George W. Noble, an aged farmer
residing alone on Buffalo Creek, about 6 miles back of
Burlington, was foully murdered some time Saturday night
or Sunday.
Late Sunday afternoon, two young ladies who were driving
by Mr. Noble’s residence, stopped to get a drink of water.
Upon entering the gate, they were horrified to find Mr.
Noble’s lifeless body lying in the yard. 
The ladies gave the alarm and neighbors soon responded.
The body of the murdered man was lying in the position in
which he had died, and the hogs had started to feast on
the remains, mutilating them to some extent. A
blood-stained coat lying nearby gave evidence of how the
murdered man had come to his death.
The house still stands where the murder took place back in
1900.
Inside the house things had been scattered about in wild
disorder and splashes of blood here and there indicated
that the victim had not sacrificed his life without a
terrible struggle with his assailant or assailants.
The condition of the surroundings bore evidence of the
fact that the awful crime had robbery as its motive, the
house having been thoroughly ransacked for money. A
portion of the aged man’s savings was found by his
son-in-law, Martin Canterbury, who lives a mile or more
away.
While there is no clew to the identity of the guilty party
or parties, it is believed that the crime was committed by
someone who knew the local reputation of the deceased as a
man who kept his money about the house and who was aware
that he had sold horses Saturday for $125.
The deceased was past 65 years of age and lived alone, his
wife having died some years ago. He has a daughter,
Mrs. Martin Canterbury, and one son, Ephraim Noble, of
Ashland, Ky.
Immediately after the discovery of the body, Squire Joshua
Kite was summoned from Getaway and held an inquest,
assisted by Dr. Campbell of Burlington. The verdict
was that the deceased came to his death by reason of blows
on the head with a blunt instrument in the hands of a
party or parties unknown.
Squire Joshua Kite of Getaway came to the city Tuesday
with his verdict as acting coroner in the inquest over the
remains of George W. Noble, who was murdered at his home
on Buffalo Creek Saturday night. Accompanying the
report of the coroner is the postmortem examination and
the testimony of witnesses.
Dr. Campbell reports on the post-mortem examination of the
remains as follows:
1)
Fracture of skull extending across the frontal
portion and extending downward through the root of the
nose, allowing the brain to be exposed.
2)
Laceration of soft parts covering this area.
3)
Right ear gone, laceration extending from right ear
downward and forward four inches.
4)
Fracture of lower jaw on the right side.
5)
Flesh wound extending from the point of the nose
outward and downward to the right angle of the mouth.
6)
Flesh wound on the left side of head, extending
from left ear upward and backward for six inches.
7)
Contusion below the left ear.
8)
Left ear missing.
9)
Flesh wound above and to the left of the right eye,
two and one-half inches long.
10)
Laceration over the left knuckle.
11)
Heart normal.
The acting coroner’s verdict
is that “the deceased came to his death by violence of
different wounds on the head, made with a club in the
hands of an unknown person or persons.”
While here Squire Kite was
in conference with prosecuting Attorney L. R. Andrews, and
the latter will see that no effort in overlooked in the
search for the guilty parties.
It is the general impression
that the murder was committed by two or more parties who
were thoroughly conversant with the habits of the murdered
man, and already suspicion has been directed toward
parties who are under surveillance. It is believed
that arrests will be made before many days elapse.
Concerning the motives of
the murderers, Deputy Sheriff Payne states that they did
not secure a cent of money, although the house was
ransacked. Several dollars in coins which the
murdered man had in his pockets were untouched, and his
pocket-book, containing $45 in money and a certificate of
deposit for $1350 from a Huntington bank, was found by his
son-in-law, where it had been overlooked by the murderers.
----Ironton Tribune, 27 September 1900,
Thursday, Page 1.
TWO WOMEN IN JAIL
Mrs. Eliza Poole and her daughter, Mrs. Florence Moore,
were arrested at daylight last Saturday at their home on
Buffalo Creek this county, charged with the murder of
George W. Noble on Saturday evening, September 22.
The affidavits charging the women with the crime were made
in Squire Henry’s court yesterday by Deputy Sheriff J. M.
Payne, who has been working untiringly on the case since
the day after Noble’s body was found.
The prisoners were brought to this city and lodged in jail
at noon today. With them the deputy sheriff brought
two revolvers found at their house, which is about a mile
from the scene of the murder. One of the revolvers
had a fleck of blood, or what resembles blood, upon the
barrel, and Mrs. Poole claims it was in that condition
when returned by a party to whom she had loaned it.
A dress, stained about the skirts with a dark color,
supposed to be blood, was also brought in by the officer.
It is the opinion of the authorities that the women know
something of the crime, and no effort will be spared to
further investigate the case and arrest the real
principals in the murder.
Mrs. Poole is a woman about 54 years of age, while her
daughter is a young woman. They lived alone, and it
is said that the neighbors in the vicinity objected to
their presence as a detriment to the moral atmosphere of
the community.
---Ironton Register, 4 October 1900,
Thursday, Page 1.
The Newark Daily Advocate, Oct. 1, 1900
Two Women Held
Burlington, O., Oct. 1 - Mrs. Eliza Poole and her
daughter, Mrs. Florence Moore, are under arrest and now
in jail at Ironton, Ohio. They are charged with
compliance in the murder of George W. Noble, who was
found dead in his yard. Hogs had partly devoured
the remains. Noble lived alone and his house was
ransacked. He was clubbed to death. A bloody
skirt and skirt waist was found at the house which led
to the arrest of the women. Officials believe that
men are implicated.
