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PARKERSBURG, W. Va.(U PI)— The first-cousin boyfriend of Susie Bailey. 15. revealed Monday that he and the girl accused of murder in connection with a fire that killed 12 members of her family were secretly engaged to be marriedHandsome John Bumgarner. 18. was a surprise witness at a preliminary hearing for Susie and her younger brother. Roger. 13. who were charged only with murdering their father, since he was the head of the household Charles Bailev. 41, his wife, and 10w WpPs.ifbbrothers and sisters ranging in age from six months to 17 years perished June 8 when flames swept through their wooden home covered with tarpaper shingles in an isolated area at the edge of this OhioRiver citv.•••■Mg' .' -.:.* .lt;Ty~i ■ .■ v - a,Bumgarner, dressed neatly, spoke so softlv that Justice of the Peace A Llb1Rothwell had to ask him more than half adozen times to speak louder The father had ordered Susie to stop seeing Bumgarner because of the closeblood relationship, according to relativesUnder questioning Bumgarner said hegot along with the Bailev family “quite well.”But a week before the fire, a prosecution witness said Mrs. Bailey had taken a watch away from Susie which had been a gift from Bumgarner and the father had returned it to Susie s boyfriendBumgarner said he had become engaged to Susie last May and they planned to marry when she became 18.Susie and Roger were allowed to meet with Bumgarner for five minutes after the preliminary hearing was continued until next Tuesdav Through the testimony by Bumgarner, however. Susie sat chewing gum with not much expression on her face Bumgarner, a seventh grade dropout with black hair, told the hearing he worked at a sawmill He was the only witness to appear for the defense Two young attorneys appointed by the cot t represented the teen-agers who. under West Virginia law. must be tried as adults because of the seriousness of the crime with which they are charged Bumgarner said he drove Susie to and from school, and one day when she skipped classes at Ben Franklin Junior High School, they drove around all day Three prosecution witnesses were the first to testify.Susie lowered her head when anassistant state fire Marshal. E L Rou.-.h, was questioned about the motive of the fire.Roush referred to a ‘‘statement” in which the fathe** was said to have threatened to swear out a warrant against Bumgarner unless Susie stopped seeinghim •(Continued on Page 2-A)
Newspaper Details
Morgantown Dominion News
Morgantown, West Virginia, US
Tue, Jul 01, 1969
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
VA, USA 03 Jan 2019
Other Publications Near Morgantown, West Virginia
Morgantown Dominion Post
Morgantown Morning Reporter
The Morgantown Post and The Dominion-News
Morgantown Dominion News and Morgantown Post
Morgantown Dominion News
