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KILLED HIM!ONLAST SATURDAY, AT BRANDONVILLE,Chas. Lake], While iiian Altercation with Jacob Lieb,Stabs Lieb to the Heart with a Pocket Kuife andCauses Death in a Few Minutes.A Coroner s Inquest is Held andLakel is Sent to King-wood Jail.The Verdict of the Jury and Other Particulars.The old town of Brandonville, in this county, lias had an existence of three score and ten years, having pursued the even tenor of its way since about the year 181 d. At times the place has been alive with business; at other times it has been as quiet and tranquil as the gentle breezes of a summer evening that waft sweet fragrance from the shrubbery past the doers of its beautiful homes where a happy, prosperous and peaceable people live and have their being.From the beginning of the town up to the present time, Brandonville lias always had an enviable reputation for peace and quiet and the intelligence of her society. The people who first settled there and did so much toward the development of that section were an industrious and honorable class; and we can say that their descendants have in nowise disgraced the names, or detracted in the least from the reputation of their sires.The people there have always been sociable, peaceable, happy, and, to a considerable degree, prosperous,— They never expected to see the ''old main street/' where they and their children had often engaged in the games of youth, and ran about happily in the innocent hours of their childhood, become the scene of murder ! (or what some have supposed to be murder). The writer has played, when a barefooted boy, many a time, where the terrible affair took place, which, as a journalist, it becomes liis unpleasant duty to relate.On last .Saturday evening, about 7 o'clock, in the town of Brandonville, Geo. J. Lieb and Charles Lakel, both of that town, became engaged in a quarrel that led to a personal alter-cation which resulted in Lakel stab-bing Lieb to the heart with the blade of a pocket knife and In Lieb’s dying in a few minutes afterward.We heard nothing of the affair until Lakel was brought to the King-wood jail last Sunday evening; and as we have no mail facilities between here and Brandonville, worth speaking of. and that place being 17 miles distant, we have to depend upon the report of the evidence taken before Coroner's Jury for particulars.After the affair happened, Justice William McKee, acting coroner, had a jury summoned composed of the following named gentlemen: U. CHagans. W. H. Hagans, 8. K Scott, Joseph N. Michael, Joseph Feather, Wm. Kimberly, W. 8, Armstrong, R. B. Waddel, Wm. II. McGibbons. N. R. Michael, James M, Chldester and W. T. Miller.In yie investigation of the case by the jury, the following evidence was taken and properly certified :TWK RVIKRXfK,Jacob Bowman, after being dulysworn, testified as follows : I am 10years of age, and reside about three miles north-west of Bruceton, In this county. I was in the town of Brandon ville, W, Va.f on the 8lli day of May, 1880, between the hours of six and eight o'clock r*. m. I came from the store of R. B W add cl to the store of II. C. Ilagsnn and sloped mi the pavement, and saw George J. Lieb standing on the pavement in front of Hagans'* store conversing with several young men. They weretalking apparently in a good humor —rather jovially, as I thought, 1 saw Charles Lakel standing on the upper stone step of the West front door of said Hagans's store. I saw at that time no demonstration of vfr h*nce between said Charles Lakel ami v.J. Lieb. Lakel stepped back from said upper stone step inside the store room; and in a few mingtes Lakel returned to the same store door, walked down the steps, across the pavement ard leaned with his back against the lowermost post, or the post farthest west, in front of the store, and had an open kdife in his hand. Lieb was telling something relative to certain parties (did not say who) who were iu the habit of getting water from liis well. Lakel spoke Grst, addressing Lieb as follows: 'You dirty old rascal, or scoundrel, I waut you to quit your lying on me.’ Lieb turned around and said. ‘I don't know as 1 am lying on you; don't take a knife out to me. you s— of a b—.