Logan
Tuesday Evening, JULY 12, 1927 |
|
Excitement was created in the court house corridor Monday dur- ing adjournment at noon when Howard Conley assaulted Frank Doss and knocked him down. Conley and Doss are from Crawley"s Creek, and were attending court where Doss was a witness against Conley before the grand jury. A rule was issued charging Conley with contempt of court and he is now in jail and will later face Judge Robert Bland to answer to the charge. .
|
Logan
JULY 13, 1927 |
|
Calling of the docket in circuit
court got underway Tuesday morn
ing when Judge Bland took up
criminal cases. Howard Conley
charged with maiming Mike Set'lock, entered a plea of guilty and
Was sentenced to the state penitentary for a period of two years by
judge Robert Bland.
In calling many cases for trial
Tuesday morning the state was
hampered by non-appearance of
those charged with crime who had
been previously released on bail. Al-so much delay was encountered
When witnesses failed to appear
Writs were issued against defendants and absent witnesses and
when they were haled into court
Judge Bland 'sentenced them to jail
to await such a time as the case
would again be called.
.
|
Bad Man of Crawley Creek Slain Monday
|
|
John Mounts, wanted for the killing of Howard Conley, and his brother, Elbert Mounts surrendered to a posse of Logan county officials this morning at the home of Ora Butcher on Tims Fork of Crawley Creek. The posse was headed by Sheriff J.D. Hatfield and Sergeant R.E. Brocks of the state police. The Mounts brothers offered no resistance when placed under arrest and were brought to the county jail without trouble. Mounts told his version of the shooting to a ______ reporter this noon. According to Mounts, Conley had been to Logan and when he reached the Dingess store he walked over to where Mounts was standing and accused him of protecting certain parties on Crawley Creek. He then told Mounts, according to the prisoner’s account, that he had just purchased a .38 revolver in Logan and said that he was going to use the gun right away by killing Mounts. After calling Mounts several names Conley reached for the package, ________ Mounts. It was at this time that Mounts fired. His brother, alias “Dad” Mounts was arrested on a federal charge. State police believe that it was he who fired on their car about four months ago when the officers were making a ______ in the neighborhood of his home. Other officers which helped make the arrest were: Deputy Sherrifs Roy S. Hinkle, Alvin Brunfeld, Alber Kirk, Bert Surgeine, Ed Taylor, Tastoe Walph and Corporal ______________________. Again the guns used on Crawley Creek bringing death to one man and sending another scampering to the hills to avoid arrest by deputy sheriffs and state police who have scoured the countryside during the past three days in search of the killer. Howard Conley, bad man of that hollar, was slain by John Mounts After the shooting Mounts walked into the store, replenished his ammunition and then disappeared into the hills where the ______ officers have been unable to locate him and it is their belief that he is hiding in the hills protected by his ____. Officers stated that Monday’s shooting was a climax to a long standing grudge which had _____ between the two men. On former occasions there has been some shooting between the two men but it is reported that Conley has been rather quiet since being released from the state penitentiary. Shot Six Times When shot Conley was seated in the automobile belonging to Columbus Stollings and was ready to go to his home which is on Three Forks of Crawley Creek, three miles above the Dirgess store. According to ________ informations officers could obtain, Mounts approached the car and then within a few feet of Conley he drew his gun and began firing. One bullet passed through Conley’s jaw while five others coursed through his chest. The sixth grazing his shoulder but did no damage. Conley became entangled in the mesh of the law in June, 1927 when he was charged with shooting at Mounts and four other people at different times. At that time he evaded the officers for several days. When captured in his home he tried to escape but the pursuing officers overtook him. He refused to move and was carried a considerable distance until a horse was pressed into service. Served Prison Term During the July term of circuit court in 1927 Conley pleaded guilty to operating a still and was sentenced to serve two years in the Moundsville prison. So anxious was he to leave Logan county at that time that he paid his own expenses to Moundsville immediately after being sentenced. Local officers have been in search of Mounts even before the shooting. He has been on probation and recently a federal warrant was issued for his arrest on account of a whiskey charge. He lives about a half mile above the scene of the shooting. The slain man was the son of Watt Conley, now deceased. His mother, Nancy Conley still lives on Crawley creek. Conley still leaves three children between the age of five and eleven. The dead man was about 38 years old. He has three sisters and one brother living. They live on Crawley Creek except two of the sisters.
Howard Conley was the son of William Watson and Nancy Doss Conley. He was married to Anna Conley at the time of his death. Anna was the daughter of Charles E. and Rosa Marcum Conley
Charleston Daily Mail WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 1, 1930 Logan Preliminary hearing has not yet been set for either John Mounts, charged with the fatal .shooting of Howard Conley on Crawley creek, or the former's brother, Elbert (Dad) Mounts, who was arrested along with him on an old prohibition law violation. The two were held in the county Jail here without bond. The fatal shooting of Conley. 35- year-old native of Three Forks, Crawley creek, is said to have culminated a five-year-old feud between tho victim and John Mounts, 23, of near Cliapmanville.
Charleston Daily Mail SUNDAY MORNING, JANUARY 26, 1930 MURDER TRIAL WILL BE BEGUN AT LOGAN Trial of John Mounts, charged with the murder of Howard Conley in Logan county December 23, is scheduled to begin Monday in Logan county circuit court. M. F. Matheny, of Charleston, and C. A. Hatfield, of Logan, will defend Mounts. Mr. Matheny expected to leave Sunday -for Logan.
Charleston Gazette Tuesday Morning, January 28, 1930. Murder Trial Started LOGAN, Jan. 27.—W)—Trial of John Mounts charged with the slaying of Howard Conley. on Crawley creek in December, was started in Logan county circuit court here today after a defense motion for a continuance had been overruled. Mounts told officers he shot Conley In self-defense.
Charleston Daily Mail WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 29,1930 page 5 MOUNTS CONVICTED OF CONLEY SLAYING Life Sentence Passed Upon Young Crawley's-Creek Murderer LOGAN, Jan. 29.—John Mounts, 22 years old of Crawley's creek, was sentenced to life imprisonment last night in circuit court. Both the state and defense had rested at 5 o'clock last evening, and a special session beginning at 7 o'clock last night lasted until 10:45 o'clock Mounts was convicted the fatal shooting of Howard Conley, In front of the Leonard Dingess store on Crawley's creek on the afternoon of December 23. Mounts admitted the killing, but contended he shot at Conley in selfdefense. Conley was shot four times, twice in tho body, onco about the right shoulder, and once through the left cheek. He died instantly. State witnesses contended Mounts .shot Conley from the back, and while he was entering an automobile. Mounts said he shot Conley from the front, as the latter was sitting In the car, and that he did so after Conley attempted to reach for a pistol lying In the seat of the machine about a foot from him. the gun alleged to have been Conley's was produced in evidence, after having supposedly been hidden in a trunk belonging to Mount's brother, Elbert Mounts, since the killing. Former Judge C. L. Estep. of circuit court, assisted Prosecuting Attorney L. P. Hager and his assistant. E. F. Scaggs in the case Mounts' counsel consisted of M. F (Mike) Matheney of Charleston, and Coleman Hatfield. of Logan. The case, got under way late Mon- day afternoon. It was- the first major criminal case to be tried during the January term of Logan circuit court, over which Judge Naaman .Jackson is presiding.
|
