What Happened to Thomas Steele? A WV State Pen Story

WV State Penitentiary
Source: WV History on View

 

In April of 1959, a letter was received by the Wheeling, WV police, addressed to Sgt. Elmer Hehr. The letter was from Francis W. (Chicago Red) Brassell, written from Brassell's jail cell in El Paso, Texas. Brassell was in the county jail, currently awaiting transfer to a state facility in Huntsville. He had been sentenced to 50 years for armed robbery and decided that now was as good a time as any to confess to an earlier crime. In the letter, Chicago Red Brassell admitted that in 1952, while incarcerated at the WV State Penitentiary for (you guessed it) armed robbery, he had killed a fellow inmate and made it look like a suicide. 

Brassell had been sent to the West Virginia State Penitentiary on November 19, 1947. He had received a ten year sentence for armed robbery in Kanawha County, but had served his sentence, and was released April 17, 1957. Two years later, he found himself sitting in a Texas jail cell for the same thing. Instead of ten years, however, he was being sentenced to 50 years with the added 'benefit' of working on a prison work crew, affectionately known as a 'chain gang' in the oppressive Texas heat. 

It is theorized that Brassell wrote the letter, hoping to get transferred back to West Virginia and serve out his sentence there. So, he made up a story that in October of 1952, he had strangled fellow inmate, Thomas G. Steele, then hung his body over the cell door to make it look like a suicide. The warden at the time, Donivan E. Adams, sent the Marshall County Prosecutor, Everett Fox, and a WV State Trooper, H.E. Robinson, to Texas for an investigation.

Thomas G. Steele was from Mason County. He was sent to the penitentiary in April of 1947 to serve out a 1-10 year sentence for grand larceny. In July of 1952, he decided he had had enough of prison life. While working at a prison work camp in Gypsy (Harrison County), Steele escaped. He was missing for 12 hours before he was found six miles away in a poison ivy patch. He surrendered peaceably.  However, there were consequences to his actions. 

Steele, along with Brassell and 2-3 other 'incorrigibles' were placed in Death Row cells so that the guards could better control and monitor them. It was in this cell block where Thomas Steele was found on October 4, 1952. His death was ruled a suicide and he was buried in the prison cemetery. He was just 23 years old. 

Thomas Steele's story probably would have ended there, if Brassell hadn't had the bright idea to take credit for the death. But, this grand plan of being sent back to West Virginia would not come to fruition. The only person who believed Brassell had been responsible for Steele's death was Everett Fox. Trooper Robinson, Warden Adams, and former Warden Orel J. Skeen, all believed the story was made up. Skeen, who was warden at the time of the incident, claimed that Brassell definitely had the mental capacity to commit murder, but didn't think it was physically possible. Brassell was a small man, weighing in at only 126 pounds. It would have been difficult for him to have strangled Steele, then hoisted his body up before being found out by the guards in their more secured setting. 

Officials went on to say that it didn't really matter, either way. Even if they had believed there was sufficient evidence to suggest Steele was murdered, they wouldn't bother to extradite him from Texas. And therefore, Steele's official cause of death remains 'suicide' and Brassell presumably served his time in a Texas prison. 

From a paranormal perspective, I find this case extremely interesting in regards to its potential for producing ghosts. Both suicide and murder victims are largely believed to stick around a location after their untimely death, but what if you were falsely accused of taking your own life, and your name was never cleared? To many, that false narrative is a really big deal, and the hunt for justice that is never going to come is more than enough reason to stick around and haunt a location. 

And what about Brassell? What really prompted him to confess to murder? A popular trope in these types of stories is that he felt compelled to finally admitting his crime by being haunted, either literally or figuratively by thoughts of Steele. Or, did he really just prefer to serve out a murder sentence over an armed robbery sentence if it meant being back in West Virginia? Could that draw to West Virginia actually be enough to cause his spirit to return to the old prison, despite dying beyond its walls? As an interesting side note, he's not the only prisoner I've read about who desperately wanted to be at WV State Penitentiary! We always hear about how violent and filthy and overcrowded the prison was throughout much of its operation, but inmates such as Bill Dorsey (story HERE) purposefully tried to be re-committed, and even Charles Manson has his infamous letter to the warden begging to be transferred. 

It's undeniable that the former West Virginia State Penitentiary in Moundsville is a powerful place, with an energy that is all its own. Whether that energy draws you in, or causes you to run screaming from within its walls is a whole other mystery...

William Campbell Paroled from WV State Penitentiary

WV State Penitentiary 1910
Source: WV History on View

During the early 1900's, it was customary for the governor of West Virginia to grant a Christmas-time pardon to an inmate of the West Virginia State Penitentiary at Moundsville. Usually, this was the oldest prisoner in age and/or the prisoner who at that time, had served the longest sentence and was no longer considered a threat to society. I like to feature these pardons each December, but it's rare to come across a NON-holiday pardon (or in this case, early parole) of an inmate. However, I did stumble upon one such case from 1908.

In 1905, William Campbell, an African American from Summers County, was sentenced to 12 years at the penitentiary for his alleged role in a robbery that took place on a Chesapeake and Ohio train. He, along with several other African American men were accused of robbing three white men of $1.20 in cash, a watch, and a knife. The three white men were forced to exit the train at Hinton, and Campbell was later picked up in nearby Ronceverte. 

Despite the victims not being able to positively identify Campbell, they couldn't say he WASN'T there either, so he was convicted, all the while maintaining his innocence. 

Campbell was described as a model prisoner but was unable to do much of the hard labor usually assigned to inmates as part of their punishment. Instead, he spent at least two years almost exclusively in the infirmary with a terminal case of tuberculosis. In May of 1908, the warden of the penitentiary wrote to Governor Dawson, requesting an early release on behalf of Campbell. Campbell wasn't given long to live, and he had relatives in Washington, D.C. willing to care for him. The request was granted, and Campbell went to spend the rest of his days in our nation's capital. Unfortunately, due to his extremely common name and lack of other details, I was unable to definitively confirm when Campbell did finally succumb to his illness. But, I think it's safe to say that his final breath was NOT taken behind the iron bars of the West Virginia State Penitentiary at Moundsville. 

Want MORE West Virginia State Penitentiary articles? CLICK HERE!

