Memoirs of Daniel W. Cunningham
The Criminal History of Roane & Jackson Counties
Part 3
From information a negro by the name of George began to spark Disaway Ledsom’s girl (white) who lived on the Upper Left Hand of Big Sandy Creek. This courtship was kept up some time. George went to Charleston and married a girl of his own color, came back to Big Sandy and located. Miss Ledsome became very angry over it and had an interview with her sister Mrs. Lil Hall, the two women decided to rob and burn the house. Shortly after this George and his wife went to meeting, that night those two women burglarized the house and fired it. When George and his wife returned they found their home a heap of ashes. About this time E. K. Reynolds married the disappointed sweetheart of the negro. Peter M. Cook was constable of that District; George swore out a search warrant and plac- ed it in the hands of Cook to search for his goods. Cook found them in the possession of the women. They were arrested and bound over to await the action of the Grand Jury. Court at Roane C.H. came in the fall of 1884– Peter Cook started to Court with the articles found and as he passed up Left Hand and was going through a skirt of woods just above William Sergeant’s place two shots were fired from a precipice about thirty yards from the road, afterwards shown to be fired from a musket loaded with slugs of lead and a Colts revolver. Cook fell to the ground pierced by twelve balls. He was carried home and lived but a short time. The murder was kept quiet. The friends of Cook employed the writer to look after the murder–it being my first case. I soon found the evidence pointed to E. K. Reynolds and Lil Hall. Warrants were sworn out and the two arrested. The day came for trial, the Prosecuting Attorney Dave Brown, was present. Reynolds broke down and made a full confession in the presence of Dave Brown and many others which was as follows: “My father-in-law, Disaway Ledsome, told Hall and myself the only chance to save our wives from the Penitentiary for the burning of Negro George’s house was to kill Peter M. Cook as he went to Court. This we decided to do. We went to Curtis Hall’s secured a revolver from him, went to Mr. Hall’s at the head of Poca to stay all night, this was on Saturday night previous to the shooting on Sunday. Mr. McGlothlin who lived below Hall’s had a social party on Sat- urday night. We stayed at old man Hall’s until dark. Hall went up stairs at home and handed a musket out at the window; we took the musket and revolver and went below McGlothlin’s and put the guns in a hollow tree, then went back to the party and stayed until midnight. We then went to old man Hall’s and stayed the remainder of the night. The next morning we passed McGlothlin’s house and he asked us where we were going, our answer was, “Hog hunting.” We went to the hollow tree, got our guns and went direct into the woods across the mountain to the spot mentioned. We laid in ambush all through that beautiful Sunday until four o’clock in the evening. We became dis- couraged and started for home when looking down Sar- gent’s field we saw Cook coming in company with Mr. Sar- gent. We went back to the place of concealment. Sargent left Cook at his gate. Cook came on alone and when just below us we fired. Lil Hall fired the musket and I fired the revolver. Cook fell and cast one longing look of despair at me, I even saw the whites of his eyes and that look haunts me in my sleep. The deed was done. Hall and I parted–Hall went to his father’s and I went to Disaway Ledsome’s. Reynolds joined the church, he said to hide his guilt, but when he bowed down in meeting to pray, or speak in public that longing look of despair he saw on Cook’s face when he shot him would always be present, and he had many a time to put his hand to his mouth to keep from telling the story. One rainy day Reynolds said he was chopping timber in a deep gloomy hollow, thinking over his awful condition, and in his imagination he saw Cook coming towards him with that death like look of despair depicted on his face. He left the woods and never went back.” The horrible crimes of Roane County do not stop here. On the head of Poca River lived Abe Looney, a generous and kind citizen. He had been a resident of that place for fifty years, was a prominent merchant at Looneyville. I received the information that just across a ridge on another branch of Poca George Simmons and Mason Vandevender put up a store in opposition to Mr. Looney. This did not effect Mr. Looney’s trade according to information so they became jealous. On the farms of Simmon’s and Vandevender lived some low down men by the name of Hambricks. Thomas Deskins lived near also. A plot was laid to burn down Looney’s store and post office. The Hambrick gang was to do it. The plot was made at the Deskin’s house according to Mrs. Deskins. Young Lee Hambrick was to fire the house–the other Hambrick boys met at Jacob Jets’ mill to prove an alibi. The store was burned and young Hambrick received a pair of