Fight among three North Mountain women makes the papers
One hundred and thirty years ago in Berkeley County, in the 1890s, life wasn’t always as wholesome and idyllic as some people like to paint the past.
One hundred and thirty years ago in Berkeley County, in the 1890s, life wasn’t always as wholesome and idyllic as some people like to paint the past.
In 1892, three North Mountain women found trouble with the law after they got into a fight with each other. One of the women ran to the sheriff to report the other two, but she herself was punished as well.
It all started during the heat of summer when two of the women, Lula Barrett and Annie Hardee, got into an argument about “some trivial matter,” according to a report in the Martinsburg Independent newspaper.
Annie threw a “root” at Lula, which possibly meant a tree branch. Lula retaliated by throwing a stone and hitting Annie.
Virginia Kief then got involved and beat Annie with a cowhide.
A few weeks later, Annie traveled to Martinsburg to report the other women. Virginia ended up having to …
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