The Daily Telegram
Clarksburg, WV
22 May 1908

 

Fred Fizer and the WV State Penitentiary

WV State Prison (1914)
Source: WV History on View

Hey, everyone! It's been a while. Between illness and a bunch of other stuff going on, I haven't found the time to keep up with the blog. But this evening that changes with a history-based entry on one of West Virginia's most haunted hot spots: The West Virginia State Penitentiary!

Fred Fizer was a 34-year-old husband and father to four small children, living near Martinsburg in Berkeley County. However, something snapped in the relatively young man, and he was convicted of malicious wounding due to an attack on his 14-year-old housekeeper, Ottie Myers, as well as C.T. Beatty, with whom the young girl was seeking refuge when driven from the Fizer home. Myers was shot with a pistol, but after a prolonged hospital stay, survived her injuries. Fizer's lawyers tried to enter a plea of insanity, but that was rejected, and Fizer was sentenced to four years at the WV State Penitentiary in Moundsville.

After only a month or so of confinement at the prison, Fred Fizer made a difficult decision. On Monday, June 29, 1914, he took his own life in his cell. When he was found the next morning, staff were perplexed at the strange way Fizer managed to complete the deed. He had used his underclothing to fashion a rope. With one side looped around his neck and the other tied securely to the top of his cell, Fizer found that there wasn't enough room for him to actually hang himself. So, he leaned forward vertically and slowly strangled himself, an act estimated to have taken hours to complete.  Warden Brown stated that Fizer really hadn't been on his radar, but that a few members of the staff did mention that he was having difficulties adjusting to prison life.

Meanwhile back in Martinsburg, Fizer's wife, Valley, received a rather terse telegram stating that her husband was dead and if she wanted his body, please send $40. If not, he'd be buried in the prison burial yard. His body was brought home and laid to rest, with many of his old friends and neighbors convinced that Fred HAD been insane.

The story doesn't end there, however. Not long after his death, a letter made its way out of the prison, presumably from another inmate. This inmate claimed that Fizer couldn't "make task." That basically meant that he was having trouble keeping up with the physical demands of labor given to the inmates. As a result, he was locked in the 'dungeon' for several days with his wrists handcuffed. It is here in the dungeon where he took his life. 

The letter made it to Governor Hatfield, who amazingly took it seriously. By September, local newspapers were announcing that sweeping prison reforms were underway, sparked by the tragic and unfortunate end of Fred Fizer. 

The Wheeling Intelligencer
1 July 1914

The Fairmont West Virginian
18 September 1914

Jessie Starcher: A WV State Pen Tragedy

Beckley Post-Herald
03 October 1951

Jessie/Jesse James Starcher was barely out of his teens when he was sent to the West Virginia State Penitentiary at Moundsville. The coal driller from Richwood, WV was found guilty of grand larceny/forgery and sentenced to serve 2 to 10 years in the penitentiary. 

However, prison life didn't seem to suit Mr. Starcher. Although he was a trusted enough prisoner to join a prison road camp, on May 1, 1949, Mr. Starcher walked away from that camp, which was located just outside of Charleston, WV. For over a month, Starcher wandered from state to state. On June 5, he was arrested in Youngstown, OH for public intoxication. With his conscience getting the better of him, he admitted to police that he was an escaped prisoner from WV. Apparently, the officers thought this was merely 'drunk talk,' and sent him on his way, telling him to "go home."

Instead of heading back home to West Virginia, he made his way to Cleveland to visit his sister. The following day, she accompanied him to the police station, again where he attempted to turn himself in to Detectives Michael Gaynor and Carl Roberts. He was held in custody until it was confirmed that yes, he WAS missing from the state penitentiary. He claimed that he escaped because after serving 16 months of his sentence, he was afraid he wouldn't be paroled until 1953.

Unfortunately, none of the news articles I could find explained Starcher's thought process. He was originally sentenced from 2 to 10 years. That means he only had eight months to go before the lower end of his sentence was up. He was obviously trusted enough that he was put on work detail in another part of the state! Why did he panic...and why was he so scared of that arbitrary 'middle' date of 1953? He surely had to know that should he be caught, an escape attempt would not fare well for his case. 

Whatever his reasoning, Starcher was sent back to the WV State Penitentiary. On October 2, 1951, however, he would attempt a different method of escape. That morning, he attended his regular on-site work detail but asked to go to his cell early because he wasn't feeling well. When a guard checked on him 45 minutes later, he was found in his South Hall cell, hanging from his belt. The time of death listed on his death certificate was 12:05pm. 

Jesse James Starcher was sent home to Richwood to be buried. Born September 30, 1928, he was the son of Leonard Starcher. 

The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, OH)
07 June 1949

Death Certificate for Jesse James Starcher
WV State Archives

1911 Christmas Pardon of Daniel Shawn

 

Main Entrance to WV State Penitentiary (1910)
Source: WV History on View

For those of us who celebrate Christmas, we all have our own traditions of the season that we carry out each year. It just doesn't feel like Christmas without my family's Christmas Eve pizza and subs night, or our annual viewing of Santa Claus Meets the Ice Cream Bunny. My tree wouldn't be complete without my favorite Krampus ornaments, or the tree skirt passed down from my grandma. And of course, the season can't get underway until I've heard David Bowie and Bing Crosby sing the Little Drummer Boy.

Once upon a time, the state of West Virginia had its own Christmas tradition. Each Christmas Eve, the governor would pardon the longest-serving prisoner at the (now haunted and historic) West Virginia State Penitentiary. On December 24, 1911, Governor Glasscock participated for the third time by offering a full pardon to a man named Daniel Shawn. 

Daniel Shawn was a 47-year-old illiterate farmer from Hampshire County when he was accused of murdering his brother-in-law, Absalom/Abraham Izor on June 23, 1893. He was found guilty that September, and sentenced to hang. However, due to some "improper and intemperate utterances" made by the prosecuting attorney, Shawn appealed, hoping to receive a new trial. 

A new trial never came, but Governor MacCorkle did commute his death penalty to life imprisonment at the West Virginia State Penitentiary in Moundsville. Shawn became a model prisoner and trustee, even working a job at the Klee's Sons Factory in town. In 1909, he wrote to the newly elected Governor Glasscock seeking a pardon, but was denied. But, luckily for Shawn, his Christmas wish would come true in 1911. After serving 18 years for murder, the now 65-year-old was going home. 