boots, $2.50 and a can of oil–according to Mrs. Tom Deskins for his night’s work. About this time several parties were indicted in the United States Court at Charleston for selling whiskey and Deskins was indicted also. Deskins was arrested and committed to jail at Charleston. He wrote from that place to Simmons and Vandevender if they did not come at once and bail him out he would expose the burning of Abe Looney’s store and post office. He was bailed out. Deskins left that place and moved to Long Ridge in Roane county. He went to work for John Thompson on his farm, and in the latter part of April, 1886, while grubbing he was shot–the ball passed through his body, he ran to a fence nearby pursued by his murderers–at that place he was overtaken and his brains beaten out. I visited the spot in June of the same year, and found the rocks they had used with hair and blood on them, and no clue to the guilty parties. After the writer visited the scene of the murder of Deskins, I saw Mr. John Cart, who was then Deputy Sheriff of Kanawha County. Mr. Cart informed me that four men carrying rifle guns called on him and asked how far–said to Cart they were cattle hunting. Cart gave me a good description of the men–said the elder of the men had a peculiar twitch or jerk in his face which was very noticeable. Every thing seemed shrouded in darkness. Ev- ery clue was traced down, until the writer found himself on Henry’s Fork, thirty miles from the scene, where I came across an old man named Eli Hambrick, and when spoken to showed signs of guilt. I thought I could see it depicted in his countenance. The day before Deskins was murdered I found that Eli Hambrick and his son-in-law, John Greathouse, in connection with two other men, Milt Lusher and Mat Martin, were seen at Poca Fork of Sandy, near where Deskins lived. They had never been known to go to that County before or after that time. Hambrick and John Greathouse, Milt Lusher and Mat Martin were arrested and had a hearing before a Justice. They were proven to be in the immediate neighborhood when Deskins was killed, but it could not be proved they fired the fatal shot. At this time Lee Hambrick was arrested for burning Looney’s store and the trial in the Jus- tice’s Court lasted one week. The Simmons faction had the whole Spencer bar to help the Hambricks. Evidence began to show that Jim Simmons’ money had caused Deskins death and burning of Looney’s store. It was not long after this until Mat Martin was arrested for forgery and arraigned before Judge Jackson for trial. He was tried for said crime and sentenced for two years to the Penitentiary, and while on trial confessed to the Hon. S. C. Burdett, Asst. United States District Attorney, that Eli Hambrick, John Greathouse, Milt Lusher and himself were the men who killed Deskins–that Deskins knew who burnt the store and post office at Looneyville, and that Hambricks were to receive $200.00 for doing it; that Jim Simmons to keep the crime hidden hired the four men named to kill Tom Deskins and they each received $50.00 in money, flour and bacon for doing the deed–that Milt Lusher fired the shot and that he, Martin and Greathouse, rushed on Deskins and beat his brains out with stones. John Greathouse and Milt Lusher married Eli Hambrick’s daughters–that Mat Martin’s wife was Milt Lusher’s sister–thus it can be plainly seen they were all linked together by marriage. My story does not end here. I have spoken of the Counts of Jackson county. During the war, Mr. Blair lived in Russell county, Virginia–he was sick of fever and said to be on his death bed. He had a brother who was a Union soldier and he procured a furlough and came home to see his brother. Cain and Zeke Counts, brothers of Ike Counts of Jackson County, arrested Blair, the soldier, and took him from the house where his sick brother lay, and tied him to a tree and shot him to death, then went to the sick man’s room, carried him into the yard and shot him to death, in the presence of their family. They left the County at the close of the war and went to Texas. The Blair boys who survived followed them to Texas and when they found the Blair Boys were after them they left and went to Montana and Minnesota. Zeke Counts was lynched in Montana for horse stealing and Cain was sent to the Penitentiary from Minnesota and served a long term; he came back and as usual commenced stealing and was tied to a post twenty miles west of Wodena and whipped. He is now living alone in a shanty at the same place. This statement was made by Blair– Elihu Blair, a brother of the boys who were murdered. I met him at Ripley Landing, W.Va. Si Counts is an own Uncle of the two Counts last named, and was one of the dogs that had hold of Robert Duff at Lynn Camp School House when his throat was cut according to information. Walter Hensley lived at Newton, Roane County. Was a soldier in the late war and on Sunday night, 1922, was attacked at Newston and beat to death–his body was carried to Big Sandy Creek where it was found later in a pool of water. No