Thriller Thursday: Found Unconscious from Gas

Evening Star (Washington, DC)
12 June 1915

FOUND UNCONSCIOUS FROM GAS

D. McCarthy of Nokesville, Va., May Survive by Prompt Treatment

A middle-aged man visited Hoy's Hotel, Louisiana avenue and 6th street northwest, Thursday night, registered as D. McCarthy, Nokesville, Va. and was assigned to a room on the fourth floor.  Shortly before noon yesterday he was found unconscious from illuminating gas.  Gas was flowing from two open fixtures in the room, the police were told, and the guest's condition was critical.

Dr. A. M. MacDonald responded to a call sent to Emergency Hospital, took charge of the patient, and resorted to artificial means to restore respiration.  McCarthy's condition is much improved, it was said at the hospital, and his recovery is expected.

Thriller Thursday: Dobson / Burkle

1 October 1916
Richmond Times Dispatch (VA)

KILLS EMPLOYER AND SELF

Mystery Surrounds Double Shooting That Occurred at Nokesville on Thursday

Manassas, VA., September 30 - Mystery still surrounds the tragedy which occurred at Nokesville on Thursday.  Eugene Dobson, colored, who shot and killed his employer, Jacob R. Burkle, a Prince William County farmer, and then committed suicide, was known throughout the neighborhood as an exemplary specimen of his race.

The bodies of the two men were found in separate rooms of the barn on the Burkle place.  A shotgun lying beside the body of Dobson told the story.  He was about fifty years old.

Reports state that Dobson went to the house several hours before the shooting for the gun "to kill a black snake at the barn."  The report of the gun was heard and farmhands in a neighboring cornfield hurried to the barn.

Mr. Burkle was about fifty-five years old and is survived by his wife.

Thriller Thursday: Henry W. Reid

Richmond Times Dispatch
26 January 1908

KILLED ON WAY HOME

Henry W. Reid, From Prince William, Murdered in Washington

Washington, D.C., January 25 -- Henry W. Reid, of this city, who came to Washington from Prince William county about five years ago, was murdered in front of his home, on F Street, near North Capitol, about 1 o'clock this morning.  A few feet from where the body was found another man was held up and robbed earlier in the evening.

Reid's body was terribly cut, and a bloody oyster knife found near by had evidently been plunged through the top of the skull into the brain, producing instant death.  The body was found by two policemen before it had grown cold.  Four arrests have been made, but the police have only slight clues.

Reid was the proprietor of a saloon near Union Station.  He was in the habit of taking home every night the cash receipts for the day, and it is believed that the murderers knew of this, and were seeking money.  They took his gold watch and chain, and probably some change from his pocket, but the police found in the cash drawer at the saloon this morning $146.  Reid was the son of the late William Reid, who ran a hotel near Brentsville, not far from Manassas.  The young man was clerk of the Tremont Hotel for a time, and later opened a saloon.

He was recently placed in charge of the affairs of a new hotel company, which was to erect a hotel near the new Union Station.

The body will be taken to Prince William for interment.

Thriller Thursday: The Late Difficulty in Nokesville

Alexandria Gazette (VA)

25 January 1870

To the editor of the Alexandria Gazette:

Dear Sir: I notice in the Prince William Advocate an extract taken from your paper, in which it is alleged upon the authority of persons living in the neighborhood of Nokesville, "that the late difficulty between Mr. Bunn Grigsby and the Messrs. Marsteller has been settled.  The former was compelled to sign a paper and to submit to a severe castigation, but the later afterwards gave up the paper and expressed regrets for acting so hastily."

We respectfully request that we may be permitted through the medium of your paper to say that no such settlement as above stated, nor has any settlement whatever of the said difficulty been effected.

Very respectfully, L. A. MARSTELLER & Bro.

Nokesville, Pr. Wm. co., Jan 24.

