William Howard Little of McDowell County, W.Va., was convicted of murder in 1909. He was executed on Feb. 11, 1910, by the Commonwealth of Virginia. However, Mr. Little maintained his innocence to the bitter end and modern researchers have built a case that he was, in fact, not guilty.
Mr. Howard was born in August 1872 in Kentucky, a son of William Little and wife Margaret Johnson Little.
The 1880 U.S. Census has him living in Pike County with his parents and siblings: William, a farmer, and his wife Margaret; and their children, William H., 8; Josephine, 6; Floyd, 4; Belledry (also seen as Belle or Bellderry), 3; and Synthia (also seen as Cynthia), 7 months. Census Place: Mouth of Caney Creek, Pike, Kentucky; Roll: 439; Page: 718A; Enumeration District: 104.
In 1892, Howard Little, 20, a U.S. marshal, killed a romantic rival in Pike County, Ky. He was sentenced to life in prison but, after serving four years, was pardoned by the Kentucky governor.
The 1900 U.S. Census for McDowell County, W.Va., has Howard Little, 27, living with his widowed mother, Margaret Little, 58. The census says Howard Little was married in 1892. But only Howard and his mother are living in the household. Census Place: Sandy River, McDowell, West Virginia; Page: 28; Enumeration District: 0075; FHL microfilm: 1241764. The census was taken in July 1900.
In September 1900 in Mingo County, W.Va., W.H. Little, 28, a resident of McDowell County, W.Va., married Matilda Mounts, 17, a resident of Buchanan, Va. A second marriage record online says they were both residents of Pike County, Ky. (West Virginia Vital Research Records) William Howard and Matilda "Tilda" Little had four children: Grant, Edna, Robert, and Sadie.
In 1909 Mr. Little was charged with murdering George Meadows and his family in their home in Hurley, Buchanan County, Va. There were six victims: George and his wife Lydia; the three Meadows children, Will, Noah and Lafayette, all under 10 years old; and Elizabeth E. "Betty" Baker Justus, Lydia's mother. George was both bludgeoned and shot and other family members were killed with the blunt side of an axe or hatchet. The Meadows home was then set on fire. George's body was outside the home. The Meadows family was buried in the Justice Cemetery in Buchanan, Va.
One account says at the time of the Meadows murders in Virginia, Little and his family were living in Bull Creek, McDowell County. Geographic note: these locations in Kentucky, West Virginia and Virginia were, to the state the obvious, in different states but close by.
Mr. Little was found guilty and executed on Feb. 11, 1910.
Newspaper articles at the time said Mr. Little went to his death "game" and stoic and dignified. His only concerns were about his children and his final resting place. He wanted to be buried in a family cemetery in Mohawk, McDowell County, W.Va. He made sure money was available to make that happen. An article said his body was taken to Mohawk.
A brief item reprinted from the Roanoke World, said, "The condemned man still declares he is innocent but says he is ready to die. The only thing that worries him is he desires to be buried at home, and the future of his children." (The Bluefield Telegraph, W.Va., Feb. 3, 1910, Page 5.)
THE MAN FROM THE TRAIN
Evidence and observation that points to Mr. Little's innocence are detailed in a true-crime book: "The Man from the Train: The Solving of a Century-Old Serial Killer Mystery," 2017, by Bill James and Rachel McCarthy James. Ebook: Page 17-27 and Page 407-418.
The authors – father/daughter -- researched a series of killings of entire families that happened in the late 1800s/mid-1900s. They believe the murderer was a man who rode the rails (thus the title) and sought out isolated homes with a woodpile and an axe conveniently available. He attacked around the midnight hour and left no one alive. The authors believe that Howard Little and many other people who lived near the murdered families were falsely accused (and in some cases executed or lynched) for the serial killer's crimes. Generally, the accused were white people of low social standing or black people.
Mr. Little was a big man, handsome and hard-working. He was a foreman at Ritter Lumber Co. He was not without flaws. Though married he was known as a "Don Juan." At the time of the Meadows murders, he was having an affair.
The case against Mr. Little:
• His prior conviction for murder.
• Interest in Betty Justus's money. Her son Senate/Sennit Justus worked at Ritter Lumber and said Little asked how much money Mrs. Justus carried around with her. (Little's wife said he had money and she could lead authorities to it. But a stash of money was never found).
• Comparison of the bullets in George Meadows' body to a gun in Little's possession. The bullets "fit" the gun. This was pre-ballistic testing.
• A bloody penny. On the morning after the murders, Little bought a newspaper with a "bloody penny" and the news agent turned it into the police.
