Ora Conley taken to Logan in Murder Case
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Ora Conley taken to Logan in Murder Case Logan. Oct. 26- Ora Conley, 24 years old was returned to Logan from Mead county, Kentucky, today to face a charge of murder in connection with the slaying of Garland "Fly" Conley on October 14. Garland Conley was shot while riding a mule on the Smokehouse fork of Harts creek. Officers said that after he fell from his mount, he was shot twice more as he lay on the ground. The quarrel according to Officers, developed because Garland Conley objected to attentions paid to his daughter by Ora Conley. Naamon Jackson said today today a special term of circuit court would be called soon, at which four killings which have occurred since the close of regular October term, will be disposed of. | |||
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Creed, Mason, Ora Conley and Howard Adams
The jury trying the case of Creed, Mason, Ora Conley and Howard Adams, charged with operating a moonshine still were unable to agree after many hours deliberation and were discharged late Saturdayevening by Judge Robert Bland. Garland Conley, who is now serving a penitentaary sentence on the charge of moonshinig, was re-turned here from Moundsville, to testify in the case and he assumed full responsability for the operation of the still. The quartet of boys on trial were caught at the still when it was raided by state police but their defense was that they were hunting and had stopped at the apparatus when the raid was made.
From Logan Banner October 19, 1933
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Sentences Given In Slay ings in Logan
LOGAN, Nov. 18 (AP).—Three killings within a week in the mountainous Harts creek section of Logan county brought life sentences to five men at a special term of court which Judge Naaman Jackson said he called to check a crime wave. Four of the men have been sentenced by Judge Jackson and the other was sentenced early this week Charles Adams, 25 years old. pleaded guilty to killing Frank Carter on Harts creek October 14, and received a life term. His brother Eustas, 23 years old, convicted of complicity in the slaying, received a life sentence. Carey and Jesse Blair, brothers, were convicted together of slaying Hawkins Bishop. Logan business man, on Harts creek October 8, and jointly sentenced to life. The other sentence was upon Ora Conley for the slaying of his uncle, Garland Conley October 12.
From Logan Banner October 19, 1933
| Garland "Fly" Conley Killed In Cold Blood By Ora Conley; Victim’s Relatives Swear FeudFrank Carter Shot From An Ambush and Beaten To Death With Butt of Gun Five Members of The Adams Clan Jailed For Murder of Carter Who Had Spent Night With Sick Friend
MANY TRAGEDIES STIR OFFICERS
Harts Creek section maintained its bloody reputation over the week end with two murders. One was a "family affair", in which a young man shot and killed an older man who was his cousin. The other was a "community affair" in which a young man was shot down and brutally beaten over the head with the butt of a gun, the result, it is alleged, of feud of some months’ standing.
The slayer in the first case is at large, with relatives of his victim alleged to be on the lookout for him, seeking vengeance.
The second case landed five men in jail for investigation.
Coming within a week after the brutal slaying of Hawkins Bishop-all three killings in the same section of the county-the murders have caused considerable stir in official circles.
Garland "Fly" Conley, age 54 years, was shot to death by Ora Conley, age 28, son of Charles "Goo" Conley, near Smoke House Fork of Harts Creek, about 9 o’clock Saturday morning 17,oct 1933.
Ora Conley is at large, with officers and relatives of the slain, man scouring the mountains in search of him.
According to the information obtained by the state police and Sheriff Smith and several deputies, Ora Conley had been paying attentions to a daughter of "Fly" Conley, and Ora’s father, Charley Conley, were "double first cousins," and he would not encourage the marriage of his daughter to one of such close kin.
Saturday morning as "Fly" Conley and Albert McCloud" were getting a pair of mules ready to go to mill with some grain and to a sawmill to see about some lumber, Ora Conley came along afoot and asked "Fly" to go squirrel hunting, but, the older man said he had to go to mill and couldn’t take the time.
Young Conley proceeded down the road, and shortly as "Fly" approached, Ora said:
"What did you call me them names for?"
"I didn’t call you names, son," replied the older man.
"Oh yes, you did, damn you."
Then, as "Fly" Conley started on mounted on his mule, (old Beck) and was just passing him, Ora lifted his shotgun and fired, the charge striking the older man in the back of the neck, knocking him off the mule which began to jump and kick, dragging the wounded man nearly 40 feet. Ora, then ran up to the prostrate form and shot him in the chest and twice in the arm with a 32-20 pistol.
Ora, then started for the woods, stopping at the home of Wilson Conley, an uncle, up the hollow and told Mrs. Conley he had shot "Fly" and said he’d "Kill any damned officer" who came after him.
The state police and sheriff’s office were at once notified and a young army of officers poured into the valley of Smoke House Run.
It was reported that Bruce Conley, son of the murdered man, and another Conley, son of an uncle of Ora’s, had armed themselves and started on a hunt for the murderer, declaring they wouldn’t give the officers a chance to get him, but would hang him to the nearest tree if they caught him. It was also reported that a brother of the fugitive had gone to him in the woods and warned him to leave the country.
It is alleged that Ora has been in trouble before, some 4 years ago, having been arrested on a charge of possession of a still, but his father had "taken the rap" for him.
Albert McCloud, the witness to the shooting, said that when Ora shot the older man from his mule, the wounded man exclaimed: ‘Lord have mercy; don’t do that to me, son." But his plea only brought three shots from the pistol to finish the bloody deed.
McCloud then, hastened, to the home of the dead man and notified the wife and daughter. McCloud came to Logan shortly after the tragedy and related the circumstances of the affair to Prosecuting Attorney FrankJoyce.
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