Newspaper Page Text
INTERESTING COPY
OF NEWSPAPER
HAS BEEN FOUND
Tells of An Execution At
Gate City, Va., Thirty
Eight Years Ago
A copy of un old newspaper "The
Progressive Age" published at Gate
City, Virginia, about 18S-! has been
brought to the Herald Courier by C<
M. McGheo, of COO Sixth Street,
Bristol. This issue carries a news
story that is so old that it is new.
Possibly some of the older inhabi?
tants of Bristol ami Gate City and
the vicinity will recall the incident.
This paper was published by J. B.
Adams and is on "old rose" tinted
paper. It has seven columns and is
well printed, a typographical error
cannot be found on the entire sheet.
This "extra" edition occasioned by
the hanging of Wayne Powers, and
George Gibson convicted of killing
and burning the body of Will Gib?
son, Chestnut Itidgc, near the Russell
County line. The story as it appear?
ed in the "extra of the 'Progressive
Age'" in 1884 reads in part as fol?
lows:
"Wayne and donas Powers, two
brothers, and George and Will Gib?
son, the latter cousins had been ab?
sented from the county lor BOlhe
months, residing in West Virginia,
l ast spring they concluded to visit
their homes, and in company startet!
on their journey. On Saturday ev?
ening April 1'.', 1884, they stopped
at the house of John Barney, and
purchased a gallon of brandy, nnd
thin started for Chestnut Ridge, ly?
ing close to the Russell line, where a
quiet spot was chosen for the com
?hitting of the murder. Here the life
of" Will Gibson was taken by the men
now under the sentence of death.
After the killing, rails and other
combustible matter were piled upon
his remains in an elfort to destroy
the evidence of their crime by cre?
mating the body of their victim. The
next morning smoke was seen rising
from there, by S. P. Porter and wife
while going to preaching, and they
investigated the cause and found
portions of the uhconsumcd body.
The news spread rapidly, and on
Monday Richard linger, Ambrose
Taylor, and Alex Austin had these
men nrrcsed on the charge of having
killed Will Gibson. They were taken
to Sinking t'reek church, and an ex?
amination before Justice Ramsey
was held. They were bound over and
brought to Scott county, ami lodged
in jail on Wednesday, April 23,
The "Progressive Age" then tells
of the trial of the men which only
consumed about a week, the jury in
each case reaching a verdict of guil?
ty within a short time aftei having
the jury box. The case was prosecut?
ed by Commonwealth's Attorney Ma?
jor Hold?ay, the men were defend?
ed by Richmond and Duncan, and
John P. Corn, Esq., Judge Kelley is
named as the presiding judge.
The judge s speech as he pronounc?
ed the death sentence on the prison?
ers is given in its entirety and com?
prises almost a column of small print.
In concluding he is quoted as saying
"Though his court can see no relief
which can be legally extended to
you; though no other human tribunal
may be able to grant you relief, yet
so infinite is the mercy of God, that
even the darkest crimes do not close
the door of hope to those that ap?
peal to him. Forgiveness and pardon
he gives to those even about to perish
on account of crime, if they ap?
proach him in true contrition ami re?
pentance. And now with the most
profound regret that so terrible a
duty must devolve upon me, 1 must
pronounce upon each the judgment
of the law, which is that you each be
taken to the county from whence you
came, and from thence to the place
of execution, and on Friday the Gth
day of February next, and there be
handged by the neck 'till you are
dead, and may the Lord have mercy
on your souls."
The speech on the gallows by
George W. Gibson one of the con?
demned then is given in full, Gibson
attributes his crime to liquor saying
he would never have killed Will Gib?
son if he had been sober. He plead
earnestly for the people to vote
liquor out of the land, and declared
it to be root of all evil.
Wayne also made a long speech,
and warned against liquor, eanls.and
"bad company" and he plead that
the people vote liquor out of the
United States. Both men admitted
the killing, but declared to the last
that Jonas Powers was innocent.
The paper gives the number of spec?
tators at the courthouse on the morn,
ing of the execution as 300, and that
75 people witnessed the execution.
Rev. Walker Fannel, and Rev. Bel?
lamy conducted the religious ser?
vices. After the prayers a song
"The End of Life" was sung.
Tfco "Progressive Ago" further rc
Old Santa Right on Time
lb? Christmas Tree
.^mmiHIIIininilllllllllllllllinmillHiiirw.
TV/TAki: extra Stocking* for tile tree
from ?? 11 ? nf old window curtains,
net. er even mosquito netting I ill
tliem with enntlles, [Mipeorn, or nuts.
They limy he cut over baby's stocking
n.i n pattern nnd the children will en?
joy overhand stitching the edges with
hits of yum.
Strings of popcorn or cranberries
nwtke nil.1 festoons for the tree mill af?
ford oeciiputlou for little folks who will
"get under foot" lit this busy .season.
lutes at 11 minutes to 1 o'clock the
rope wiu cut, ami the men fell to
their death.? Bristol Herald Courier,
A rejected lover can always pun-'
ish the girl by refusing to ask her,
again.