*If you enjoy learning about the HISTORY as well as the hauntings of the WV State Penitentiary, please check out my collection of articles HERE!* 

Happy Holidays, everyone!

The Raleigh Herald
30 November 1911

WV Woman Imprisoned for Witchcraft

Ladies' Cell at the WV State Penitentiary
at Moundsville ca 1924
Source: WV History on View

Sure, it looks a little cramped, but overall, the women's cells at the WV State Penitentiary at Moundsville didn't look too shabby. Up until a new, all-female prison was established in 1947, the state's female offenders were housed at Moundsville. One such prisoner who called a cell like the one above home for four years was Mrs. Mary Loveall. She didn't She didn't murder her husband, rob a bank, or even write forged checks. She was imprisoned for the crime of witchcraft. 

In the summer of 1918, Mary Loveall of Bridgeport, WV was tried in a Wheeling criminal court and found guilty of witchcraft. The cause of all the trouble started when Mrs. Theresa Kullman of East Wheeling contacted Mrs. Loveall about her sick son. In exchange for $640, Mrs. Loveall was to remove the 'sick spell' that was making Kullman's son sick. However, the son passed away and Mrs. Loveall was consequently arrested and tried. 

There is frustratingly little information about this story, but the same several newspaper articles appeared all over West Virginia, making their way into newspapers across the country. Mrs. Loveall did not deny the charges of witchcraft. In fact, she openly admitted that she believed in witchery and that she learned it from her mother, who also practiced. Mrs. Loveall stated that she practiced in both Ohio and in West Virginia, but, this was the only incident that I could find where her success, or lack thereof, was news-worthy. Allegedly, she had no comment when the judge handed down her sentence of four years in the state penitentiary. 

I can only imagine what the other inmates thought of the Witch of the Women's Ward. I'm sure some thought the whole thing was a scam and that she was a fraud...but there were probably a few of the more superstitious of the lot who didn't dare look at her wrong. Also, can we just take a moment to take in the fact that a woman was sent to prison for WITCHCRAFT in the 20th century?? I'm sure fraud charges were more likely what she was actually prosecuted for, but I still find it interesting how witchcraft was so boldly emphasized by the papers, and possibly even the court. And, going off on another tangent...yeah, even if Mrs. Loveall truly believed that she had the power to remove the spell from the young man in question, and tried to do so in good faith, it probably wasn't the smartest idea for the mother, no matter how desperate, to resort to such measures. But, if she had paid a doctor $640 for treatment and the son still died, would she still have a case to pursue? 

In any event, its a sad case that resulted in the loss of a life and a woman sent to prison. But, it's an absolutely fascinating case that takes its rightful place among the strange and unusual history of West Virginia! 

Sources: 

Martinsburg, WVa Evening Journal. 17 July 1918. Page 3

The Independent Herald (Hinton, WV). 25 July 1918. Page 6

 

 

Woman Saved From Gallows: A WV State Penitentiary Story

(1924) Typical Women's Cell at
WV State Penitentiary in Moundsville
Source: WV History on View

Readers of Theresa's Haunted History blog know that from time to time, I enjoy sharing some non-ghosty history from the tri-state's most famously haunted locations, especially the West Virginia State Penitentiary at Moundsville! I think it really adds to the understanding of a haunted location to know what everyday life was like for those who called the location home. I also think its a great asset to the paranormal investigation process when you have an understanding of who may be there, what their normal routine was, and the 'current' events that took place during their lifetime. So, for today's blog, I wanted to share with you this article from the Herald-Dispatch (Huntington, WV) dated March 12, 1935. 

After shooting and killing quarry worker, William Mitchell, on October 13, 1934, Mrs. Frances Williams was sentenced to be executed. She would have been the first and only woman in West Virginia's history to face this tragic ending. Luckily, public outcry was taken seriously, and her sentence was commuted to a life sentence. Fun fact: Moundsville State Penitentiary housed female inmates up until about 1947, when they were transferred to the newly opened West Virginia Prison for Women in Pence Springs. (Source-WV Encyclopedia)

Governor Kump Commutes Death Sentence to Life Imprisonment

Charleston, Mar. 11--(Associated Press)---The first woman in West Virginia history to face execution was saved from death on the gallows today by Governor H. G. Kump.

The executive commuted the death sentence of Mrs. Frances Williams, 29, Negro, the mother of a six-year-old boy, to life imprisonment.  Thousands of petitions asking the governor to halt the execution poured into the pardon attorney's office from all sections of the state.

At Moundsville, Deputy Warden Clarence M. Stone said word of the governor's action had not been received, and the woman had not been notified.

Convicted of Killing Man

"We usually don't receive the notice for a day or two as it is sent by mail unless the execution date is close at hand," he said.

Mrs. Williams was sentenced to die March 15 by Circuit Judge Summers H. Sharp in the Greenbrier county circuit court last December 13 for the murder of William Mitchell, 45, a Negro stone quarry worker.

The state charged Mrs. Williams and Mitchell had been intimate, that they quarreled the day of the shooting last October 13 and Mitchell left her. Upon alighting from a train at Frazier that evening, Mitchell was shot to death by Mrs. Williams.  She claimed Mitchell had threatened her.

Mentally Subnormal

Pardon Attorney Frank R. Hill said Joseph M. Holt, who then was Greenbrier prosecuting attorney, the jury recommended commutation.  Hill said the woman, before her trial, offered to plead guilty and take a life sentence, but later changed her mind and went to trial.

"There was testimony at the trial that the woman suffered a severe head injury when she was young, and that she is mentally subnormal," Hill said. 

I'm 99% positive that I found Mitchell's death certificate on the WV State Archives Vital Records page. However, there are some inconsistencies. It states that Mitchell wasn't 45 years old, but 65 years old! He is listed as working at a rock quarry and being shot in the spine on or around October 13th. However, he didn't pass away from his injuries until October 24, 1934. 

Source

Want MORE resources and stories from the West Virginia State Penitentiary? Check out my new WV State Penitentiary Page for quick access to all my articles about the history and hauntings of one of West Virginia's most haunted locations!