• The "angry allegations of his wife, which were repeated in the newspapers, although she didn't not testify in court." She also narked him out when Little was trying to leave the area.
• Testimony of Mary Lee, who lived with the Little family. She said he was out late the night of the murders and was restless the next day.
• A cut on his leg. The morning after the murders, Little was home cutting brush. Mary Lee said Little came in the house and asked for bandages, but the wound was "dry."
• A wet jacket. On the morning after the murders, his jacket was wet and the idea was Little had washed blood out of it.
• Possession of a lantern that 20 "witnesses" said belonged to the Meadows home. The authors believe the lantern was carried by The Man from the Train until he got back to the railroad. He set it down in the middle of the road and then Little came along and carried it home. It was found hanging in his barn.
"…Little was executed in the electric chair in Richmond on February 11, 1910. He went to his death calmly, composed and dignified. He denied any involvement in the Meadows murder until the last moment of his life. He was buried in his family cemetery in McDowell County, West Virginia."
ONLINE SOURCES
https://www.appalachianhistory.net/2019/09/laurel-creek-murders-part-1.html
https://crimereads.com/when-the-devil-comes-to-town-unmasking-a-100-year-old-axe-murderer/
http://www.oocities.org/rmbaker66/jstsmrdr.html
https://www.billjamesonline.com/the_man_from_the_train_part_i/
Mr. Howard was born in August 1872 in Kentucky, a son of William Little and wife Margaret Johnson Little.
The 1880 U.S. Census has him living in Pike County with his parents and siblings: William, a farmer, and his wife Margaret; and their children, William H., 8; Josephine, 6; Floyd, 4; Belledry (also seen as Belle or Bellderry), 3; and Synthia (also seen as Cynthia), 7 months. Census Place: Mouth of Caney Creek, Pike, Kentucky; Roll: 439; Page: 718A; Enumeration District: 104.
In 1892, Howard Little, 20, a U.S. marshal, killed a romantic rival in Pike County, Ky. He was sentenced to life in prison but, after serving four years, was pardoned by the Kentucky governor.
The 1900 U.S. Census for McDowell County, W.Va., has Howard Little, 27, living with his widowed mother, Margaret Little, 58. The census says Howard Little was married in 1892. But only Howard and his mother are living in the household. Census Place: Sandy River, McDowell, West Virginia; Page: 28; Enumeration District: 0075; FHL microfilm: 1241764. The census was taken in July 1900.
In September 1900 in Mingo County, W.Va., W.H. Little, 28, a resident of McDowell County, W.Va., married Matilda Mounts, 17, a resident of Buchanan, Va. A second marriage record online says they were both residents of Pike County, Ky. (West Virginia Vital Research Records) William Howard and Matilda "Tilda" Little had four children: Grant, Edna, Robert, and Sadie.
In 1909 Mr. Little was charged with murdering George Meadows and his family in their home in Hurley, Buchanan County, Va. There were six victims: George and his wife Lydia; the three Meadows children, Will, Noah and Lafayette, all under 10 years old; and Elizabeth E. "Betty" Baker Justus, Lydia's mother. George was both bludgeoned and shot and other family members were killed with the blunt side of an axe or hatchet. The Meadows home was then set on fire. George's body was outside the home. The Meadows family was buried in the Justice Cemetery in Buchanan, Va.
One account says at the time of the Meadows murders in Virginia, Little and his family were living in Bull Creek, McDowell County. Geographic note: these locations in Kentucky, West Virginia and Virginia were, to the state the obvious, in different states but close by.
Mr. Little was found guilty and executed on Feb. 11, 1910.
Newspaper articles at the time said Mr. Little went to his death "game" and stoic and dignified. His only concerns were about his children and his final resting place. He wanted to be buried in a family cemetery in Mohawk, McDowell County, W.Va. He made sure money was available to make that happen. An article said his body was taken to Mohawk.
A brief item reprinted from the Roanoke World, said, "The condemned man still declares he is innocent but says he is ready to die. The only thing that worries him is he desires to be buried at home, and the future of his children." (The Bluefield Telegraph, W.Va., Feb. 3, 1910, Page 5.)
THE MAN FROM THE TRAIN
Evidence and observation that points to Mr. Little's innocence are detailed in a true-crime book: "The Man from the Train: The Solving of a Century-Old Serial Killer Mystery," 2017, by Bill James and Rachel McCarthy James. Ebook: Page 17-27 and Page 407-418.
The authors – father/daughter -- researched a series of killings of entire families that happened in the late 1800s/mid-1900s. They believe the murderer was a man who rode the rails (thus the title) and sought out isolated homes with a woodpile and an axe conveniently available. He attacked around the midnight hour and left no one alive. The authors believe that Howard Little and many other people who lived near the murdered families were falsely accused (and in some cases executed or lynched) for the serial killer's crimes. Generally, the accused were white people of low social standing or black people.