Alexandria Gazette

24 February 1870

THE LATE DIFFICULTY AT NOKESVILLE -- Mr. Marsteller, who was shot at Nokesville on Monday evening last, is reported to be recovering.  The attack upon him was not unexpected, as he had written to a young gentleman in this city, telling him that the difficulty between himself and Mr. Grigsby had not be settled, and asking him if convenient to pay him a visit, and stay with him until the Messrs. Grigsby and their friend, who had been to Morrisville, in Fauquier county, after his brother, but were unable to see him on account of his sickness, left the neighborhood.  These three gentlemen took the night train at Manassas and returned to Lynchburg on the evening the shooting took place.

Evening Star (Washington, DC)

24 February 1870

It was thought last night at Nokesville that Mr. Marsteller, who was shot there on Monday last by Mr. Clay Grigsby, as heretofore stated in the Gazette, might probably recover, though the ball was still embedded among the muscles at the base of  his skull.

Thriller Thursday: Family Poisoned by Buttermilk

Richmond Times Dispatch (Richmond, VA)
12 July 1903

FAMILY POISONED BY BUTTERMILK

Fredericksburg, VA, July 11 -- Mrs. W. N. Tansil[l] and two daughters, Misses Lucy and Mattie Tansill, and Mrs. George E, Cole and daughter, Miss Annie Taylor Cole, had a narrow escape from death by poison from drinking buttermilk, which had been brought from the country in a tin vessel, which was exposed to the sun.  Soon after drinking the buttermilk, the ladies became violently sick, physicians were summoned and worked on them for two hours before they were finally relieved from pain.  All of them recovered.

[Anna Louisa Cole, the daughter of Horace Cole and Martha Taylor Cole, was born in Prince William County on 20 October 1850.  She married Wallace Norman Tansill, the son of Samuel Tansil and Theodocia Norman Tansill, on 6 February 1868 in Prince William County.  Many of her original letters from Fredericksburg to and from family in PWCo can be found in the Library of Virginia's Personal Papers collection (Accession #38438). ~cgl]

Thriller Thursday: Suicided at Last: Frederick Hurlbuss

Alexandria Gazette
14 August 1893

SUICIDED AT LAST -- Frederick Hurlbuss committed suicide at Woodbridge, Prince William county, on Friday last, by shooting himself in the head, the ball entering behind the right ear, causing instant death.

Hurlbuss lived in that section some years and was the suitor for the hand of Mrs. George M. Arnold.  Before she was married she rejected his suit and married Mr. Arnold, a farmer, and Hurlbuss then went west, remaining a few years.  He was, however, so much infatuated with the lady that he returned about three months since and proposed to her to elope with him.  This she indignantly refused to do and repelled his advances.  He then became despondent and taking poison came near ending his life.

Friday afternoon he went down on the Quantico train, getting off at the station below Woodbridge and walking back.  In the evening he appeared at Mrs. Arnold's house and had a talk with her, in which he again asked if she would go away with him.  As on the former occasion she indignantly repelled the suggestion.  "Well, then," he said, "I will kill myself right here in your presence."  Mrs. Arnold screamed and closed the door and Hurlbuss left, going to a family grave yard, about two hundred yards from the house.

In a short time a pistol shot was heard from that direction, and parties going there found him lying with the pistol near by and the wound in the head and he was then dead.

Thriller Thursday: W. R. Staples

Richmond Times-Dispatch
September 14, 1922

DRAGGED BY HORSE, MAN DIES FROM HURTS

[Special to the Times-Dispatch] Fredericksburg, Va. Sept. 13

While en route from his home in Fairfax County to Manassas, a few monrings ago, the horse being driven by W. R. Staples became frightened at a dog and cow on the roadside.  The animal bolted, throwing from the vehicle Mr. Staples and his wife, who was accompanying him.  Mr. Staples became entangled in the lines and was dragged for one hundred yards over a rough stretch of road.  When assistance reached him he was carried to the Speakes' home.  Dr. W. F. Merchant treated the injured man.  Mr. Staples died in a short time.  Mrs. Staples was uninjured.  Mr. Staples was 59 years old.

