mrs. Simmons kept a hotel, it being the principal stopping place for those traveling back and forth from McClintic’s camps…
After he had fired the shot, Kellison ran away, disappearing in some woods below the house. The body was carried into the house and laid on a bed. In a short time, Kellison came back to the fence and called Apperson out to him and the two went away together.
Mrs. Simmons was 45 years of age and widow of the late Jacob Simmons. She was the mother of nine children. Her maiden name was Beverage, being a daughter of the late Peter Beverage. She was much respected and leaves a large circle to mourn her horrible death. It is impossible to think of one extenuating circumstance connected with the shooting of this inoffensive woman…
Following the inquest, warrants were issued for both Kellison and Apperson, and a reward is offered for their arrest as follows: For Kellison $200; for Apperson $100. At the request of the authorities we publish the following descriptions:
Kellison is from 19 to 20 years of age, medium height, dark complexion and has a rather slim face. On Sunday, he was dressed in a dark suit of clothes, a white shirt, celluloid collar and small tie. He has lived lately in Randolph Co. He was raised on Droop.
Apperson is 24 years of age, has lived at Marlinton all his life, tall and angular, with prominent cheek bones, very prominent upper teeth, and when last seen wore a light mustache, is of rather light complexion.