West Virginia State Penitentiary Prisoner Pardoned for Christmas

Governor William E. Glasscock

Although most of the blog posts you'll find on Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State directly relate to the paranormal, (most often ghost stories and hauntings) every once in awhile I like to shake things up with a little bit of history.  As the history covered in today's blog relates to the West Virginia State Penitentiary at Moundsville, it is indirectly related to the paranormal.  The West Virginia State Penitentiary at Moundsville no longer serves as an operational prison, but that doesn't mean that the souls of plenty of convicts aren't still trapped behind the steel bars and thick, rock walls. The prison is routinely given the distinction of one of the most haunted locations in the country, if not the world. 

Throughout the year, community events and historic tours are offered, as well as private and public ghost hunts and tours. It's one of my favorite places to investigate, and I love researching as much about the history of the location as I can in order to have a broader understanding of what prison life was like for the many inmates that called Moundsville home over the years. One aspect of prison life I wasn't expecting to learn about were 'Christmas Pardons.' Apparently, it used to be a thing for the governor to grant either the longest serving or the oldest prisoner at Moundsville a pardon at Christmas time. This article, transcribed below, is from the Pt. Pleasant Register, dated 9 November 1910 and discusses the pardon of Joe Battle, who served 18 years at the penitentiary. Unfortunately, the article goes on to discuss how it will NOT be a very Merry Christmas for another prisoner, who is scheduled to be executed at the same time. (Source: Chronicling America)

OLDEST CONVICT

In Penitentiary Will be Pardoned

Christmas by Governor

After serving eighteen years behind the gray walls of the Moundsville Penitentiary, for a crime he alleges he never committed, Joe Battle, the oldest convict in that institution, will be pardoned on Christmas Eve by governor Glasscock. Each Christmas a convict at the penitentiary is pardoned and this year the aged negro was fortunate in the lottery. 

With but one exception, Battle has served the longest term ever served by a convict behind the walls of the Moundsville prison. Vergie Gibson, who was pardoned a little over a year ago, also served a sentence of a similar length. The woman was convicted of aiding in burying her husband alive after rendering him unconscious.  Three negroes aided her, two of whom were executed on the gallows of the penitentiary.

The aged negro who has not seen his home for eighteen long years is expecting the pardon and has made all arrangements for his departure. The little money he saved since his confinement in the prison which he earned by working in the shops he has purchased Christmas presents for his wife and children.

While the approach of Christmas brings joy to Battle, there is another negro convict confined in 'murderers row' who looks on its approach with horror. This prisoner is John Wayne, convicted murderer who killed Mrs. John Aliff several months ago at Quinnmont, Fayette County. Wayne will pay the penalty for his crime on the gallows of the prison on December 23rd. Warden Matthews is already prepping for the execution. The scaffold will be repaired by the prison carpenter within a short time. The same rope that snapped out the life of Frank Waldon and John Brown will be used for Wayne. It cost the state several thousand dollars to prevent this negro from being lynched after his arrest. Both Huntington and Fayetteville were for awhile under martial law. 

Want MORE articles on the haunted West Virginia Penitentiary at Moundsville? Theresa's Haunted History has plenty of articles about the ghosts and history of this spooky institution, with more being planned for the near-future. 

The Ghost of Red Snyder at the WV State Penitentiary

The Ghost of RD Wall

The Shadow Man of the WV State Penitentiary 

Theresa Travels to the West Virginia State Penitentiary at Moundsville

Theresa Travels BACK to the West Virginia State Penitentiary at Moundsville

White Gate Cemetery: Burial Ground for the WV State Penitentiary

Mingo Man is WV State Penitentiary's First Prisoner of 1910

The Execution of Hugh Bragg

Legislation Could Shut Down Tourism at the WV State Penitentiary in Moundsville

I am sickened by recent news. As you all know, I choose to stay as far away from politics as I can on Theresa's Haunted History. However, our West Virginia legislature has made that impossible this term. Not only have bills been introduced that would allow commercial logging to destroy the history and natural beauty of our state parks, but now, they're attacking tourism at the West Virginia State Penitentiary in Moundsville!

Back when the prison shut down in 1995, it could have easily taken on the same fate as so many other old buildings. It could have been left just an empty hull in the middle of Moundsville, waiting for vandals and the elements to finish it off. However, it was saved from that fate when a group of citizens under the name of the Moundsville Economic Development Council secured a lease for the property. That lease was renewed in 2004, and under its provisions, would have lasted through 2029.

However, a small clause was found embedded in House Bill 43-28.

In section 15A-2-23 it states: “All current leases for or involving the West Virginia Penitentiary in Moundsville…are hereby abolished immediately. The commissioner is authorized, as lessor, to lease the West Virginia penitentiary in Moundsville, for a term of not more than five years.”

So, our lawmaker are planning on using a bill, which is otherwise a good thing, to shut down tourism at the West Virginia State Penitentiary at Moundsville. The bill is currently for review with the House Finance Committee.

What I need for every one of you reading this is to share, share, share! Get this information out to the citizens of West Virginia and to the paranormal research community! Follow the WV State Pen on Facebook for updates and easily shareable information. More importantly, I need you to make calls/send emails to members of the House Finance Committee and your local representatives and/or Governor Justice and let them know that we will not let them take this community asset away from us.

As a paranormal investigator and researcher, the West Virginia State Penitentiary holds a special place in my heart. They offer both private and public ghost hunts, which are top-notch. If you're not ready to go for a full investigation, you can choose a shortened version. There are also various guided tours available, usually given by a former CO of the prison!

These history tours are outstanding. For an extremely reasonable price, you get an excellent look at the prison, a comprehensive overview of its history, and a peek at what life was like for inmates and staff alike. These tours are not only educational, but they're FUN, and each guide has his/her own personality and spin on things so each tour is a little different and can be tailored to the group's interests. I have an 8 year old son who has already learned so much about local history, social history, and the history of corrections in general, and its all because of the WV State Penitentiary.

But the old prison offers so much more! Television shows and movies often use the location for filming. During the Halloween season, they offer a top-notch haunted dungeon attraction. When Escape Rooms started emerging on the scene, they added that element as well! People rent out areas of the property for parties, weddings, and other festivities. Community events are held, including plenty of family-friendly and kid-oriented entertainment.