* Lakel replied,'Don't call me a s — of a b—/ start ing towards Lieb reversing the knife, the blade protruding from tho ulnar surface of the hand ; with the knife in that position, his hand raised in a striking position, he struck Lieb near the breast bone or left side, I cannot say exactly which. Frank J. Benson, who was present, stepped up and taking hold of I.akel threw him into the street. Lieb then seized a loose brii k and hurled it at Lakel, but did not hit him; then Lakel caught Lieb by the clothes and body and threw him on the pavement, face downward, and said to him, *1 want you to behave/ standing over Lieb who was endeavoring to get a brick from the pavement, in which he did not sue-ceed, the brick being fast; then Lakel pulled or jerked Lieb off the pavement. Lakel then backed into the store house. Lieb then got two stones and followed Lakel to the store door. I did not at time think that cither of the parties was intoxi cated, but after wards [ changed my opinion.Frank J. Benson testified as follows : I am 18 years old. and I reside about three miles west of Bruco-ton, on the Morgantown turnpike. 1 was in the town of Brandonville on the 8th day of May, 1886, between the hours of 6 and 7 o'clock p. M. I came down the main street of Brandonville onto the pavement of ii. C. Hftgans’s store. Charles Lakel was standing on the upper, or east end of said pavement, and walked with roe into the store at the east outdoor of the building After wc were in the store Lakel made some remarks about Lieb, and said be was ready to meet Mr. Lieb at any time, ami had then and there an open knife in Lis hand.I then walked out of the store room at the upper or east front door, and Lakel walked out at the lower or west front door of the store, walked down the stone steps in front of the door, with an open knife in Lis hand, walked across the pavement ami leaned with liis back against the lower, or furthest post west, In front of the store building. Lakel said to Lieb, who was conversing with several parties standing on tlic pavement, ‘You are talking about me, and I don't want you to talk almut me any longer. You have said enough about me.’ Lieb then turned aroundand walked towards Lakel, raiwing his hand, but had nothing, that is no wenjKin or missile in nis hand,-—made no threat. Lakel stepped from the post toward Lieb wlih an open knife in his right hand (with the knife reversed) and struck Lieb with the knife. Liel) threw up his hands and reached for a brick and threw it at Lakel, but did not bit hhn; If «o, but ftlightly. Lakel again struck Lieb with the open knife on or near the left eido or breast. I caught Lakel and threw hirn ir tho street. I then started to go into the store, and looking back saw Lakel shut liis knife up and put it in his pricket, and saw Lieb throw a brick or stone at Lakel j but the missile did not hit him. I looked out of the window and saw them scuffling. Both pnrtH* then came to the west front door of the store. Lakel walking into the store and Lieb stopping In the door with i two stones in bis bands. I do not know whether either party was drinking or Intoxicated.George V. Frankhouser testified as follows: I Am nineteen years of f.ge, and I reside two miles south-east of Brandonville* I was in the town jof Brandonville on the 8th day of May, 1886, between the hours of 6 j and 7 o'clock p. m . I came to town and stopped at the store of R. B. Waddel and then walked to the store 1 of H. G. Hagans, stopping on the pavement In front of the store where ! George J. I deb and severs! others were talking and laughing. Charles J Lakel was standing in the west store door, hut retired back into the store. Lieb remained with me on the pave- j mont talking, Lakel return*! to thedoor and had a knife in his hand, walked down the steps, crossed the pavement and leaned with his back against the moat western |ost in front of tho store building. While standing against the post, Lakel extended his arm out with an open knife iu his • 1 and said t*» I Job, who was standip■: with his back to I.akel, ‘You you have abused melong enough.’ Lieb turned towards Lakel,started to walk to him aud ordered him to put his knife in his pocket. Lieb reached down and got a briek. stepped back four or five feet, and threw it at Lakel but did not hit him. Lakel followed Lieb with the open knife in liis band 1 then ran into the store. 1 thought both parties were under the intluence of liquor. Lakel might have struck Lieb with the kuife he standing close enough to have done so. He might have made a pass at Lieb with the knife before Lieb threw the brick.W or land il Kimberly testified as follows: 1 am *26 years of age, and 1 reside one and one fourth miles south of Brandonville. I was in tho town of Brandonville on the 8th day of May, 1880, between the hours of 6 and 8 o’clock p. m. 1 came to R B. WAddcl’fl store, and hearing of the diificulty at Hagans's store, I went there and saw a number of men standing in front of the store. II. ('. llagans came to the door and said we ought to take Lieb homo, as ho was either sick or drunk. Win, II. Hagans and I took him by the arms and led him to his home [across the street]. On the wnv he said, 'Hold me up/ and before wo entered the dlt;»or of his dwelling. Wm. H. Hagans called out, ‘This man is badly out.* Lieb said, ‘Yes. ho stabbed or cut me twice.’ Wo led him in his room and laid him on the bed and ascertained ho was in a dying condition and we remained there until Hr. Frey was called in.lr. Wm. Frey testified as follows;I am 67 years of age and reside in the town of Brandonville. I was called, on the 8th day of May, 1880, between the hours of 7 and 8 o'clock, at the residence of George J Lieb,who was reported to be slabbed or cut. I found him pulseless and in a dying condition, wounded in the left side. 1 found a wound over the left eye. 1 remained until he died. On the next morning, May 9th, with the assistance oi Dr. John 8. Nedrow. in making an autopsy, I fouud n wound one and one half inches in length below the nipple; found the wound in the heart one inch in depth, the wound in the heart being sujli-cient, and in my opinion did, cause his death.A ftcr hearing the above evidence —and in all probability much more, which it was impossible to take down, —the jury found Hie following verdict :tub VKitnnrr.West ViiKiiNfA, ) .County of Pubhto**, f An inquisition, taken at Brandon-ville, in the County of Preston, on the 0th day of May, 1886, before ! William McKee, a Justice of the Peace, of the said county, upon the view of the body of George J. Lieb there lying dead:The jurors sworn to enquire when, how. and by what means, the said George Lieb came to his death, upon thHr oaths do say: On the Hlli day | of May, 1886, between the hours ort and 8 o'clock p. m., the said George #J. Lieb was killed by a knife in the bauds of Charles Lakel, penetrating the heart, causing death.In testimony whereof, tho said justice and jurors hereto set theirhand*.Wm. MoKf.b, Justice.II. C. II AO ASH,Wm. H. Ham*.S. K. 8c;ott,Jos. \V Michael, JoflKf'ff Feather,Wm. Kimberly,W. 8. A I. MSTIIONO,K. B W ADIIKI,,Wm. Ii MuOihfjo.VH,N. Ii. M KHAKI,,JAS. M# CiUIjKhTP.R,W. T. Mii.r.pit,Jacob JJeb wa* about 66 year* of age. lie came to Brsadonville between thirty and forty year*; ago and | engaged in the business of n saddler. He bad then Just recently arrived I from Germany; and although a good mechanic, of industrious habits for many years after he settled in Brandonville, anti a rnan of some, good I qualities of heart, wc cannot include ! him among those of whom we have spoken as making up the better so ciety of the place in which he 11 veil, I It Is fsr from our intention to dis praise the dead; but Jacob Lieb was an exception to every other Individ* ' ual character in his vicinity. His good qualities were practically obi it- I crated by those which were not so good He had an ungovernable temper and it frequently got him into trouble. It was only at the last term of our f'ireult Court that he was tried i for his liberty for shooting at a insn witli intent to kill; and although most vigorously prosecuted by ourSlate * Attorney, the jury fouud a verdict of not guilty.For the last several years he has Kn n addicted to drinking, ami while under the intluence of intoxicants he was specially quarrelsome and high-tempered, and many of the best citizens feared him.For several years he had a no good feeling for I.akel—the man who killed him —and