Murdered by a Ghost
One of the strangest multiple murders in Appalachian history happened on October 24, 1932. The town of Huntington, West Virginia,…
KleptoMania
Kleptomania, which is the compulsion to steal for no reason, has always been a problem for some. The term was…
Bristol’s Axe Murderer
The proverbial “axe murderer” is a staple of urban legend. This villain has been the plot device for countless works…
A Sage Crime
Henderson Sage was a traveling showman who brought his “Magic Lantern Exhibition” to Gate City, in November 1884. A “magic…
Ridiculous Regulators
One of the worst episodes of deadly incompetence in southwest Virginia was enacted by a group of men who called…
A Suicide That was Murder
Dr. Isaac “Cam” Anderson, brother of Bristol’s Mayor Anderson, wedded Gate City beauty Mary Nelms, in October 1901. He moved…
White Collar Insanity
Deputy Clerk David S. Morrison worked at the Scott County Courthouse in March 1891. Trusted deputy clerks handled all monies…
Whiskey, Cards, and Pistols
Scott County’s only double-execution occurred on February 6, 1885. The hanging occurred in “Estillville,” later known as Gate City. William…
Back from the Dead
Ale Artrip miraculously returned home in 1929. His family was overwhelmed, but overjoyed. Artrip was very much alive and well,…
The Lovelorn Larcenist-Ernest Torrence
One of the most famous swindling “Romeos” was captured near Gate City, Virginia. Notorious Lonely Heart, Ernest I. Torrence, gained…