My son enjoying a tour

Like many visitors, some who come from out of state and even out of country to visit the prison, we tend to sink plenty of money into the local economy on our trips to Moundsville! We eat at local restaurants and stay at local hotels. We purchase fuel from local gas stations and pick up forgotten travel items at local stores. And of course, we make sure to take home plenty of souvenirs from the prison's gift shop!

But that's still not all! We visit other local attractions while in the area! If we weren't drawn to the area to see the prison, we'd probably never stop in across the street and see the burial mound and its museum (and spend money in THEIR gift shop as well!). We might not have visited the Golden Palace, or the former Castle Halloween Museum, or any of the great locations of historical interest in the Wheeling area.

For over 100 years, the West Virginia State Penitentiary did its job housing the state's worst offenders. It was seen a place of violence, a place of sickness, a piece of dark, yet necessary history. Now, it has the opportunity to educate, to entertain, and to provide a safe place for the community to come together. Don't let a few lines stuck in a bill destroy that legacy.

*A petition has been started on Change.org to Save the West Virginia Penitentiary.*

Theresa and Bree Take on the Grave City Haunted Relic Expo!

I make it a New Year's Resolution every year to keep improving my knowledge and experience of the paranormal. To make that work, I try to read as much as I can, take classes--both online and in person, watch interesting documentaries, and my favorite: attend lectures, conferences, and other public events!  January has started off great, with a wonderful opportunity to network with other people in this field, get my website's name out there a little more, and to hear some wonderful speakers share their expertise. 

That opportunity came in the form of the Grave City Haunted Relic Expo!

The first annual Grave City Haunted Relic Expo was a three-hour event held on Saturday, January 20th, 2018 at the Sanford Center in Moundsville, WV. The expo was put on by Steve Hummel. Steve is a paranormal investigator, a member of Paranormal Quest, and the owner/curator of the Archive of the Afterlife Museum. You might remember that this past summer, Luke, Aaron, and I took a mini-vacation to Moundsville and visited the museum (located on the 2nd floor of the Sanford Center) for the first time. It was a really cool place, filled to the brim with haunted/possessed/cursed objects, funerary antiques, and much more. Read about our experience HERE. 

Anyway, I decided that it would be a great start to 2018 to attend this expo. I then took it a step further and signed up as a vendor! My main goal was simply to promote Theresa's Haunted History, but I made a few stationary sets, coasters, and other goodies to sell in hopes of breaking even on my table fee.

Dave Spinks

Luckily, my friend Bree was able to make the 3+ hour drive up to Moundsville with me, and was even nice enough to craft some beautiful hand-made dowsing rods to sell at our table. We left around lunchtime on Saturday and made the long trek up north. Once we got past Parkersburg, we had to leave the interstate and travel the rest of the way on two-lane roads. However, it was a beautiful drive, and we passed through a ton of quaint little historic towns.

Since we arrived before set-up time, we wanted to explore the city a little. We knew that the prison was closed for the season, so unfortunately we couldn't take a guided tour, but we did drive around it a few times. I love visiting the penitentiary and I love investigating the penitentiary even more. We have plans on returning in the near future for another investigation of this wonderful location. But, since we couldn't actually get in, we decided to drive out to the prison cemetery.

Doug Waller

The cemetery was surprisingly easy to find, but we were disappointed that we couldn't actually get to it! Last week, West Virginia got hit hard with winter weather and despite this weekend warming up considerably, the parking area for the cemetery was completely covered in a thick layer of snow, and the path to it across the stream was fully washed out. I just have a little Nissan Sentra, so there was no way I was going to attempt to park and wade across the ice cold water, lol.  But, at least when we come back next time, we'll know exactly where to go. 

But back to the expo itself!  The weather had thwarted our plans of exploration, so we got to the Sanford Center a little earlier than expected and went ahead in. We first went upstairs to take a peek around the Archive of the Afterlife Museum, which had undergone a few display changes since I had been there last. We then got the go-ahead to start setting up downstairs in the gym for the event. There were plenty of other paranormal teams/investigators and even lots of tables selling non-paranormal related merchandise to browse through. After getting set up and waiting for the speakers to start, we got in a few excellent minutes to talk with some of the other vendors/presenters/guests. 

The guest speaker line-up started right on time, at 6pm, kicking off with a talk by investigator Dave Spinks. Dave was followed by Doug Waller, a Bigfoot researcher with the Southeastern Ohio Society for Bigfoot Investigation. Following Doug was Bill Baker of Mountain State Paranormal. A young man known only as The Mothman Historian then gave a talk on the history of Mothman and recent sightings before we broke for a brief intermission.

Bill Baker

During intermission, we had another chance to talk with so many wonderful people who were able to share their stories and experiences with us, learn a little about Theresa's Haunted History, and luckily, buy a little of our merch! Since this was a Haunted Relic expo, I brought two of my own haunted items for display, a Bible from 1816 and a locket of hair, sold to me as a memento mori. My mom is convinced the locket is haunted, and shortly after purchasing the Bible, we had a rash of unexplained occurrences in my home. No one picked up anything from the Bible, but several people who examined the locket were a little unnerved about its energy. 

The evening wrapped up with one last presentation. Steve and another member of his team gave a talk about their paranormal investigation experiences...but then also gave a really fascinating presentation on some of the museum's recent haunted acquisitions. By the time their talk had ended, it was 9pm and time to start packing up!

Overall, this was a great experience for me and a great way to start off a new year of paranormal fun. I enjoyed the speakers and their wide range of topics. I appreciated the fact that everything was right there in the same room---the vendors were set up around the perimeter of the gym, with chairs for guests in the middle, and a small stage upfront for speakers. One of the things I dislike about the Mothman Festival, is that if I'm there at my table, I cannot easily go down and watch the presentations. With this set-up, I could watch my booth AND watch the presentations. 

The Mothman Historian

Unfortunately, that did have a downside as well....you couldn't really hear the speakers if the vendors were trying to talk. And, with only 3 hours of expo time, most of which was filled with back-to-back speakers, we vendors really didn't get a lot of free time to interact with visitors to the expo. For the next event, I would love to see a little more downtime between presentations, or even a little more time before or after the event, but other than that, it went surprisingly well, especially for a first-year event. Everyone was very nice and professional. I love talking to other paranormal enthusiasts about my favorite topic, and was thrilled that some people there were familiar already with my work. I was even more thrilled that we sold enough to pay for our table fee AND gas money to the event!