Thriller Thursday: Sad Death of Two Sisters (1913)

Manassas Democrat
January 2, 1913

KILLED WITHIN SIGHT OF HOME

Sad Deaths of Two Sisters

Miss Mamie Cooper and Sister, of Near Bealton, Struck by Engine 15 of Southern and Killed

Last Sunday afternoon as a party of young people were returning from making social calls two of them were killed by train No. 15 when they were within sight of home.  The fatal accident occurred near Bealton when Miss Mamie Cooper and her sister, to avoid No. 44 on the north bound track, stepped immediately in front of No. 15 which was south bound.

Two years ago their father, who was employed as track man, was killed in almost the same place, in the same manner, by the same train run by the same crew.

Thriller Thursday: Narrow Escape from Death (1912)

Manassas Democrat
December 26, 1912

NARROW ESCAPE FROM DEATH

Two Brothers Badly Hurt

Frightened by an Automobile Their Horses Run Away and Trample Upon the Boys

Paul and Morris Groff narrowly escaped being instantly killed last Saturday while on their way home to Independent Hill.  They were on Center street near Brown & Hoof's mill when they heard an automobile behind them.  B. C. Cornwell seeing that the boys were frightened and that the animals would probably run away slowed up until he got nearly opposite the team when he shut off his engine.

The young men thinking they would be safer on the ground jumped out and ran to the animals' heads.  As the machine stopped they became frightened and began to plunge, knocking the boys down, stepping on one of them and then ran across both.  Morris Groff's leg was broken near the thigh while Paul was scratched about the chest and head, one of the horses stepping on his shoulder and severely  bruising it.

Mr. Cornwell thinking that both boys would be instantly killed turned his head.  After the team had passed over then he realized that they were severely injured.  He started his machine and picking up the boys brought them to Dr. W. F. Merchant's office where their wounds were attended to and later both were removed to their home at Independent Hill.

Thriller Thursday: Picnic in PWCo Strange Affair

Alexandria Gazette
August 1, 1866

PIC NIC IN PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY--STRANGE AFFAIR

Stafford County, VA, July 26th, 1866--

There was a Pic Nic at the house of Mr. Sandy Davis, in Prince William county, on last Thursday, 19th inst., the consequences of which, render it worthy of note.  Nearly every participant in the festivities was taken in the evening--some before leaving--some on their way home, and some after their arrival at home, with a severe spell of sickness, the symptoms of which indicated that it proceeded from some noxious ingredient, either in the "substantials" or in the drink.  Doctors Hore, Wheat, Ford, Stone and Leavy, were in great demand, and compelled to travel night and day.  The principal sufferers were the family of Mr. Davis, G. M. Weedon, P. T. Weedon, Charles Nelson, Walter Keys, besides the family of Mr. Mortimer Lynn and many others.  Some of the medical fraternity attributed the morbus to the lemonade, made up in a whiskey barrel; others to the fresh meat, hot weather, and the profusion of delicacies, too prodigally indulged in; some again, speak of criminal intention on the part of some one, but suspicion rests on no particular person.

Thriller Thursday: Murder of Ella Smith

Richmond Times Dispatch
December 7, 1909

REWARD OFFERED IN MANASSAS CASE

One Hundred Dollars for Murderer of Prince William Woman

Governor Swanson yesterday offered a reward of $100 for the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who murdered Miss Ella Smith and burned her home in Prince William county, four miles north of Manassas and near the Bull Run battlefield, on the night of November 20.

The fire was discovered by a neighbor, but when he reached the scene the dwelling had been burned to the foundation.  Miss Smith's charred body was found in the ruins.

The authorities, after an investigation, announced that they were confident that murder had been done.  The dead woman was said to have had a considerable sum of money in her possession.

Thriller Thursday: Murder of Capitola Butler

Washington Post
February 9, 1899

NO EVIDENCE OF MURDER.