as Lakel was a wit-ness against him during his trial at the last court, it i* thought that his ill feeling against Lakel became intensified and caused him to make remarks ol such a character that they brought on the fatal conflict.A few years after Lieb located at Brandonville he married a highly respectable lady ly tho name of Spahr, by whom ho had eight children. Shortly after the war she wassent to the Insane Asylum, at Wes-ton, where she died some ten or twelve years ago. Lieb treated his wife badly—sometimes cruelly—and it is the almost universal opinion, among those who knew anything of their domestic affairs, that his ill treatment of his wife led to her insanity.Of his eight children, live were boys and three wcr© girls. One of the boys died during the war, while quite young; wo have forgotten bis name, being but a small boy ourself at that time. The whereabouts of Lewis and George have not been known for five or six years; and Jesse is now working at coal mining in Alabama. John, the youngest of tho boys, it is said upon good authority, was prominently connected with the famous murder at Mclvocsyort, Pa., Home half a dozen years since; but lie eluded arrest and has never wince been heard from. Two of tho daughters have lived at homo most of the time, keeping house for their father, and have the reputation of bearing excellent characters—-tho voice of suspicion never being raised against them. With the last two exceptions, it has been a family of a ranarkanly checkered career—with but few successes ami many reverses: its members have wandered to different parts of tho earth; its head, coining from a foreign land to the New World, has met a tragic end and now Hew beneath the Hod of bis adopted home.Charles Lakel, who is now confined in jail, declines t«» be interviewed Inregard to the affair which \gi\ to Lieb’s death.Lakel was born iu Allegany Co., Md„ September 2, 1844, and served in the late war under General Sherman, and wan with the array when they made their triumphant march to the sen. He cainc to Brandonville in 1866 and worked at shocraaking there for a short time ; then lie moved to Cranberry Summit (now Terra Alta) where he married Miss Deli la Mallick, a sister to Mrs. Dr. Fogle, of Terra Alta, and a daughter of Mr. John Mallick, of Grant District, tliiH county. He remained at Cranberry Summit until 1873, then he returned to Brandonville, where lie bought property ami has since resided, carrying on the business of a ftlioeiqpkcr. He is the father of seven children, six of whom are Htill living, the oldest being about 17 or 18 years of age.He seems very unhappy over the sad affair; but looks forward hopefully to ttin time when the court shall make a fair and impartial investigation of the whole mutter.He has retained Messrs. Brown Sc Hawthorne and Ilydc to defend him.notes rnoM a i nivate letter.A bad feeling existed between the two men for throe or four yc.irs prior to the tragedy.Lakel gave himself into the hands of the officer as soon as he ascertained that Lieb was injured. He said he couldn't help it.Lakel has been a resident of Brandonville for twelve or thirteen years, lieb has lived hero for about forty years. The former was born in this country, the latter in Germany.Kiq. Wm. McKee ho* been ftp I pointed administrator of the estate of I the deceasedIn Li( nhnhiry jonatal\y part thereof, c»fi.nv riwi o*J, II* Lips-* ••iion. ••■I *iI he *-**t ISfftC•1** herebyIn |ormuni** of * (Iftci*e of tho Circuit (Jourt M Preston f oiihly, Wont Virginia, 1do In • c»i»ho therein pending to sub« ..------------ ' On* -a!,| I If. 1.1,.*on of the lien* theie required to presentII, ftiid dft€ b Mf yen,Hir»iftst (he suld J. II. M|rMlt;vmh Wljfeh Hfc linns on tilft n'lil iwIhIw or soy i««rt of II, for itrtjHdicfttfnh, 10 t/i* n( my office, InhInc.wood, in Kitld county, on or before Hit* Mb dsy lt;f June, ISHS, fliven under mv ImhuI May, 1**6, J, if, ii*If xx v — v v i Lit v 1* •* I I i I ■ * I U*JIf OM7VN,mo rik voiincr nion|Hn me i*ei»ve fintHef life. Kcircuftddrewi I*. M'KK A SOftH,
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Kingwood West Virginia Argus
Kingwood, West Virginia, US
Fri, May 14, 1886
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