"My hoy, what do you expect to
he when you get out of college?"
"An old man, fnthl r."
runny Utile doli? tuny lie minie from
round headed clothespins. Wind nlmut
fotir Ihickuesscs of ' rein- paper nrounil
Ute |>ln f?r petticoat*. Make n willst
of the crepe pnper, lying n bahy rll?
hon nroiind the "watet" for n sash.
While pnper hutind ?vor the lop of the
peg forms the fare, over Hlileli on
other piece Is drawn lo form lioimct.
A few yards of tinsel etil Into six
?>r eight-Inch length! may he combined
with the smaller penny ornaments to
make elaborate decorations that sell
for more.
Small boxes from the stores may lie
covered with Christinas paper, have
two holes punched In tliem ami ribbon
handles fastened in I hem. These
boxes tilled with randies help make
the tree festive,?Grit.
" That hoy Jones who worked for
you wants nie to give him a job. Is
he steady?"
"Well, if he were any steadier he'd
be motionless."?Plumber's Trade
Journal.
There was a rumor about recently,
to the effect that Luther Hurbnnk
crossed a lield of daisies with a car?
nation ill his buttonhole.? Life.
^^^^
Mechanical perfection in Lincoln con' ? jfY ^\
struetion assures a higher degree of safety, v ^k^vfl || ?
a greater realisation of comfort, than j? m\ w\ *
can he obtained from other motor cars \J?
regardless of price or claims. EO.B. DETROIT
Tea Body Typea
Without qualification, the Lincoln is the
finest automobile that superior manufac
turing skill can develop.
Mineral Motor Company, Inc.
Bier Stone Gap PerminRton Gap
ROBERT T. MARKEE
Civil and Mining Engineer
Office Over Goodloe's Store
DR. THOMAS F. STALEY
REFRACTION IST
Treats diseases of the Eye. Ear,
Nose and Throat
Will lie in Appnlnchfa FIRST FRI?
DAY in each month until It p. m.
BRISTOL, TENN.-VA.
DR. G. C. HONEYCUTT
DENTIST
BIG STONE GAB, VA.
Office in Willis Building over Mutual
Drutr Store
Dr. J. A. GILMER
Physician and Surgeon
OFFICE?Up stairs in Kelly Build?
ing next door to Monte Vista Hotel
BIG STONE GAP, VA.
NOTICE
Men wanted for edgors, trimmers
and carriages. Also for general mill
and yard work, (load wages steady
employment, line surroundings.
BLACKWOOD LUMBER CO., Inc.,
?10-2 East LaPort, N. C.
Jackson County,
H. E. FOX
Civil arid Mining Kngincer
Bis Stone C,?p, Va., and Harlan, Ky.
Reports and estimates on Coal and
Tiiaber Lands, Design and Plans of
Coal and Coke Plants, Land, Railroad
and .Mine Engineering, Electric Blue
Printing.
PURI-TONE
for Stomach Troubles, Diseases of
the Kidneys and Liver. Relieves
NKKVOUSNKSS and makes you
sleep well. In Dollar Bottles.
The Mutual Pharmacy
tf Hi;: Stone Gap. Vn.
CHRISTMAS GIFTS
FROM RYLAND'S
Our stock is complete for your
Christinas selections in Jewelry,
watches, Diamonds; Silverware, Cut
Class, heather Goods ami Novelties.
We would he pleased I" have you
drop in nnd see us.
Memorandum package! sent on
approval to responsible i
I). H. RYLAN1) & COMPANY
"Gifts That Last"
Bristol, Va.
HAND PUMP REPAIRS
I have just received a full supply
of Auto Hand Pump Rcphii . how on
display at my shop. I am still spr
ciali.'.ing on tiros and tubes. Your
work will he appreciated.
CLINT MORRISON,
47-60 II ig Stone Gap, Ya.
Nearly Every Item On Your Gift List Can Be Found At This Store
For Dad
PIPES
EVERSHARP PENCILS
WAHL FOUNTAIN PENS
DESK SETS
SMOKING SETS
MILITARY BRUSHES
INK WELLS
For Mother
SEWING BASKETS
BRIDGE SETS
TRAVELING CASES
LAMPS
CLOCKS
For "Her"
STATIONERY
MANICURE SETS
VANITY BAGS
HAND BAGS
PAINTING SETS
CANDY
MIRRORS
PICTURE FRAMES
1 ^%PCJL *1
GENUINE PYRALIN
IVORY
For "Him"
COLLAR BAGS
CIGARETTE CASES
BOOKS
MILITARY BRUSHES
ASH TRAYS
SHAVING SETS
BILL BOOKS
For the Kiddies
INFANT SETS
DOMINOES
BLOCKS
CHECKER BOARDS
r
There is an Ideal Gift here for every membjr of the family as well as Gifts for "Her" and "Him."
Gigs SStorae Gap, Virginia