Mr. Little was a big man, handsome and hard-working. He was a foreman at Ritter Lumber Co. He was not without flaws. Though married he was known as a "Don Juan." At the time of the Meadows murders, he was having an affair.
The case against Mr. Little:
• His prior conviction for murder.
• Interest in Betty Justus's money. Her son Senate/Sennit Justus worked at Ritter Lumber and said Little asked how much money Mrs. Justus carried around with her. (Little's wife said he had money and she could lead authorities to it. But a stash of money was never found).
• Comparison of the bullets in George Meadows' body to a gun in Little's possession. The bullets "fit" the gun. This was pre-ballistic testing.
• A bloody penny. On the morning after the murders, Little bought a newspaper with a "bloody penny" and the news agent turned it into the police.
• The "angry allegations of his wife, which were repeated in the newspapers, although she didn't not testify in court." She also narked him out when Little was trying to leave the area.
• Testimony of Mary Lee, who lived with the Little family. She said he was out late the night of the murders and was restless the next day.
• A cut on his leg. The morning after the murders, Little was home cutting brush. Mary Lee said Little came in the house and asked for bandages, but the wound was "dry."
• A wet jacket. On the morning after the murders, his jacket was wet and the idea was Little had washed blood out of it.
• Possession of a lantern that 20 "witnesses" said belonged to the Meadows home. The authors believe the lantern was carried by The Man from the Train until he got back to the railroad. He set it down in the middle of the road and then Little came along and carried it home. It was found hanging in his barn.
"…Little was executed in the electric chair in Richmond on February 11, 1910. He went to his death calmly, composed and dignified. He denied any involvement in the Meadows murder until the last moment of his life. He was buried in his family cemetery in McDowell County, West Virginia."
ONLINE SOURCES
https://www.appalachianhistory.net/2019/09/laurel-creek-murders-part-1.html
https://crimereads.com/when-the-devil-comes-to-town-unmasking-a-100-year-old-axe-murderer/
http://www.oocities.org/rmbaker66/jstsmrdr.html
https://www.billjamesonline.com/the_man_from_the_train_part_i/
William Howard Little of McDowell County, W.Va., was convicted of murder in 1909. He was executed on Feb. 11, 1910, by the Commonwealth of Virginia. However, Mr. Little maintained his innocence to the bitter end and modern researchers have built a case that he was, in fact, not guilty.
Mr. Howard was born in August 1872 in Kentucky, a son of William Little and wife Margaret Johnson Little.
The 1880 U.S. Census has him living in Pike County with his parents and siblings: William, a farmer, and his wife Margaret; and their children, William H., 8; Josephine, 6; Floyd, 4; Belledry (also seen as Belle or Bellderry), 3; and Synthia (also seen as Cynthia), 7 months. Census Place: Mouth of Caney Creek, Pike, Kentucky; Roll: 439; Page: 718A; Enumeration District: 104.
In 1892, Howard Little, 20, a U.S. marshal, killed a romantic rival in Pike County, Ky. He was sentenced to life in prison but, after serving four years, was pardoned by the Kentucky governor.
The 1900 U.S. Census for McDowell County, W.Va., has Howard Little, 27, living with his widowed mother, Margaret Little, 58. The census says Howard Little was married in 1892. But only Howard and his mother are living in the household. Census Place: Sandy River, McDowell, West Virginia; Page: 28; Enumeration District: 0075; FHL microfilm: 1241764. The census was taken in July 1900.
In September 1900 in Mingo County, W.Va., W.H. Little, 28, a resident of McDowell County, W.Va., married Matilda Mounts, 17, a resident of Buchanan, Va. A second marriage record online says they were both residents of Pike County, Ky. (West Virginia Vital Research Records) William Howard and Matilda "Tilda" Little had four children: Grant, Edna, Robert, and Sadie.
In 1909 Mr. Little was charged with murdering George Meadows and his family in their home in Hurley, Buchanan County, Va. There were six victims: George and his wife Lydia; the three Meadows children, Will, Noah and Lafayette, all under 10 years old; and Elizabeth E. "Betty" Baker Justus, Lydia's mother. George was both bludgeoned and shot and other family members were killed with the blunt side of an axe or hatchet. The Meadows home was then set on fire. George's body was outside the home. The Meadows family was buried in the Justice Cemetery in Buchanan, Va.