arrests and no convictions have been made of the assassins. I gained the above information from L. W. Walker, First Sergeant State Police. Many good citizens live in and near Newton, Roane Coun- ty. THEIR INCEST: To trace the genealogy of all races according to the number of inhabitants, this people exceed all others. This gang of murderers claimed to be first cousins over sixty-five years ago when they first came to this section of the country, and since that time have continuously been intermarrying, and God only knows how long they intermarried before they came to this section of Jackson County. One of the murderers of Geo. Duff, Jr., was arrested and indicted at Jackson C.H. for willful murder. The time was set for the trial of Bob Skeens and V. S. Armstrong refused to try the case and Judge Tom Harvey was called to Armstrong’s Circuit. The came up [sic] and James Seaman prosecuted him with vim, and finally the case went to the Jury. After they were out some time it was found they could not agree–eleven out of the twelve were for finding him guilty of murder in the first degree, and Aurelius Corbin was the man that hung the Jury. His father I was told belonged to the Consolidated Band and Corbin had expressed his opinion of the case before it came to trial, and it was carried over until the next term of court. [sic]. Judge Harvey was on the C. & O. train in company with John Ray of Sissionville, W.Va. shortly after this trial, and in the course of conversation said that Skeens had a bad case against him. The next term of Court came; the State had twice the evidence that time and it was either to dismiss the case or the murdering link would be broken. It was well known that Skeens would be hanged or sent to the Penitentiary for life. Judge Harvey in this language said, “I will take the responsibility on myself and nolle it.” He ordered Clerk Riley to enter a nolle. Of all those horrible deeds committed in the Counties of Jackson and Roane the murderers have gone unpunished and no steps have been taken to bring the guilty parties to justice. The evidence is plain and conclusive in most every case. The horrible butcheries of Roane County have been treated by the officers of though they were fables, and not much better in Jackson County. The above statements date back to Secessionism, when the two counties were under the control of said Secessionism. To give a history of each member of the gang would take too much space. Zack Hubbard came from Craig County, Va., some years ago and settled in Roane county. He acted as special constable over Robert Duff at Dave Cox’s and had fifteen men as guards. He met the murderers of Duff on the outside and held a consultation. Duff was murdered. Hubbard left Roane county and settled in Elk City, Kanawha County. D. B. Covey, a subagent for the Bruens, made our house a regular stopping place for three years previous to the murder of Duff. He was afraid this murdering gang, and the writer often took the brushy side of the road to save him from being shot, which was often threatened by this gang. In the summer of 1887, twenty-five dollars of Covey’s money according to information I received from William Ray, had caused the life of one Dick Butcher to be taken. Covey had laid a trap opened the Penitentiary door for Covey. The trap set was this D. B. Covey owned a large tobacco barn, this barn sat just below Covey’s house on the Middle Fork of Poca River. Covey had hay and straw stored in this barn. Covey took one Thomas Boggs into his confidence–Boggs pretended to be an enemy of Covey, so Boggs took Dick Butcher into his confidence, told Butcher he wanted him to accompany him to Covey’s barn and they would burn it down as he, Boggs, wanted to get even with Covey. Boggs and Butcher went to the barn late at night, on arrival Boggs suggested that Butcher fire the barn. Butcher refused and Boggs set the barn on fire. Butcher was arrested by Covey and committed to jail at Ripley, Jackson County. The officials at Ripley soon learned of the conspiracy between Covey and Boggs against Butcher. Butcher was dis- charged from jail and summoned to appear before the coming Grand Jury to indict Covey and Boggs. Butcher came home took his rifle gun, seng hoe and seng bag–went into Virginia to dig ginseng. After being absent for three weeks he returned to Jackson County and as he came near the home of William Comer, who lived near Butcher’s home, they heard the crack of a rifle and heard Dick Butcher call for help. This was dark–a search was made, but his body was never found. His gun barrel was found about two years ago in a hole in the ground–the stock was gone but the barrel was recognized as Butcher’s. Butcher was going to start the prosecution against him therefore Covey hired one John Parsons, whose father was his grandfather to kill Butcher for twenty-five dollars. Butcher disappeared, and a helpless family was left on the county of Jackson. This occurred about the time the Duffs were killed. To hide this and to have a name Covey joined the