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- The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, Wheeling, WV, Monday, 18 Jul 1892, p. 3, col. 1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/171207536/
CHARLESTON, W. Va., July 17. - The Meadow Creek Coal and Coke company was chartered by the secrretary of state. The principal office in at Bemon, in Fayette county, W. Va. The capital subscribed is $25,000 and the privilege is granted to increase to $200,000. The incorporators are Edward Crickman, Caperton, W. Va.; Nehemiah Daniel and C. E. Bemon, Beury, W. Va.; David Morgan, Sewell Depot, W. Va.; and Joseph Blean, Meadow Creek. W. Va.
Pocahontas Times, Huntersville, WV, Thursday, 17 Nov 1904, p. 3, col. 2
https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn83004262/1904-11-17/ed-1/
TRAGEDY AT MONTGOMERY.
Sheriff of Fayette County Killed.
Last week the town of Mongomery [sic] went through a most harrowing experience. One of the policemen by the name of John Eliot spoke to Wm. Jackson on the depot platform, and in a few moments afterwars [sic] shot him through the heart, Jackson fell dead without uttering a word.
Elliot was arrested and the four brothers of the dead man armed themselves. The Jacksons are
coal miners, natives of the county, and have hitherto borne a good reputation.
They insisted on the life of Elliott and the town was on the verge of a riot. The police force was trying to protect the prisoner, and most of the miners were with the Jacksons because they considered the killing of Jackson was unprovoked.
The mayor of Montgomery phoned for the sheriff, Nehemiah Daniel, who lived at the county seat. The sheriff responded immediately and came down on a local train. When the train pulled
in to Montgomery, the sheriff alighted and no policeman was present but the Jacksons were. They were personally known to the sheriff and he approached them and said to them that they must be more arderly [sic] or he would put them under arrest.
Ed Jackson stepped up to him and drew a pistol and presented it in the face of the sheriff and said: "I will kill the first man that lays his finger on me!" The sheriff tapped him gently with his forefinger and Jackson shot the sheriff through the head killing him almost instantly.
An attempt was made to arrest Jackson but his friends protected him with their guns. A police
man got the drop on Ed, but twenty guns flashed in the air, and the town was terrorized.
The Jacksons went out of town in a body and hid in an old mine overlooking the town from where they watched the proceedings in the town, including the funeral obsequies of their dead brother.
A special train train [sic] was rushed down the C. O. carrying forty deputy sheriffs, each armed with a repeating rifle. These scattered through the woods in search of the Jacksons. Rewards aggregating $2500 had been offered by State and county for their arrest.
After a time the Jacksons sent word to Constable Davis, a friend, to come and take them and secure the reward. This was done and the four brothers were lodged in jail at Charleston.
Feeling runs very high against Eliott who precipitated the calamity by hasty action. The Sheriff was very popolar [sic] man and his death was a great shock to the people of his county.
West Virginia News, Ronceverte, WV, Saturday, 19 Nov 1904, p. 1, col. 1
https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn85059663/1904-11-19/ed-1/
Bloody Work in Fayette.
Almost a riot occurred at Montgomery, Fayette county, last week, over the killing of Wallace A. Jackson and Sheriff Nemiah Daniel. Following are the particulars:
On Wednesday evening of last week, Nov. 9th, shortly after 7 o'clock, constable Wallace A. Jackson and a man named Hemmings became involved in a quarrel in the Mecca saloon. Officer John Elliott went into the place and placed both men under arrest and asked them to accompany him to the lockup. Jackson refused and said he would come down when he got ready. Elliott insisted that there was no choice and that he must go with him at once. Jackson still further
refused and Elliott laid his hand on Jackson's arm. At this juncture Jackson drew a revolver. Just then chief-of-police Hundley came up and wrenched the revolver from Jackson. He immediately drew another gun from his pocket and was in the act of firing at Elliott when Elliott drew his gun and fired two shots in rapid succession. The first shot struck Jackson in the abdomen and would have been fatal. The second shot struck him just under the right eye, causing instant death.
After the shooting of Jackson the town went into a perfect frenzy of excitement. The friends of the dead man declared for vengeance against Elliott, and the brothers of the dead man became dangerously threatening. Policeman Perry, who placed Elliott under arrest, took him
to Charleston and lodged him in jail for safe keeping on account of the intense feeling that existed.
Next morning the town was again in a turmoil, and Mayor Montgomery called up Sheriff Nemiah Daniel over the long-distance telephone and informed him of the situation. Sheriff Daniel took the next train from Fayetteville station. Arriving in Montgomery he held a consultation with the authorities and was at first of opinion that the situation could be easily controlled. Going out on the street he found Edward Jackson, a brother of the dead man, armed and infuriated, swearing that he intended to take the next train for Charleston to avenge the death of his brother. A report that Elliott had been released from custody still further inflamed his mind. Sheriff Daniel attempted to place Jackson under arrest. He refused to recognize the law, pulled his revolver and opened fire on the sheriff. Jackson fired five shots, one of which entered the right side of sheriff Daniel's head. He sank to the ground fatally wounded.
After the shooting several citizens attempted to arrest Jackson, but he covered everybody with his guns, backed away to the suburbs of the town, turned and disappeared in the woodland.
The sheriff was carried to the office of Drs. Owens and Montgomery, where he died in about an hour. Sheriff Daniel was one of the most popular officials the county ever had, and his friends were outraged at his unprovoked shooting. (The foregoing is from the Montgomery News.)
On receipt of the news Prosecuting Attorney Osenton with about 25 deputies took charge of affairs, posses were organized and started after Ed and George Jackson, and a reward of $1,000 offered for their capture. In the meantime Robert and Ernest Jackson were arrested and sent to the county jail at Charleston for safe keeping.
Nothing was heard of the fugitives until Sunday morning when a mountaineer sent word to Squire Davis that the Jackson boys were secreted in an abandoned coal mine just outside of Montgomery, and were willing to surrender without resistance. On the arrival of Squire Davis and a constable they gave up without any words.
After the shooting of sheriff Daniel they had gained the coal mine, and remained there secreted for 68 hours without food or water. In fact they were driven to surrender by cold and hunger.
Avoiding the town of Montgomery, the prisoners were taken to Charleston and placed in the county jail. There are now six persons in the Charleston jail, implicated in the affair, including Edward, Robert, George and Ernest Jackson.
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1848 - 1904 (56 years)
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