Prince William County Grand Jury Discharges E. B. Reid

Special to the Post.  Manassas, Va., Feb. 8 -- In the County Court, the Grand Jury, after spending two days in hearing evidence, adjourned last night, having failed to find a true bill against E. B. Reid, charged with having murdered his cousin, Mrs. Capitola Butler.

Some time ago Mrs. Butler was found dead in her bed at the home of Mr. Reid, where she was living at the time, her brains having been blown out by a shotgun.  After she was buried her body was taken up and an inquest was held, in which it was discovered that she was in a very delicate situation at the time of her death.

The bitterest feeling had existed for some time between her family and E. B. Reid, growing out of some money transaction, and at the instance of her brother, Reid was arrested on the charge of having murdered Mrs. Butler, and carried before a Magistrate for preliminary trial.  Finding no evidence against him, the Magistrate promptly discharged him.  Mrs. Butler's friends were not satisfied, however, and at the February term of the County Court the matter was brought to the attention of the Grand Jury.  After spending two days in examining the witnesses, they failed to find a true bill.

Mr. Robert H. Campbell, a well-known criminal lawyer of Staunton, was present at the request of the Commonwealth's Attorney, in the interest of Mrs. Butler's friends.

Thriller Thursday: Freed on Murder Charge, Convicted as Chicken Thief

Richmond Times Dispatch (Richmond, VA)
February 26, 1932

FREED ON MURDER CHARGE, CONVICTED AS CHICKEN THIEF

Prince William County Man is Given Year's Term in the Penitentiary

Manassas, Va., Feb. 25 - Walter Woolfenden of near Kopp, Prince William County, who recently was acquitted of a charge of murder in the death of Goodwin Miller, was today convicted of a charge of stealing chickens and sentenced to one year in the penitentiary.

Woolfenden was arrested last October on a charge of stealing chickens from J.M. Shelton, near Woodbridge.  This charge was followed by a murder charge growing out of the deaths of Miller and his wife and child, whose charred bodies were found in the ruins of their burned home.

Woolfenden was not arrested in connection with the Goodwin deaths until it was learned that he had collected insurance on a policy of Miller in which Woolfenden was the beneficiary.  Woolfenden has not been tried for the death of Mrs. Miller for which he was also indicted.

Thriller Thursday: Moxley Poisoning

Evening Star (Washington, DC)
January 4, 1859

CRIME AND TRAGEDY. -- We are grieved to learn that the family of Dr. Moxley, near Greenwich, in Prince William county, Va., were poisoned on Friday last, by the cook, by mingling arsenic with the soup.  Mrs. Moxley, the aged mother of Dr. M., soon died, and several other members of the family are reported to be very ill.  Some of the servants also partook of the poisoned food, and are among the sufferers.  The atrocious being by whom the deed was committed will of course meet the penalty of her awful crime. -- Alex. Sentinel.

Evening Star
January 7, 1859

The family of Dr. Moxley, in Prince William, Va., are recovering from the late attempt to poison them -- none dying except the aged mother of Dr. M.  The criminal is now in jail.

Thriller Thursday: G. W. Speake

Washington Post (Washington, DC)
May 21, 1896

SISTER GAVE HIM A FATAL DOSE.

The Death of a Young Man Near Manassas Through a Sad Accident

Manassas, Va., May 20. -- G. W. Speake, a young man whose home was at Buck Hall, near this place, died yesterday afternoon as the result of a dose of corrosive sublimate, a deadly poison, which was administered to him on Tuesday of last week by his sister through mistaking the fatal drug for quinine.

Drs. Iden and Simpson were called in as soon as the mistake had been discovered, which was only a few hours thereafter, and did all in their power to save the life of the unfortunate young man, but without avail.  The young man's sister is prostrated with grief over her fatal error.

