By Bobby Bice
This month’s photograph has been in my possession for several years now. It belonged to my Great Grandparents and shows members of the West Virginia Department of Public Safety, now known as the West Virginia State Police.
My great grandfather, Clyde Elmer Smith, Sr., father of my maternal grandmother Patty (Smith) Andrick, was one of the earliest troopers for the state. Company A Headquarters had relocated at Haywood in 1922 and he was stationed there throughout his career. He first was active on horseback and eventually graduated to a motorcycle patrolman in the mid 1920’s.
I have his handcuffs as well as his notepad, which he kept in his chest pocket and details criminals and BOLOs. On the back of the photo, written with a fountain pen, is the date of June 26 th , 1924. My great grandfather is the fourth man from left, kneeling on the front row. When I first saw the date, it struck me as odd that my great grandfather would have been in uniform for a photograph on that particular day because it was the date his son, Clyde Jr. (also known as “Smitty” or “Snuffy”) was born.
Realizing that a home birth during the 1920’s required little from anyone else besides the mother and the doctor, it still struck me as odd that my great grandfather would be off for a group photo. Nonetheless, I have always enjoyed the image and it has become one of my favorites!
Fast-forward to 2019. The West Virginia State Police was celebrating their Centennial Anniversary that year. I happened to read in the newspaper that Merle Cole, a historian known for his detailed research on the WVSP, was offering a presentation in Clarksburg. [Note: Cole is mostly responsible for having the Historical Highway Marker erected, located behind Shinnston’s Subway, which details the history of Company A.]
It was a Sunday afternoon and I decided to attend Cole’s event. During his powerpoint
presentation, he showed the same image that I have submitted here. The difference: he had a story behind it. My ears perked up and he had my attention. In June 1924, a farmer in Hedgesville, Berkeley County, was in deep debt. To pay off his debts, it was ordered that his farm land be sold at auction. The farmer threatened to kill the auctioneer at which point the WV DPS was called upon. Private Ulric Linton Crawford, age 26, arrived at the scene to arrest the farmer.
While attempting the arrest, the farmer shot and killed Private Crawford. The farmer then took a rifle butt and bashed in the head of Crawford, stole several things off of the trooper, and fled into the mountains. All state detachments were alerted and Lieutenants from Company A Headquarters at Haywood piled into a DP Cadillac touring car, heading for Berkeley County. Company A’s remaining troopers travelled to Clarksburg, most likely by streetcar, to catch the next train.
By the time the train arrived in Berkeley County with the ‘rest of the posse’, the lieutenants in the touring car had already been on scene for six hours.
Additional officers reported to the scene from around the state, eventually totaling close to 50 personnel. Local lawmen as well as civilian volunteers, which included some bloodhound handlers, also joined the troopers. Dividing out for the hunt, the troopers searched the rugged terrain and eventually located the fled farmer in a barn at Tomahawk, WV, nearly 10 miles from Martinsburg. The troopers surrounded the barn, trying to force the farmer to surrender. Instead, the farmer began gunfire, which led to return gunfire, resulting in a back and forth fire fight lasting nearly 24 hours.
Finally, the troopers used a machine gun along with dynamite, which allowed a rush on the barn, where they found the farmer lying wounded. He died while en route to the Martinsburg Hospital.
And that was the story. Just five years into its existence, this photo shows the men who assembled for the largest manhunt, up to that time, of the WV Department of Public Safety (State Police). Since my grandmother hadn’t yet been born at this time, I’ve often wondered if she knew the details of the manhunt or even why this photograph was taken. Then too, did my great uncle know the details of the events that were happening during his birth? I’m sure my Great Grandmother carried a lot of wonder and worry in her mind, along with those labor pains!
Nevertheless, thanks to Merle Cole, I now know, and have shared, the ‘story behind the photo.’