Monogalia County WV News Articles from the Past

Donated by Robyn Greenlund

A Terrible Experience.
July 11, 1885

The Remarkable Adventures of a Monongalia

Job Lawlis, a citizen of Cass district, Monongalia county, made a very narrow escape from death on Monday morning last, while wandering in the woods in a state of delirium. He had been considered dangerously ill for some time, but on Sunday night last seemed better, and was more quiet than usual. About midnight on Sunday he sprang from his bed, hastily seized his pantaloons, and before anything could be done to prevent, he disappeared in the darkness and ran away to the woods. His wife aroused the family and they scoured the vicinity of the home but failed to find any trace of him. When daylight came assistance was procured at Cassville, and in a few hours the unfortunate man was found unconscious in the woods, about a half mile from his house with a terrible wound in his head. The scalp was laid open from the crown of his head to the forehead, and it is feared the skull is also fractured. He was carried home and was attended by Dr. T.M. Hood who soon restored him to consciousness. During his illness he was delirious and had been violent at times, but gave no indication of any such freak as above indicated until too late to be prevented. In his delirium he had been climbing trees and doing other things that ordinarily he would have been incapable of doing. At one place the rescuing party discovered where he had climbed a tree about 60 feet, tracing his course by the blood that flowed from his head. While he cannot give an intelligent account of his wanderings in the woods through Sunday night, it is thought he fell from a tree and received the wound on his head. There is a probability of his recovery, but he is in a very precarious condition.

Donated by persodb

From the Monongalia Heral
Jan. 20, 1821

Richmond Enquirer- A man was lately arrested in Monongalia County, VA charged with having forged and counterfeited a power of attorney and the certificates authenticating the same, whereby money was drawn from the Branch Bank of The United States at Richmond. The case was as follows, Ezekiel Burrows an old revolutionary solider, obtained the provisions of the law of the United States of the 18th of March 1818 - and in the latter part of the same month died. Rawley Evans Esqr. of Morgantown, while at Richmond in Oct last, in a conversation with Jermau Baker Esqr. the Treasurer of the Commonwealth, was informed by Mr. Baker that he had lately drawn the pension of Ezekiel Burrows, and transmitted it to a certain Jonathan Tenant in the County of Monongalia, as directed by Burrows in the letter which enclosed the power of attorney. Mr. Evans recollecting to have heard of the death of Burrows, and knowing that no man resided in Monongalia; suspected a fraud and procured a copy of the power of attorney and the letter in which it was enclosed to Mr. Baker. The power was dated the 3rd of April 1820 and appeared duly authenticated by the certificate of two Justices of the Peace of Monongalia County. The letter to Mr. Baker was as follows.

Suspicion following upon this man, he was accordingly brought before a Justine of the Peace in Morgantown. It appeared by the testimony of the Post Master at Barue's Mills that the prisoner had taken out of his office, a letter directed to Jonathan Tenant. Other witnesses proved facts which went to establish the guilt of the prisoner. The Justice after hearing the testimony committed him to jail and issued his warrant to the sheriff to summon a Court for the examination of the fact. A court consisting of five Justices of the Peace convened on the 23rd of November in obedience to the summons. Mr. T. Wilson and Mr. Mines, the counsel for the prisoner moved the Court to discharge him because the evidence with which he was charged (if committed) was committed against the laws of the United States, and was not punishable by the laws of Virginia ... That the United States were the party offended and that the U.S. Court alone had cognizance of the case - that if the prisoner should be tried and acquitted by the State court, he could not please autrafois acquit to an indictment in a Federal Court. The case of the Commonwealth vs Archabald decided by his houour, Judge Smith in the Superior Court of law of Monongalia County was cited. In that case Archabald was indicted for robbing the U.S. amil of which he was carrier; and upon a de ----- plea to the jurisdiction of the Court, it was decided that the Court had no jurisdiction of the offence charged in the indictment.

Mr. McGee who appeared on behalf of the prosecution (Mr. Gay the attorney for the Commonwealth being absent from indisposition) wished the Court to adjourn until the Saturday following. He stated that he had been from home in company with Mr. Gay who met with an accident that rendered him unable to travel - that totally ignorant of the case he had hurried home to attend to it for Mr. Gay - that he had arrived just was the Court commenced the examination - that he was not convinced by the arguments of the opposite counsel, that the position taken by them was correct, and therefore desired time to examine the point presented for the consideration of the Court.

The members of the Court (a majority) being satisfied that they had no cognizance of the matter, the prisoner was discharged.

Donated by persodb

January 19, 1891

The Wheeling Daily Register - submitted by: Dena Whitesell -2007

A few nights ago Geo. W. Laishley's daughters were awakened in their bed room by a bright light and smell of stifling smoke, which proved to be a pair of pants on fire which were hanging on a hook on the door. The ladies quickly jumped from the bed and put out the fire. It is supposed that mice set off matches that were in the pockets of the pantaloons. - Morgantown Post.

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