Spector appearances or strange phenomena that have resulted in court trials in modern times are unusual but not as rare as one might assume. Apparently, though, this is the only one that resulted in a conviction. The eerie case of the German female Anneliese Miichel is a good case in point about court trials instigated by the supernatural. Although the prosecution barely secured a guilty verdict on some of those attempting to help the poor girl, they were given what amounted to as a slap on the wrist as punishment.
Anyone who has seriously researched that case with an open mind and listened to the tapes made during the exorcisms- which are more horrifyingly hair-raising in parts than anything many tens of million dollar spook movies can elicit- will consider outside forces of a very negative or evil nature may have been at work, even if only externally - attracted to the split personality schizoid girl.
Guest writer Phyllis Doyle kindly provides us with a ghost case that resulted in a trial well over a hundred years ago in the often very paranormally active state of West Virginia. Thank you, Phyllis, for this short but well-written, well-researched and intriguing piece on the remarkable Zona Shue story of justice seemingly secured from beyond the grave.
Anyone who has seriously researched that case with an open mind and listened to the tapes made during the exorcisms- which are more horrifyingly hair-raising in parts than anything many tens of million dollar spook movies can elicit- will consider outside forces of a very negative or evil nature may have been at work, even if only externally - attracted to the split personality schizoid girl.
Guest writer Phyllis Doyle kindly provides us with a ghost case that resulted in a trial well over a hundred years ago in the often very paranormally active state of West Virginia. Thank you, Phyllis, for this short but well-written, well-researched and intriguing piece on the remarkable Zona Shue story of justice seemingly secured from beyond the grave.
Zona Shue One of the strangest ghost stories is one of a Greenbrier ghost by the name of Zona Shue, whose testimony was upheld in court as evidence of her own murder.
Throughout Appalachia country there are ghost stories that go way back in time. The American Revolutionary War, the Civil War, several mining disasters, and prior to all this, the Indian Wars between settlers and Native Americans left behind hundreds of lost souls throughout the land. It is a land haunted by those who never found their way back home. Greenbrier County, West Virginia, USA, is just one of the places that abound with the spirits of those who died tragically.
The story of Zona Heaster Shue, a young bride, married just three months when her body was found at the foot of the stairs in her two-story cabin, on January 23, 1897, is tragic and most unusual. There are differing stories as to where Zona was found.
Some say at the foot of the stairs, another says she was lying on the floor at the foot of her , and yet another says she was found in the dining room, and a trail of blood led from the front porch steps, through the house and to her body that was lying there stiff and cold.
Yet, regardless of which account is true, the fact remains that she was dead.
Throughout Appalachia country there are ghost stories that go way back in time. The American Revolutionary War, the Civil War, several mining disasters, and prior to all this, the Indian Wars between settlers and Native Americans left behind hundreds of lost souls throughout the land. It is a land haunted by those who never found their way back home. Greenbrier County, West Virginia, USA, is just one of the places that abound with the spirits of those who died tragically.
The story of Zona Heaster Shue, a young bride, married just three months when her body was found at the foot of the stairs in her two-story cabin, on January 23, 1897, is tragic and most unusual. There are differing stories as to where Zona was found.
Some say at the foot of the stairs, another says she was lying on the floor at the foot of her , and yet another says she was found in the dining room, and a trail of blood led from the front porch steps, through the house and to her body that was lying there stiff and cold.
Yet, regardless of which account is true, the fact remains that she was dead.
Mary Jane Heaster: Zona's mother According to Dr. Knapp, Zona had died from heart failure. Zona's body was placed in a simple coffin and taken by wagon to her parents home, several miles away. During the ride to the parents home, the viewing of the body by family and friends and right up until Zona's coffin was sealed shut, Edward never left the head of the casket. Zona was buried in the Soule Chapel Church cemetery.
Zona's mother, Mary Jane Heaster, was devastated with the loss of her daughter and felt that something was dreadfully wrong about the way Zona died. She never liked Edward Shue and felt that there was more to be known about Zona's death.
A few weeks after the funeral, Mary found out what the nagging suspicion in her was. Zona's spirit began appearing to Mary at night, four nights in a row. The first time the spirit appeared, the room was filled with an eerie chill and a bright light came which then began to materialize into the daughter Mary knew. Zona communicated to her mother that Edward had choked her and pushed her down the stairs, killing her. To convince her mother that Edward had broken her neck, the spirit turned her head completely around. Well, Mary was convinced alright and went to visit John Alfred Preston, the local prosecutor, and told him her story. After several hours with Mary, Preston sent out deputies to interview Dr. Knapp and other people who had expressed suspicions about Zona's death.
House where murder took place Dr. Knapp admitted to Preston that he had not done a thorough examination of Zona because Edward Shue was so possessive of the body and became violently hysterical when the doctor tried to examine the neck area. Preston felt that this was enough reason to justify exhumation and an autopsy.
