FAMOUS WIRT COUNTY MURDERS

(01/27/2024)
John Elsmer, residing in Wirt county, West Virginia, went home drunk and killed his wife, two children, and a servant girl, and set fire to his house. (February 20, 1889)

A lynching is feared Of a white man charged with two horrible crimes at Elizabeth, West Virginia. Parkersburg, W. Va., Feb. 5-Charges with criminal assault on his married sister and an attempt to murder his wife, Lum Goldsmith was lodged in jail at Elizabeth, near here today. The crimes have aroused the people of the section, and a lynching bee is feared.(Feb. 5, 1908)

Sam Shepard, who was found guilty of murder in the first degree at Elizabeth, near here, last night, was sentenced to be hung today, the judge overruling the motion for a new trial. He was convicted of murdering his wife, her babe and his stepson, aged nine years, last August in Wirt county. (Nov. 18.1901)

The jury in the case of James Wilcox charged with the murder of Nell Cropsey, disagreed today, eight being for hanging and four for acquittal . (March 22, 1902)