Thriller Thursday: Bumbrey/Green Murder

Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, MD)
April 10, 1905

CHARGED WITH MURDER

Mary Bumbrey Accused of Poisoning Manassas Man

[Special Dispatch to the Baltimore Sun]

Washington, April 9 -- Mary Bumbrey, 26 years old, of Prince William county, Virginia, is locked up in the Second Precinct Station, charged with murder.  She was arrested last night by the local police, on advices from the police authorities of Prince William county.

It is alleged she administered poison to Reuben Green, colored, of Manassas, resulting in his death.  The local police authorities know nothing of the alleged crime, but will hold the woman pending the arrival of the Virginia authorities.

Green was poisoned by a dose of corrosive sublimate and died in agony.  Both Green and the Bumbrey girl were employed at the home of Mr. James Carr, near Bristow, and Green had been paying attention to the girl, but had become engaged to another, and was to have been married soon.

Thriller Thursday: Arundel and Davis Murder (4th Virginia Cavalry)

Alexandria Gazette
February 10, 1864

John T. Arundel and Samuel Davis, of Prince William county, privates in the 4th Virginia cavalry, were murdered one night last week in Dumfries, by a negro man while asleep.  They were guarding from negroes, whom they had captured, and falling asleep one of the negroes murdered both, by knocking them in the head, with an axe.  The Richmond Examiner of Monday last contains the following:  "We learn that on Friday last two members of the Prince William cavalry, named Davis and Arundel, succeeded in capturing four negroes in the Yankee service, belonging to the "Home Guard" of Fairfax county.  The cavalrymen took the negroes to Dumfries, and on Friday night placed them in an unoccupied house.  Having imprudently fallen to sleep, the cavalrymen were attacked and overpowered by the negroes, their skulls cleft by some sharp instrument, and their bodies, mutilated in the most horrible manner.  They were found next morning weltering in their blood, and lived only long enough to relate the circumstances of the terrible tragedy which had befallen them."

Alexandria Gazette (Alexandria, VA)
February 10, 1864

Thriller Thursday: Claibourn Sims

Alexandria Gazette
September 7, 1836

During the month of April last, a white man named Claibourn Sims disappeared from Prince William County in Va., and three negroes belonging to captain Henry Fairfax were arrested on suspicion of having murdered him.  They were accordingly tried about three weeks ago, and unanimously acquitted by the court, the suspicion having been ascertained to be entirely groundless.  Sims, we are informed, is believed to have left the country with the intention that his departure should not be known.

Alexandria Gazette (Alexandria, VA)
September 7, 1836

Thriller Thursday: Victim a One-Armed Man

Harrisonburg Daily News (Harrisonburg, VA)
April 27, 1910

KILLED WITH ONE-INCH BLADE - Victim a One-Armed Man and Assailant Says Self-Defense

Manassas, Va., April 25. - Acting, as he claims, in self defense, Harry Thorpe, 30 years old, stabbed David Carter, 35 years old, to death with a penknife of which the blade used is but an inch in length.

The trouble occurred at a tenant house on the farm of T. N. Depauw near Haymarket.  Carter had but one hand, having a large hook suspended from the elbow, and Thorpe says the former attacked him, trying to strike him with the heavy hook.  Thorpe fled, was pursued and pressed, and drew the knife, stabbing his assailant just above the thigh severing a large artery, which caused the death of the man in a few moments, before medical aid could arrive.

Thorpe is in jail awaiting a hearing.

Harrisonburg Daily News
April 27, 1910

Thriller Thursday: The Fair Family

'Thriller Thursday' is a blogging prompt suggested by Geneabloggers, highlighting "murders, bizarre accidents or other thrilling stories" in family history.

In Prince William County, there may not be a more bizarre and tragic turn of events than those that plagued the Fair Family.  To quote the subheading of the newspaper account below, the Fair story is a tale of "wrecked homes, black fratricide, murders, suicides, and kindred disasters ... [that] would sound cheap in fiction, but these are the sordid facts."

The following was published on February 27, 1910 in the Richmond Times-Dispatch:

Richmond Times-Dispatch (Richmond, VA)
February 27, 1910