The Murder of Wade Marcum: An OHOCH Story

The Old Hospital on 
College Hill

It's been awhile since I've written about one of SRI's favorite haunted locations, the Old Hospital on College Hill! This haunted hot spot, located in Williamson, WV has quite a few ghost stories that have made it famous among paranormal investigators and paranormal enthusiasts around the country...but we've found that during our investigations at the former Williamson Memorial Hospital, we've been more apt to interact with some unknown entities. Therefore, I think it's important to highlight as many of the stories of those who died within the walls of this historic hospital as I can find. You never know who might try reaching out to you and who might not be completely at peace yet. With such a violent and bloody past as the Mingo County area has, there is no shortage of tragic tales and potential ghosts walking the halls of The Old Hospital on College Hill. 

One of the unfortunate souls who lost his life within the walls of the old hospital was Deputy Sheriff Wade Marcum. As the story goes, it was Saturday night, January 5, 1935. Marcum had stopped his car at the one-way bridge between Dingess and Kirk, in Mingo County. Albert Dillon, 33 years old, go out of another car and started shooting at Marcum. A gun battle ensued. Dillon was wounded in the left wrist. Marcum, however, took shots to the abdomen and the left leg. 

Hurt badly,  42 year old Marcum was taken to Williamson Memorial Hospital where Dr. Henry Hatfield was called in from Huntington to attempt to perform a lifesaving operation on him. Dillon turned himself into authorities in Logan. On Monday, January 7th at 6:30am, Wade Marcum succumbed to his injuries, dying from shock. Later that day, Dillon made his first appearance in court. Until the very end, Dillon maintained that the shooting was done in self-defense. His father went on record as saying that Dillon saw Marcum's stopped car, and therefore got out of the car he was in and approached Marcum. He struck up a conversation and for no reason, Marcum started shooting at Dillon, hitting him in the wrist, and striking the other vehicle. Dillon turned briefly, and then began firing back. 

Not much was mentioned about the case until February 22nd, when a local newspaper mentioned that jury selection had begun and that Judge B.F. Howard had overruled a motion for a continuance on the grounds that three witnesses were absent---he instead sent out arrest warrants for the three missing witnesses. Deliberations only took a day or two, because by the February 23rd newspapers, it was reported that after 4 hours of deliberation, the jury had still not reached an agreement. 

I'm not sure if they ever did. As of this writing, I can't find any more mention of the case in any of the newspaper archive services I subscribe to. However, I did find a death certificate for Mr. Albert Dillon dated for 1948. He died in Logan County...not at the WV State Penitentiary. So, if he WAS found guilty, he didn't do more than 13 years.

The Old Hospital on College Hill is an awesome place to investigate, and it offers various public and private investigations throughout the year, as well as many other fun and spooky events. Check out their website, or follow them on Facebook for more information! 

Wade Marcum Death Certificate
Source: WV State Archives

Williamson's Haunted Rail Yard

Norfolk and Western Rail Yard (1944)
Williamson, WV
Source: WV History on View

It seems weird to me to write a blog post about Williamson, WV that ISN'T about the haunted and historic Williamson Memorial Hospital, now known as the Old Hospital on College Hill. But, awhile back as I was collecting old newspaper stories about haunted places and ghostly goings-on throughout West Virginia, I had clipped a tale from the September 1st, 1935 edition of the Bluefield Daily Telegraph.  At the time, the newspaper was running a series of articles featuring ghost stories submitted by readers. Most of the submissions were coming from Virginia, but a handful were from the Mountain State, including this story from Mingo County. 

For whatever reason, I pushed back sharing this article for quite some time and kind of forgot about it...until I saw where my good friend and colleague over at The Southern Spirit Guide had shared HIS blog post about this story. That post, while recently shared again, was published in 2018 so I'm REALLY late to the party, lol.  (Go check out the post, entitled Railyard Revenant) However, I still wanted to record the story here at Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State in an effort to further preserve the haunted folklore of West Virginia and share this story with as many people as possible. 

The rail yard in Williamson is still there, and still in operation, although the Norfolk and Western is now known as Norfolk Southern. The next time you're in town, especially if you're attending a private investigation or one of the upcoming spooky Halloween events at the Old Hospital on College Hill, take a moment to stop by. Although the yard itself is private property, you can still get close enough to MAYBE hear the phantom cries of a long-lost baby....

WRITER UNFOLDS NEW GHOST STORY

Strange Incident on Williamson Yards Baffles Railroad Men; Cry of Babe Heard From Locomotive Firebox

The popular demand for Sunday ghost stories has reached the point where these true tales are literally being "eaten" alive.

The first railroad ghost story, learned by accident, attracted so much attention that readers requested more of them.  Last Sunday was told how a fireman jumped off his engine at Flat Top yard after a voice from heaven had demanded that he quit railroading. That was a true story. Another voice from the spirit world warned an engineer in charge of a flier of an open switch ahead. A beautiful white pigeon alighted on a locomotive and the engine was wrecked killing the engineer. 

But today comes the strangest ghost tale ever published. The wonder of it is some of the big newspapers have not grabbed it, for it sure is a knockout. Many Norfolk and Western railroad men vouch for the truth of the story, men whose word is as good as their bond.

This amazing happening has its setting on Williamson yard, and has been told and retold until around the Mingo County seat the kiddies are sometimes put to sleep thinking about the yarn. 

But we will not longer keep the reader in suspense.

From the inferno of the boiler of a Norfolk and Western yard engine in use in Williamson yard may be heard the pitiful cries of a baby. Of course, there is no baby in that firebox. Even a child need not be told that.

But often during the dead hours of night from the firebox the engineer and fireman almost stand speechless as the faint cry of an infant is emitted from the seething furnace of their locomotive.

Billy Dotson, veteran engineer, is said to have been the first to hear the baby cry, but since, others claim to have heard the voice distinctly. 

One theory advanced is that a long time ago a young baby in some manner was tossed into the firebox of this particular engine, and that its tiny spirit remains.

Anyway, you have the story. It is not for us to offer a solution of this amazing phenomenon. 

Don't forget to check out my other blog posts from Williamson, WV!

The Nurse Who Never Clocked Out--Old Hospital on College Hill

The Haunting of Mose

Theresa's Travels: Williamson's Coal House

The Damron Family Tragedy at the Old Hospital on College Hill