Alexandria Gazette

TUESDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 5

FATAL END OF A FEUD—The fourth
murder occurring near Wheeling, W. Va.,
within a few months happened about two
miles back from the river, near the town of
Proctor, Wetzel county, Sunday evening,
the victim being Jacob Baxter, a lawyer
residing upon a farm. The murderer is
John Newman, his cousin. There has been
a feud between the two families for the past
sixteen years, and upon several occasions
barns and crops belonging to one or the
other of the men have been burned, animals
shot, corn cut down, potatoes pulled up, &c.
Two months ago a field of wheat belonging
to Newman was burned by Charles Smith,
who took sides with Baxter, and in return
for this Newman shot Smith in the arm.
He was indicted for shooting with intent
to kill. Sunday evening Baxter was standing
in his door holding a light while his
wife went to the well for a pail of water.
When she had got about ten yards from the
door Newman, who was posted behind
a tree, shot Baxter through the neck with
a Springfield army gun, killing him instantly.
Newman was taken to the new Martinsville
jail under a strong guard. It is not
improbable that he will be lynched.