Posted on: Jackson County, WV Query Forum Reply Here: http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/gc/USA/WV/Jackson/2006 Surname: ------------------------- This is the story handed down in my family, it is more or less confirmed by James P. Mylott in the book A Measure of Prosperity: a History of Roane County, West Virginia. Shortly before midnight on October 13 Reverend Ryan and his family were jolted from their sleep by the sound of a crash and a gunshot coming from the hallway of their home. The front door had been forced open and they could hear the sounds of a number of men moving into the small hallway. One of the men threw the door to Ryan's bedroom open and, pointing a gun a Ryan and his wife said, "Old man, we came after your money!" By this time Ryan had sprung up from his bed and grabbed his shotgun from the corner. Leveling it at the intruders he ordered them out of the house. Unknown to Rev. Ryan several other robbers were outside the window and shot the preacher through the abdomen. The robbers ransacked the house, and preacher Ryan died about seven the next morning. This was the final straw in a long list of lawless activities that included Roane and Jackson counties. Mrs. Ryan filed a complaint and a warrant was issued for William Taylor, Robert Duff Jr, Perry Drake, Chess Coon and Dan Cunningham, the suspected murderers. Squire Gibson was authorized to make the arrest, forming a posse of about seventy men. On the way to make the arrests it was learned that Robert Duff Jr. had returned home and was supposedly in the company of Chess Coon. The posse divided into two groups, one group continued on to the home of Robert Duff's father where the man had been staying, the other group going to Robert Duff Jr's house. Gibson's men surrounded the house but Duff and Coon had been warned and opened fire. In the ensuing gunfire Robert Duff Jr. was killed, Coon was captured, and the other occupants in the house surrendered. Coon was taken into custody and the posse met up with the second group which had arrested Robert Duff Sr. Perry Drake and Dan Cunningham had escaped. The prisoners were kept in a makeshift jail in the Harper district. Mobs formed and the justices of the peace (John Lowe and William Taylor), ordered Squire Gibson to deputize a number of men and remove the prisoners to an area of safety. They were removed to the home of Joseph Cook, but about midnight a band of men estimated to number between 300 and 500 descended upon the house and took the prisoners. Coon and Duff were taken to a hollow below the Lynn Camp schoolhouse. A noose was placed around Coon's neck and he was ordered to confess to the murder. There is some disagreement as to whether he actually confessed or not. Coon was hanged. During this proceeding others in the mob were torturing Duff in an attempt to force a confession from him. Some horses that were tethered nearby broke free and the mob mistook the sound as a posse coming to rescue the prisoners. Duff's throut was slit and his body thrown in a fence corner by the roadside and the mob disappeared. Perry Drake was tried for the murder of Rev. Ryan and was acquitted. I don't Dan Cunningham was indicted for the murder. Dan Cunningham is better known for his role as Deputy U.S. Marshall for the Second district of West VA. He has been accorded hero status due to an article written by Samuel Hopkins Adams titled 'Dan Cunningham: A Huntsman of the Law'. Many people who had first hand knowledge of the events i've outlined and other activities of the Cunningham family never viewed Dan Cunningham as anything other than a robber and murderer. In order to be fair, Dan Cunningham tells an entirely different tale, in which the Cunninghams are heros, you can read his account at the link in the bottom. Link: Dan Cunningham's side URL: <http://www.pa-roots.com/roane/history/rocrim1.html>