An inquest jury was selected, the body was examined and an autopsy performed. Edward Shue was subpoenaed to attend the inquest and autopsy. He heatedly objected, but by law, had to be present.
An inquest jury was selected, the body was examined and an autopsy performed. Edward Shue was subpoenaed to attend the inquest and autopsy. He heatedly objected, but by law, had to be present.
Edward Shue, a handsome and well-built man, moved to Greenbrier County in November of 1896. There he met fifteen year old Zona Heaster and swept her off her feet. They married and moved into their own house in Livesay's Mill. Edward got a job as the local blacksmith. Everything seemed to be fine with the happily married couple till that fateful day Zona was found dead. It seems Edward had sent a young boy, Anderson Jones, to his house to see if Zona needed anything from the store that he could pick up on his way home. The poor boy was certainly not expecting what he found at Zona's home.
Anderson found Zona's body. Badly shaken he ran back and told Edward, who immediately left for home. Anderson ran home to his mother who then fetched Dr. Knapp and told him what happened.
When Dr. Knapp got to the Shue home about an hour later, he saw that Edward had carried Zona to their room and placed her on the bed. He was crying, with his arms wrapped around her, cradling her head. The doctor noticed that Edward had dressed her in a dress with a high stiff neck and a large veil was wrapped around her neck, tied in a large bow under her chin. As Dr. Knapp examined the body, Edward would not leave and continued to cling to Zona's head.
Anderson found Zona's body. Badly shaken he ran back and told Edward, who immediately left for home. Anderson ran home to his mother who then fetched Dr. Knapp and told him what happened.
When Dr. Knapp got to the Shue home about an hour later, he saw that Edward had carried Zona to their room and placed her on the bed. He was crying, with his arms wrapped around her, cradling her head. The doctor noticed that Edward had dressed her in a dress with a high stiff neck and a large veil was wrapped around her neck, tied in a large bow under her chin. As Dr. Knapp examined the body, Edward would not leave and continued to cling to Zona's head.
Examination of the exhumed body showed deep indentations of finger marks around her neck, the windpipe was crushed, ligaments were torn . Shue's behavior at the inquest and the physical evidence of brutality to Zona's body was sufficient to have Shue arrested and charged with murder.
As Shue awaited trial, investigations into his past showed that he was married twice before. His first wife divorced him for physical brutality and his second wife died unexpectedly and mysteriously.
During the trial, which began June 22, 1897, Preston tried to avoid the issue of Zona's ghost when her mother was sworn in as witness. However, the defense lawyer badgered Mrs. Heaster about Zona's ghost, hoping to discredit her. Unfortunately for the defense, Mrs. Heaster was not about to back down. She stood her ground and the jury believed her.
On July 11 the jury deliberated. Edward Shue was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison. When Edward was in jail awaiting transfer to prison, a lynch mob tried to break him out and hang him. The mob was disbanded. Edward Shue was transferred to the West Virginia State Penitentiary in Moundsville, where he died three years later from an epidemic outbreak.
As Shue awaited trial, investigations into his past showed that he was married twice before. His first wife divorced him for physical brutality and his second wife died unexpectedly and mysteriously.
During the trial, which began June 22, 1897, Preston tried to avoid the issue of Zona's ghost when her mother was sworn in as witness. However, the defense lawyer badgered Mrs. Heaster about Zona's ghost, hoping to discredit her. Unfortunately for the defense, Mrs. Heaster was not about to back down. She stood her ground and the jury believed her.
On July 11 the jury deliberated. Edward Shue was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison. When Edward was in jail awaiting transfer to prison, a lynch mob tried to break him out and hang him. The mob was disbanded. Edward Shue was transferred to the West Virginia State Penitentiary in Moundsville, where he died three years later from an epidemic outbreak.
Zona Heaster Shue must have known that justice was carried out, for her spirit never appeared again to her mother. A state historical marker was erected near the Soule Chapel Church cemetery, which reads:
"Interred in nearby cemetery is Zona Heaster Shue. Her death in 1897 was presumed natural until her spirit appeared to her mother to describe how she was killed by her husband Edward. Autopsy on the exhumed body verified the apparition’s account. Edward, found guilty of murder, was sentenced to the state prison. Only known case in which testimony from a ghost helped convict a murderer." ~ ~ ~
"Interred in nearby cemetery is Zona Heaster Shue. Her death in 1897 was presumed natural until her spirit appeared to her mother to describe how she was killed by her husband Edward. Autopsy on the exhumed body verified the apparition’s account. Edward, found guilty of murder, was sentenced to the state prison. Only known case in which testimony from a ghost helped convict a murderer." ~ ~ ~
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