I would definitely recommend checking out any further events hosted by Steve, and hopefully, I'll be able to attend additional events as well. To keep up-to-date on future events, or if you want more information on the museum, which is open year round, you can follow the Archive of the Afterlife on Facebook.   

Stay Spooky, ya'll...and I'll catch ya again real soon.

Paranormal Quest

Hugh Bragg's Execution at the Moundsville Penitentiary

Prior to 1899, any prisoner charged with the death penalty in West Virginia was put to death, typically by hanging, by the county in which the crime occurred. It was the responsibility of the sheriff's department in each county to maintain the gallows and perform the executions. 

However, that all changed with the media spectacle that was the John Morgan hanging in Ripley, WV. On December 16, 1897, John Morgan was hanged for murdering three members of the Pfost-Greene Family. It is estimated that over 6000 men, women, and even children were present at the hanging. That's a LOT of people...and a lot of people were outraged at the fact that so many citizens chose to make a spectacle out of seeing the death of a fellow human being.  Legislation was soon passed that would make any execution open only to a few select individuals. More importantly, it took the responsibility from the individual counties and placed it with the state. Beginning in 1899, all state executions would be performed at the West Virginia State Penitentiary at Moundsville.

Between 1899 and 1959, 94 prisoners were executed at the WV State Penitentiary. In August of 1899, Shep Caldwell, convicted of murdering his mistress, was the first to hang. In 1959, Elmer Bruner was the last to die, being electrocuted in the state's electric chair. And sometime in between, there was Hugh Bragg.  The following is from the May 1st, 1920 edition of the Wheeling Intelligencer: 

FOUR BROTHERS OF THE VICTIM SEE EXECUTION

HUGH BRAGG PAYS PENALTY OF LAW FOR MURDER OF SHERIFF JOHN MORTON

Story of the Crime Shows That There Was No Excuse and No Object

Four tall, clean-cut men stood in the throng in the death chamber at the state penitentiary at Moundsville at 5:30 o'clock Friday afternoon and saw Hugh Bragg, a legless cripple, pay the full penalty for the wanton murder of Sheriff John Dennis Morton, of Webster County, West Virginia, which took place on January 12, 1920. 

Grim and determined were these men in appearance and there were in their eyes expressions that seemed in holding with the 'eye for an eye' injunction.

They were the four brothers of the murdered sheriff, namely W.E. Morton, sheriff of Nicolas County, and George R. Martin, Pearl P. Morton, and Kennedy H. Morton.

They came to see the law of the civilized world claim for its own one who had violated it grossly and who had been sentenced to die for his crime.

Story of the Crime

Hugh Bragg paid the full penalty for killing Sheriff Morton at exactly 5:30 o'clock. The execution was successful in the fact that Bragg's neck was dislocated by the drop. He lived twelve minutes and 55 seconds after the fall through the aperture in the gallows.

Sheriff W.E. Morton, in speaking of the murder of his brother, John Dennis Morton, said: "I cannot feel the least pity for Bragg.  My brother was a kind and considerate man. Bragg had bought an auto with a forged check.  My brother caught him on the street at Cowan and told him to come along.

"Bragg accompanied my brother for a few steps and then asked to be allowed to send to his sister's house for some clothes."

Shot in the Back

"Dennis turned around to send a small boy to get the clothes and like a flash Bragg shot him in the back.  There was no motive, as Bragg was crippled and wore two artificial limbs and could not get away.  And my brother was trying to do him a favor at the time.

"The crippled man then stumped up to the second story of his home, keeping people away with his revolver.  There he secured a Winchester rifle and took up his station at an open window.

"Uncle Ed. Bobbet, a relative of the dead man, slipped up the stairs behind Bragg and the latter turned with his Winchester.  The cartridge jammed and Bobbet floored him.  As it was, Bobbet took an awful chance.

Gloried in His Crime

"Bragg then asked, 'Did I kill Dennis.' When told that he had, he exclaimed, 'Well, I am ____________ glad I did. That's just what I aimed to do.'"

Bragg was tried and sentenced to die on March 30th, last, but received a reprieve of thirty days.  Of late he has occupied himself operating a typewriting machine in his cell.  He has professed repentance and sorrow for his crime and claimed that reading the "Lives of the James Boys" had fostered in him a desire to emulate these murderous thieves of history, whom dime novel authors have thrown a halo around.

At 5 o'clock Friday afternoon the waiting room at the penitentiary was filled with a small throng awaiting the execution.

From Scene of Crime

Riley Cox, D.T. Callahan and Emery Rose, all relatives of the murdered man were present, with the four brothers, together with Dr. R. A. Ashworth and Dr. O.P. Wilson.  Several newspaper men were also present.

Supper was being served to the inmates of the prison and, as is usual, the penitentiary bad was rendering music.

Suddenly, the strains of "Nearer, My God, to Thee," swelled in the air.  What the thoughts of the condemned man were, at that time, as the grand old hymn rose out in full volume, is not known, but each one in the waiting room looked nervously at someone else.

Suddenly Warden J.Z. Terrell appeared in the door and said: 'Gentlemen, you will please form in line and any one that has fire arms on his person will leave them in the office."

Morton's Tombstone from Find-a-Grave contributor,
Sharon Bowers Curry

Took Off Their Guns

Two herculean deputies who were at the prison on business, plunged their hands under their coats and four heavy calibered revolvers were placed on the desk.

Slowly the crowd went through the circular entrance cage and when the last one had entered the steel bound courtyard, the procession was formed.  Guards looked down from their stations high on the walls and though everyone in that little moving throng knew that hundreds of eyes were looking on from the cell houses, not a sound came from these places.

Bragg had been taken from his death cell and removed to a small apartment adjoining the platform of the scaffold. Two of his brothers, Ike and Jim Bragg, had visited him earlier in the day but did not wait for the execution.

Ministers Present

Rev. H.G. Gaunt, the chaplain of the prison, was with him just before his removal from the cell, as were Rev. C. G. Slater and Arch-Deacon B.M. Spurr.  