One account says at the time of the Meadows murders in Virginia, Little and his family were living in Bull Creek, McDowell County. Geographic note: these locations in Kentucky, West Virginia and Virginia were, to the state the obvious, in different states but close by.
Mr. Little was found guilty and executed on Feb. 11, 1910.
Newspaper articles at the time said Mr. Little went to his death "game" and stoic and dignified. His only concerns were about his children and his final resting place. He wanted to be buried in a family cemetery in Mohawk, McDowell County, W.Va. He made sure money was available to make that happen. An article said his body was taken to Mohawk.
A brief item reprinted from the Roanoke World, said, "The condemned man still declares he is innocent but says he is ready to die. The only thing that worries him is he desires to be buried at home, and the future of his children." (The Bluefield Telegraph, W.Va., Feb. 3, 1910, Page 5.)
THE MAN FROM THE TRAIN
Evidence and observation that points to Mr. Little's innocence are detailed in a true-crime book: "The Man from the Train: The Solving of a Century-Old Serial Killer Mystery," 2017, by Bill James and Rachel McCarthy James. Ebook: Page 17-27 and Page 407-418.
The authors – father/daughter -- researched a series of killings of entire families that happened in the late 1800s/mid-1900s. They believe the murderer was a man who rode the rails (thus the title) and sought out isolated homes with a woodpile and an axe conveniently available. He attacked around the midnight hour and left no one alive. The authors believe that Howard Little and many other people who lived near the murdered families were falsely accused (and in some cases executed or lynched) for the serial killer's crimes. Generally, the accused were white people of low social standing or black people.
Mr. Little was a big man, handsome and hard-working. He was a foreman at Ritter Lumber Co. He was not without flaws. Though married he was known as a "Don Juan." At the time of the Meadows murders, he was having an affair.
The case against Mr. Little:
• His prior conviction for murder.
• Interest in Betty Justus's money. Her son Senate/Sennit Justus worked at Ritter Lumber and said Little asked how much money Mrs. Justus carried around with her. (Little's wife said he had money and she could lead authorities to it. But a stash of money was never found).
• Comparison of the bullets in George Meadows' body to a gun in Little's possession. The bullets "fit" the gun. This was pre-ballistic testing.
• A bloody penny. On the morning after the murders, Little bought a newspaper with a "bloody penny" and the news agent turned it into the police.
• The "angry allegations of his wife, which were repeated in the newspapers, although she didn't not testify in court." She also narked him out when Little was trying to leave the area.
• Testimony of Mary Lee, who lived with the Little family. She said he was out late the night of the murders and was restless the next day.
• A cut on his leg. The morning after the murders, Little was home cutting brush. Mary Lee said Little came in the house and asked for bandages, but the wound was "dry."
• A wet jacket. On the morning after the murders, his jacket was wet and the idea was Little had washed blood out of it.
• Possession of a lantern that 20 "witnesses" said belonged to the Meadows home. The authors believe the lantern was carried by The Man from the Train until he got back to the railroad. He set it down in the middle of the road and then Little came along and carried it home. It was found hanging in his barn.
"…Little was executed in the electric chair in Richmond on February 11, 1910. He went to his death calmly, composed and dignified. He denied any involvement in the Meadows murder until the last moment of his life. He was buried in his family cemetery in McDowell County, West Virginia."
ONLINE SOURCES
https://www.appalachianhistory.net/2019/09/laurel-creek-murders-part-1.html
https://crimereads.com/when-the-devil-comes-to-town-unmasking-a-100-year-old-axe-murderer/
http://www.oocities.org/rmbaker66/jstsmrdr.html
https://www.billjamesonline.com/the_man_from_the_train_part_i/
Mr. Howard was born in August 1872 in Kentucky, a son of William Little and wife Margaret Johnson Little.
The 1880 U.S. Census has him living in Pike County with his parents and siblings: William, a farmer, and his wife Margaret; and their children, William H., 8; Josephine, 6; Floyd, 4; Belledry (also seen as Belle or Bellderry), 3; and Synthia (also seen as Cynthia), 7 months. Census Place: Mouth of Caney Creek, Pike, Kentucky; Roll: 439; Page: 718A; Enumeration District: 104.
In 1892, Howard Little, 20, a U.S. marshal, killed a romantic rival in Pike County, Ky. He was sentenced to life in prison but, after serving four years, was pardoned by the Kentucky governor.
The 1900 U.S. Census for McDowell County, W.Va., has Howard Little, 27, living with his widowed mother, Margaret Little, 58. The census says Howard Little was married in 1892. But only Howard and his mother are living in the household. Census Place: Sandy River, McDowell, West Virginia; Page: 28; Enumeration District: 0075; FHL microfilm: 1241764. The census was taken in July 1900.
