George W. Sutton, of Crab Orchard, KY, Murdered submitted by Gerri Sutton, PO Box 202, London, KY 40743 Mt. Echo - January 24, 1879 George W. Sutton, a brother of Mr. H. C. Sutton of this city, living near Crab Orchard, was found murdered in the Woods last Wednesday. Suspicion pointed to a man named Ferril, who left the house with Sutton, promising to show him a nearer way to Crab Orchard. Ferril was arrested, and there was talk of lynching him but the guard being composed of determined men no attempt was made. Mr. Sutton has a father, several relatives and friends in this county who deeply mourn their bereavement. Stanford, Lincoln Co., KY newspaper Murdered and Robbed January 17, 1879 The body of George W. Sutton was found in the road four miles from Halls Gap near the house of Mr. John Weaver on Wednesday last, with a load of 10 d nails in his head intently fired from an old musket. Sutton is from Taswell, Tenn., shoemaker by trade but frequently goes out peddling liniment and was on this errand when killed. He is spoken of as an unoffending and sober man. January 24, 1879 When we went to press last week John Ferrel, and Ike Stapleton were under arrest for the murder of George W. Sutton a shoemaker who for the last four years has plied his trade at Crab Orchard. A coroners verdict was held on Friday and the facts elicited were enough to shock even those who were accustomed to deeds of violence and murder. It was proven that Sutton, Ferrel, and Stapleton spent the night at John Weavers some five or six miles distant from Crab Orchard. A frail damsel being the object of their visit. Next morning Sutton left and in a short time after his departure Ferrel followed with an old musket ostensibly to hunt rabbit. At first he went in the opposite direction but soon circled around and stepped in Sutton's tracks, came up behind him and emptied a load of shot and broken nails into his head tearing a hole nearly two inches in diameter, the pockets were then rifled and left turned wrong side out and the body was dragged from the road to the woods and covered up in snow behind a log a short time after the shot was heard. Ferrel returned to Weavers and in answer to an inquiry in regard to the blood on his coat said that it came from a rabbit he had killed and proceeded to wash out the stains. As there was no direct proof in the guilt of Stapleton he was introduced as a witness and swore that on Friday previous Ferrel told him that he intended to kill Sutton for his watch and money, and that he borrowed not quite a load of bird and squirrel shot from him. Ferrel was held without bail and lodged in jail here Saturday. The indignation against him at Crab Orchard was very great and threats of lynching were loudly made. It was one of the most brutal murders that ever cursed this blood stained county and the friend being a poor man is sure to pay the penalty with his neck. A death far too good for the perpetrator of so foul a crime. In jail Ferrel acts like a wild man pacing his cell ever and now apparently fearful that a moments rest would be too much for his over burdened conscious he protest his innocence and says that there is a conspiracy against him but his story is so badly constructed as to leave little doubt that he is not wrongfully accused. He claims that he is a native a Lee Co., VA., and that Sutton was also from that county but both have since lived in Taswell, Tenn. In appearance Ferrel is not the looking person that one would think capable of such a deed being a young man of possible fair exterior but the facts and the evidence seem to direct even to admit a doubt of his guilt. Later Ferrel confessed to murder. Acquitted February 14, 1879 Jacob Weaver, Ike Stapleton and Elizabeth Stapleton, arrested as accessories to the murder of George W. Sutton were tried before Judge Burch at Crab Orchard, Wednesday. It was proven that Ferrel had told them that he was going to kill Sutton and after killing him told them that he had done so but it appearing that their failure to report on him was caused by fear, they were acquitted. Mt. Echo, Laurel Co., KY Ferril the man who murdered Mr. G. W. Sutton, the brother of our Townsman, Mr. H. C. Sutton, near Crab Orchard, last January, has been tried and sentenced to the penitentiary. Ferril pled guilty and the jury was merciful.