When called to accompany the guards Bragg had just finished two letters, one to Mrs. Nellie Payne, an aunt, and the other to Miss Hazel Payne, a niece.  They were neatly typewritten and were left lying on the bed in the death cell.

It was stated by Warden Terrell that the young man exhibited the greatest composure while being taken from his cell and being bound, preparatory to his execution.

He made no offer to make any statement on the scaffold and as he did not, was not asked to, as it was decided by the officials, not to prolong the horror of the affair any longer than was necessary.

Grewsome [sic] Scene

The crowd, upon being ushered into the death chamber, stood before a raised platform, which was shrouded with a black, baize curtain.  An electric light globe could be seen through the cloth and the sound of men shuffling about and murmuring was heard.

It reminded one of a horrible movie show.

Suddenly the curtain was whisked aside. 

On the trap with its head shrouded in a black cap, arms and legs tightly strapped, stood a figure, the knot in the rope about its neck twisting its head awry.

The ministers, several guards and the warden stood near the figure.

The warden stepped to the front and said:

"Gentlemen, this is Huge Bragg, to be executed for the murder of Sheriff John Morton Dennis, of Webster County!"

Dr. Spurr then offered a brief prayer.  The warden then reached out and pressed a button.  There was an interval of about two seconds and the doomed man took a long breath, as a drowning man clutches at a straw, and the flimsy cap was drawn in against his mouth.

J.D. Morton 

Was Sudden Shock

The spectators had steeled themselves but the sudden drop of the platform and the fall of the body startled all.

There were no twitchings of the limbs, merely several convulsive movements of the chest.  The physicians applied stethoscopes to Bragg's heard and in 11 minutes and 55 seconds he was pronounced dead.

The body was then taken down and removed in an ambulance for burial.

Bragg lost his two lower limbs some years ago while working as a brakeman on the B. & O. railroad.  It is stated that he got drunk, failed to apply brakes on the train and the cars ran away down a hill.

In the ensuring wreck he sustained injuries that necessitated amputation of his lower limbs. 

Edited July 2022: I was just going through Facebook, when I noticed that one of my favorite pages, Historian of the Strange, posted a newspaper article about this case. The article, dated 28 April 1920, is from the New Castle Herald, a paper based in Pennsylvania. It really drives home the fact that Hugh Bragg had no legs! Go check out Historian of the Strange, and see below for a copy of the newspaper article!

Theresa's Travels: Archive of the Afterlife Museum

Archive of the Afterlife is located in the old Sanford School

West Virginia is an awesome place for the paranormal enthusiast---our Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum and WV State Penitentiary consistently show up on lists of "Most Haunted" locations throughout the country and even the world. Numerous television shows, including the Dead Files, Ghost Hunters, and Ghost Adventures, have filmed the spooky experiences of our residents. Our Greenbank Observatory is helping lead the way into potential extraterrestrial contact. We've got the first ghost to ever testify in a court of law, leading to a murder conviction. And...we've got some pretty awesome, yet spooky MUSEUMS!

Most paranormal enthusiasts are familiar with the world's only Mothman Museum, located in Pt. Pleasant, WV...but there's another wonderful paranormal-themed museum in the northern part of our state that is definitely worth checking out: The Archive of the Afterlife.

Located just down the road from the WV State Penitentiary in Moundsville, the Archive of the Afterlife Museum is a fascinating repository of history, culture, and all things spooky!  Since 2011, curator and owner, Steve Hummel, has worked tirelessly to amass and share a collection of haunted artifacts and pieces of paranormal history from throughout West Virginia and beyond.

The Archive of the Afterlife isn't huge---in fact, it's a little on the small side. However, it is absolutely PACKED to overflowing with items that would make Zak Bagans salivate, lol. You could spend hours in there and probably not get a good look at EVERY item that makes up the collection.

Can't make it to the Warren's Museum in Connecticut to see Annabelle, the haunted doll? No worries---the Archive of the Afterlife has MULTIPLE dolls that are not only creepy to look at, but who have shown definite signs of being haunted/possessed. Want to see the long-lost skull cap from the State Pen's Ol' Sparky? You can find that here as well! You can find haunted portraits, military memorabilia, death/life masks, and plenty more. I just think its awesome that we have this type of place right here in the Mountain State!

My family and I visited this wonderful attraction last summer during our weekend in Moundsville. Of course, I was in Heaven, and probably a little overwhelmed with all there was to see. I worried that my 7-year-old son would be bored stupid, but to my surprise, he enjoyed it as well. He had a weird fascination with this creepy 'Charlie' Doll, and requested I take his photo with it for posterity. He was also drawn to a haunted edition of Dr. Seuss' famous Foot Book that apparently carries the memory (and a blood stain) of a quadruple homicide. That was probably MY favorite artifact as well, but like I said, there was so much to look at and read about that it was really hard to choose just one top item.

In addition to the collection of artifacts, Steve and his museum also offer a variety of special events, including the 2018 Grave City Haunted Relic Expo January 20th! And....I'll be there! I have rented a vendor table to promote Theresa's Haunted History and will be selling some ghostly household items and other sundries. If you're going to be in the area, please stop in and say hi! Admission is only $5, which includes access to the vendor area, live music, and tons of AWESOME speakers and presenters. You can find the whole lineup and more information at the EVENT PAGE.

The museum is located on the second floor of  the Sanford Center (1600 3rd St., Moundsville, WV, at the corner of 3rd and Cedar). From April to November, the museum is open from 1pm to 6pm, Tuesday through Saturday. December through March, the museum is open from 1pm to 6pm on Fridays and Saturdays only. Admission is just $3/person or $5/couple. Please see official WEBSITE and Facebook page for more information. This location is a MUST-SEE, and is an easy stop for anyone coming in from out of town to investigate or take a tour of the penitentiary. Also, make plans to attend this year's Haunted Relic Expo, and make sure you stop by and say hi to me!

Theresa Travels Back to the WV State Penitentiary

View of the prison from atop Grave Creek Mound

Instead of taking one big vacation this summer, my family and I decided to do something a little different and take several mini-vacation getaways. One of those trips was an overnight stay to Moundsville, West Virginia, home of the infamously haunted former West Virginia State Penitentiary.