In September 1900 in Mingo County, W.Va., W.H. Little, 28, a resident of McDowell County, W.Va., married Matilda Mounts, 17, a resident of Buchanan, Va. A second marriage record online says they were both residents of Pike County, Ky. (West Virginia Vital Research Records) William Howard and Matilda "Tilda" Little had four children: Grant, Edna, Robert, and Sadie.
In 1909 Mr. Little was charged with murdering George Meadows and his family in their home in Hurley, Buchanan County, Va. There were six victims: George and his wife Lydia; the three Meadows children, Will, Noah and Lafayette, all under 10 years old; and Elizabeth E. "Betty" Baker Justus, Lydia's mother. George was both bludgeoned and shot and other family members were killed with the blunt side of an axe or hatchet. The Meadows home was then set on fire. George's body was outside the home. The Meadows family was buried in the Justice Cemetery in Buchanan, Va.
One account says at the time of the Meadows murders in Virginia, Little and his family were living in Bull Creek, McDowell County. Geographic note: these locations in Kentucky, West Virginia and Virginia were, to the state the obvious, in different states but close by.
Mr. Little was found guilty and executed on Feb. 11, 1910.
Newspaper articles at the time said Mr. Little went to his death "game" and stoic and dignified. His only concerns were about his children and his final resting place. He wanted to be buried in a family cemetery in Mohawk, McDowell County, W.Va. He made sure money was available to make that happen. An article said his body was taken to Mohawk.
A brief item reprinted from the Roanoke World, said, "The condemned man still declares he is innocent but says he is ready to die. The only thing that worries him is he desires to be buried at home, and the future of his children." (The Bluefield Telegraph, W.Va., Feb. 3, 1910, Page 5.)
THE MAN FROM THE TRAIN
Evidence and observation that points to Mr. Little's innocence are detailed in a true-crime book: "The Man from the Train: The Solving of a Century-Old Serial Killer Mystery," 2017, by Bill James and Rachel McCarthy James. Ebook: Page 17-27 and Page 407-418.
The authors – father/daughter -- researched a series of killings of entire families that happened in the late 1800s/mid-1900s. They believe the murderer was a man who rode the rails (thus the title) and sought out isolated homes with a woodpile and an axe conveniently available. He attacked around the midnight hour and left no one alive. The authors believe that Howard Little and many other people who lived near the murdered families were falsely accused (and in some cases executed or lynched) for the serial killer's crimes. Generally, the accused were white people of low social standing or black people.
Mr. Little was a big man, handsome and hard-working. He was a foreman at Ritter Lumber Co. He was not without flaws. Though married he was known as a "Don Juan." At the time of the Meadows murders, he was having an affair.
The case against Mr. Little:
• His prior conviction for murder.
• Interest in Betty Justus's money. Her son Senate/Sennit Justus worked at Ritter Lumber and said Little asked how much money Mrs. Justus carried around with her. (Little's wife said he had money and she could lead authorities to it. But a stash of money was never found).
• Comparison of the bullets in George Meadows' body to a gun in Little's possession. The bullets "fit" the gun. This was pre-ballistic testing.
• A bloody penny. On the morning after the murders, Little bought a newspaper with a "bloody penny" and the news agent turned it into the police.
• The "angry allegations of his wife, which were repeated in the newspapers, although she didn't not testify in court." She also narked him out when Little was trying to leave the area.
• Testimony of Mary Lee, who lived with the Little family. She said he was out late the night of the murders and was restless the next day.
• A cut on his leg. The morning after the murders, Little was home cutting brush. Mary Lee said Little came in the house and asked for bandages, but the wound was "dry."
• A wet jacket. On the morning after the murders, his jacket was wet and the idea was Little had washed blood out of it.
• Possession of a lantern that 20 "witnesses" said belonged to the Meadows home. The authors believe the lantern was carried by The Man from the Train until he got back to the railroad. He set it down in the middle of the road and then Little came along and carried it home. It was found hanging in his barn.
"…Little was executed in the electric chair in Richmond on February 11, 1910. He went to his death calmly, composed and dignified. He denied any involvement in the Meadows murder until the last moment of his life. He was buried in his family cemetery in McDowell County, West Virginia."
ONLINE SOURCES
https://www.appalachianhistory.net/2019/09/laurel-creek-murders-part-1.html
https://crimereads.com/when-the-devil-comes-to-town-unmasking-a-100-year-old-axe-murderer/
http://www.oocities.org/rmbaker66/jstsmrdr.html
https://www.billjamesonline.com/the_man_from_the_train_part_i/
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