Murderous Band and was an active member, but like all the rest his flory has left him. Joe Skeens, the man who cut the colt’s throat, and helped murder my brother Nathan and he and his son Joel helped kill Robert Duff, was like a demon in appearance. He stayed in the woods almost constantly until his death. Frank Skeens, a brother of Joe Skeens, mentioned outside of the murder of Bill Litten, did not do the actual murder but put everything in motion. He knew the exact time it would occur and he was always at some point to prove an alibi. After Skeens got his work in he then went to church, took the Sacrament the Lord’s Supper and as Judas, pretended to cry and shout, but his onion head and face betray his soul. Jake Kiser was one of the first men on the spot after the gang killed my brother Nathan. While he was in the agonies of death and asking for help, Kiser laughed and made sport of him. About fifteen years ago I had a warrant for one of his family, Al Kiser. I went into his yard and stopped near the door waiting for Al to come out. While waiting there I heard this Jake Kiser, screaming and fighting in his imagination, my dead brother who he laughed at while dying. Since that time Kiser has gone where no demon returns. His wife forsook him, and his daughter had to leave home on account of his inhuman acts. This was told me by Mrs. Lanham, who was a frequent visitor at his home. Through the protection of this Band by the officials of Jackson and Roane Counties, innocent has been shed, fathers, mothers and children have been made to weep, and many homes made desolate. Waid Counts, the man whose name my brother called when he was murdered, and told his boy Joel to go home and tell his mother that Waid Counts and others had killed him–this same Waid Counts was one of the active men in the murders of George Duff, Jr., Robert Duff and Ches Coon. Later he went to Clay county and on his return home not far from where he helped kill Robert Duff and Coon, all at once a bolt of avenging lightning broke forth from a cloudless sky and a sea of electricity enveloped the earth and smote him dead. (The air that surrounded this horrible demon seemed contaminated). Counts laid four days in the month of August with every bone in his body broken before he was found. The news of his death spread and his people went after him. His carcass was put in a box and he was hauled in a wagon past the place where he helped murder of my brother, a swarm of green flies following him. After this occurrence Si Counts, a brother of Waid’s moved to Parkersburg, where he is now. Mort Counts, another brother, moved to Ripley, Jackson County. Mort Counts now lives in Charleston, W.Va. and is blind. Jack Counts, another brother, moved back to Clinch River Mountains in Russell County, Virginia, where he came from. Frank Skeens had a brother by the name of Rich Skeens, who went back to Wise County, Virginia, where he married and raised a family. Several years ago a corps of surveyors came to Indian Creek in Wise County, Virginia, and stopped at one Joe Freeman’s. Joe Freeman as well as Skeens on a very large survey of land. The surveyors boarded at Joe Freeman’s. This enraged the Skeens family and one evening just at dusk a party of men said to be Skeens’ boys with their faces masked, went to the house of Joe Freeman and shot him down; the ball passed through his body. Freeman recovered. Joe Freeman had a son by the name of Clit. Clit carried his Winchester to a saw mill which he owned and operated, (this was some time after his father was shot) and one of the Skeens boys in company with Awk Dameron went to the saw mill where Clit Freeman was at work. Young Skeens picked up Clit’s gun and shot him dead. Skeens and Dameron were arrested and tried at Gladeville, Wise County, Va., and sentenced to be hung. They broke jail and made good their escape. At the time Dock Ellis and myself arrested Johnse Hatfield we arrested Awk Dameron at the same place, not knowing of his escape form the Wise County jail. Bill Counts, whose grandmother was a Skeens, killed a young lady by the name of Sutherland or Rassinger. This murder occurred in Dickenson County, Virginia. Counts was tried, sentenced to be hung, broke jail and came to Camden-on-Gauley, where he tried to run over H. L. Fleming. Fleming being form near the same place in Virginia stopped Bill Count’s clock with a Winchester ball. Fleming was tried at Addison for the murder of Counts and acquitted. This class of people was well known to Judge John T. Jackson. His court records have been marked with many of them for the last thirty years. If I could get the remainder that are living in the Federal Court on a Petition under the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States (their history and depredations would soon end.) This reads as follows: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty or property without due process of law, not deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”
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