| Transcribed by Norma Knotts Shaffer from microfilm
of the Calhoun Chronicle dated 7/27/1897.
Moundsville comes to the front with one of the most brutal and atrocious
murders yet reported. For the benefit of our readers who do not get
daily papers, and the additional fact that the Mason woman seems to have
been a resident of this county a few years ago, living with her husband
on the George Rine land near Minnora, we give it in full as taken from
an exchange:
Mardotha Mason is a daughter of the Rev. George Rine, a well known Methodist
minister located in the lower part of Marshall county. She seperated
from her husband three or four years ago on account of domestic misunderstandings.
Since that time she has lived with her two sons on the hillside northeast
of Moundsville in a rude hut consisting of two rooms. She has obtained
a livelihood by washing for families living in the neighborhood and in
Moundsville.
She left home about seven o'clock yesterday morning and went to Moundsville,
where she worked during the day for the family of J.M. Roberts. Before
departing, he directed the boys to do a certain work in the garden, and
to look after the chickens about supper time.
It was nearly dark when Mrs. Mason returned from Moundsville.
As she approached the house, she noted with surprise that the boys were
not in the path to the house to welcome her with the customary kiss.
Her surprise gave way to alarm when upon approaching she found that the
house was closed.
Mrs. Mason called to the children before entering the house.
A voice which sounded like that of the younger child, replied in a tone
which indicated intense suffering.
The terrified mother walked about thirty feet in the rear of the hut
and found Willie lying on the ground with his throat cut and several ugly
gashes on his face. She asked about Stanley and the little fellow replied:
"He's hurt too."
Mrs. Mason immediately sounded the alarm and several persons living
in the neighborhood came to her assistance. Charles Golden began
a search for Stanley and found him lying some distance up the hillside.
Stanley's face was literally hacked beyond recognition. His throat
was cut. He was gasping for breath. Lying beside him was a
briar hoe bespattered with blood, mute evidence of the awful crime which
had been committed. Both were carried into the house and messengers
were sent to Moundsville for physicians, and to inform the authorities
of the fiendish deed.
Stanley was in almost a dying condition when Doctors S.M. Steel and
D.J. States arrived, but they give it as their opinion that Willie may
recover.
Stanley was too seriously injured to give a description of his assailant.
The other boy, however, described him as an old man, tall, with a grey
mustache and wearing a light coat with dark trousers.
Among the first men to arrive upon the scene was George Edwards.
Edwards started to Moundsville for aid. He was walking down a path
a short distance from the Mason hut, when a man stepped out from behind
a pile of rails and knocked him down with a club. He then ran off,
but not until Edwards saw him. Edwards states that the description
given by Willie Mason tallies with his assailant.
It is the theory that the fiend was lying in wait for Mrs. Mason, and
that if she had used the path in returning home, he would have murdered
her in cold blood.
An old man answering the description given, has been seen by several
persons loitering about, and if caught it is thought no difficulty will
be experienced in fastening the crime upon him.
Later: - Jim Jones, colored, aged 14, testified before the coroner's
jury that he assaulted the Mason children on account of them saying he
had stolen a bridle from some party here. | 