I had been to the penitentiary twice before, once with my friend Carrie as part of girl's day trip where we toured the Castle Halloween (a Halloween museum that used to be located in nearby Benwood, WV), took a historical tour of the prison, and then topped the day off with a trip to The Palace of Gold. The other time I had been was an actual overnight investigation of the prison with several members of HPIR.  However, Aaron and Luke had never been to Moundsville, and I'm always up for a trip to a haunted prison, so we decided to make a weekend out of it.

Mason-Dixon Line

The fun started on the way there. We took Route 2 for a big chunk of the trip, which allowed us to drive through some beautifully historic little towns, some of which are known for their own ghost stories. We even got to stop and examine a marker for the Mason-Dixon Line, which was REALLY unexpected.

Anyway, we arrived at the prison shortly thereafter. As we approached the parking area, Luke and Aaron were already in awe of the massive structure. Luke kept exclaiming how much it resembled a castle. We walked into the lobby area, and just caught the next tour leading out. Our tour guide was Chuck Ghent, a former correctional officer for the prison while it was in operation.

Now, I love Maggie Gray, another tour guide and former CO, to death and I think she's an excellent tour guide and resource. However, Chuck was absolutely awesome in his own right. He had a really dry, even sort of dark, sense of humor that I love, and that I'm sure he had to develop to cope with his work at the prison, especially his years in North Hall. He was extremely knowledgeable and had a great laid-back personality. In several areas of the prison, he'd give us the tour spiel, and then give the group plenty of time to explore the area on our own. There were even a few areas he let us in that weren't technically supposed to be on the tour, but are big areas of interest (such as the haunted boiler room where R.D. Wall's ghost is said to linger). He said that since many people traveled a long way to take these tours and might never again get the chance to visit, especially on the designated dates and times where those areas were accessible, then it didn't seem fair to not let us see them.

Where the 'Shadowman' was photographed

I am SO glad he had that attitude, because those extra touches really made the tour special for my son Luke, who was still 7 years old at the time. Luke is a great kid, and he's definitely his mother's son. We drag him to so many weird places its not even funny. He's been to more haunted locations than most adults, and he genuinely seems to enjoy visiting these spooky, yet historic locations. He was having a pretty good time, but his fun really started in the kitchen area.

Chuck had allowed the group to explore the dining hall and kitchen areas on our own, and its pretty damn dark back in some corners of the kitchen. That's the area where my team and I also saw and experienced some pretty weird stuff during our investigation. Even during the first historical tour that Carrie and I took, DURING the tour, while no one was back there AT ALL, we all heard noises like someone walking and a meal being prepared. Anyway, it was dark back there, yet Luke wanted to explore every nook and cranny and tiny room he could find. Being the ever-prepared investigator I am, I had put new batteries in my flashlight that morning, and had thrown the flashlight in my purse. I fished it out and gave it to Luke, but it refused to turn on. This was a well-made, fairly new flashlight and actual name-brand batteries, so I thought that maybe it had turned on while in my purse, and the batteries had drained. Luke gave the flashlight back to me, I put it in my pocket, and we continued with the tour. While walking down the hall to our next tour stop, Luke noticed that there was a light shining IN my pocket; that darn flashlight had turned on and was working perfectly. I switched it off, put it back in my pocket and we continued on.

Boiler Room Area

As I stated earlier, Chuck let us go down into the old boiler room and for some reason, Luke was super excited for this part of the tour, even though Chuck plainly told us about the murder and the rumors of the area being haunted. Luke, who sleeps with a nightlight on that is brighter than the sun, barged down the steps and started prowling around in complete darkness. Again, I fished the flashlight out and gave it to him. Again, IT DID NOT TURN ON. This did not stop my son, lol. A lot of people were down in the boiler area, so we could see fairly well thanks to their camera flashes and cell-phone flashlights. However, we ended up in some far away corner as everyone was leaving, and only by the grace of some woman who happened to walk by with a light did we make it out of there.

I thought Luke would be terrified, but he had no qualms with being in a pitch-black haunted boiler room. I don't think I had ever been as proud as I was at that moment.

We're locked in!

The tour continued with another highlight being the part where you can get 'locked in' one of the old cells. There are only a few cells available for the lock-in, so it takes a couple of rounds to get everyone through that wants to experience a few moments behind bars. And, like they do on a lot of tours, the guide pretended that one of the cell doors got stuck, and that the people inside would have to wait awhile until they got it fixed. It didn't happen to Luke and I, but he thought it was the most hilarious thing in the world that it happened to this other family that was on the tour. He talked about that for days afterwards, lol.

When it was finally time to end the tour, we spent some time in the museum area and gift shop. I think Luke's favorite part of the tour might have been learning about all the weapons the prisoners handcrafted out of various materials. That was another thing he talked about for days afterward. He picked out a souvenir fidget spinner and a t-shirt, and I bought a couple of books, including C.J. Plogger's The Tour at the West Virginia Penitentiary, which is largely about Chuck and his time at the prison. As I was at the counter paying for our goodies, the best part of the whole visit happened. After the last time my flashlight failed us, I just threw it in my purse. I had to open up my purse to get my wallet out, and lo and behold, that damn flashlight was in there, turned on full blast. I showed it to Luke, who was flabbergasted. He then begin to loudly theorize, much to the amusement of those around us, that this place was haunted and that a ghost had been messing with our flashlight all day long. He was sure of it...and, to be honest, the places where the flashlight refused to work were some of the haunted hot spots, so who knows.

Luke in North Hall cell

Each time I visit the West Virginia State Penitentiary, I have a great time and learn something new. This visit was no exception, except I think that most of my enjoyment stemmed from seeing my son have such a great time. Oh, and Aaron seemed to enjoy himself, too, lol.

The penitentiary was definitely a high point of our trip, but it wasn't the only wonderful place we were able to visit during our trip. We also visited the Archive of the Afterlife museum (which will be a blog all its own), the Grave Creek Mound and museum, and of course, we had to spend a huge chunk of time at New Vrindaban and the Palace of Gold. We had a lot of fun adventures this past summer, so keep an eye on the blog, as I try to get caught up with sharing them all with you!

*Want more prison ghost stories? Check out my blog about the true facts concerning the penitentiary's most infamous ghost, Red Snyder!*