West and Dever, Louisville Courier Journal, December 30, 1895

Shocking Assassination. 

Horrible Crime of a Marion County Mob. 

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WOMAN BURNED TO DEATH. 

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Her Paramour Shot Down As He Fled. 

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DONE AT MIDNIGHT. 

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Mrs. T. J. West and William Dever the Victims. 

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THEIR MURDERERS UNKNOWN. 

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Three Weeks Ago Dever Killed the Woman’s Husband. 

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HER INFIDELITY THE CAUSE
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Lebanon, Ky., Dec. 29.--(Special.)--One of the most shocking and outrageous crimes ever committed in Kentucky was perpetrated near Lebanon shortly after midnight last night when a handful of men forced Mrs. T. J. West and William Dever to pay with their lives the penalty for their sins. Mrs. West was burned to death in her house and Dever was shot down in an effort to escape the mob. They had been living in open adultery, and Dever had been warned to leave the country, but had refused to do so. 

Dever was fearfully burned, as he did not leave the house until his hair, eyebrows and whiskers had been burned off. 

Three weeks ago Dever shot and killed Thomas J. West, Mrs. West’s husband, who had filed suit against her for divorce on the ground of her intimacy with Dever. West tried to kill Dever, but Dever was too quick and sent a  ball through West’s heart, killing him instantly. He was tried and acquitted, his plea being self-defense. It was common talk that Dever and Mrs. West had been too intimate, and as soon as he was acquitted he took up his residence at the West house, which is situated on Cartwright creek, about four miles from Lebanon. Mrs. West had three grown daughters, but when he, with his fourteen-year-old daughter Alma, moved into the West house they left and have not since seen their mother. 

About ten minutes after 12 o’clock Saturday night the mob appeared at the West house, and, knocking at the door, demanded that Dever come out. Dever’s child answered the knock and opened the door. One of the men pulled her out and told her to run for her life if she did not want to be killed. They then called for Dever to come out, but he replied that he would not do so. The door was suddenly slammed and locked. Several shots were fired by the mob into the building and through the windows. 

Seeing that Dever would not come out, one of the mob set fire to the house, which is a small log structure, and the entire house was soon in flames. Suddenly the door was thrown open, and, with a pistol in his hand, Dever made a dash through the mob for the brush near by. Shots were fired after him, and he fell behind a stack of hay with several bullets in his body. Finding that he was dead, the mob returned to the house, where Mrs. West’s body was found in the old-fashioned fire-place burned to a crisp. The woman had evidently attempted to crawl up the chimney, as her finger tips were torn, being about the only surface parts of her body that resembled flesh. 

Almost frantic with fear, the little girl ran to the woods and was found early this morning by a neighbor, Mr. Thompson. She was almost bereft of reason, and it was a long while before she could tell anything of the horrible affair. All she knew was that a mob had visited the house and had set fire to it. Mr. Thompson and others went to the spot, and, placing the bodies together away from the smoldering ruins, came into Lebanon and told of the horrible affair. The child could give no description of the men who composed the mob, but it is expected that she will be able to do so when she becomes somewhat composed. She is in terrible condition, and it is not improbable that her mind is permanently shattered. 

This horrible affair created the greatest sensation Marion county has ever known and hundred of persons to-day went out to Cartwright creek. The remains of Mrs. West and Dever were brought into the city this afternoon and placed in Creel’s undertaking establishment, where they were viewed by large crowds. 

Justice Nooe held an inquest over the bodies, but was unable to develop anything beyond the fact that Dever had been shot four times. The only witness before the jury was Dever’s daughter Alma, and she was in such a condition that almost nothing could be gleaned from her. She said there were only six men in the mob, and that she had never seen any of them before. The Justice announced no verdict in the case and to-morrow will resume his investigation, determined to run to earth the perpetrators of the most outrageous crime that ever blackened Marion county’s history. The authorities are thoroughly aroused over the affair, and no expense will be spared in getting at the murderers. 

Up to a month ago the Wests and Dever stood well in the community, and were regarded as worthy people. West was a farmer in fairly good circumstances. He was a man of domestic habits and seldom left his farm where he lived with his wife and seven children, three of whom are grown girls. He was about fifty years old. His wife was about forty years old and was far from good looking. Dever was a widower, and came to Marion county from Knoxville, Tenn.. about a year ago. He was about fifty years old and, aside from occasional indulgences in liquor, was looked upon as a rather steady man. His daughter Alma was a frequent visitor at the West home, and an infatuation resulted between Mrs. West and Dever. It attracted no attention at first, but about a month ago West accused his wife of infidelity and finally left her and filed suit for divorce, naming Dever as co-respondent. West took to drinking and it became generally known that he and Dever were armed for each other. On the morning of December 6 last they met for the first time since the divorce suit was filed and he left his home, boarding at a neighbor’s. 

The morning West was killed, Dever was at Beaver Green’s on Cartwright creek, and on starting to leave the house West came around the corner and snapped his pistol twice at Dever. Dever was taken completely by surprise, but he finally managed to draw his pistol and fired one shot, killing West almost instantly. Dever surrendered and at the examining trial was acquitted. One of the witnesses at the examining trial testified that Mrs. West told her that Dever offered to buy poison if she would give it to her husband. 

The trial was no sooner ended than Dever moved into the West house with his daughter and all his effects. At the same time all of Mrs. West’s children left and took up their abode with neighbors, declaring they would countenance no such open profligacy. Mrs. West was pleaded with by her children, but she was deaf to their entreaties. Then threats were made, but the woman appeared to be helpless in her infatuation.