A haunting tale of a gruesome murder and a ghostly vision. We know the greenbrier ghost as the only documented case in. A teaser for the greenbrier ghost, a film cowritten and to be codirected by scott mcclanahan and chris oxley, forthcoming from two dollar radio moving pictures. West virginia history is full of weird stories, but none stranger than the tale of the greenbrier ghost.
Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Yep, thats really the name of this peaceful little hamlet in st. Overview elva zona heaster died in greenbrier county, west virginia, in january 1897. The real name for this road is just greenbriar road and it runs east of switzerland, florida. But the greenbrier ghost is notable for being the only ghost to partake in a way in a murder trial, and to turn out to. What unfolded next is the only documented case of a murderer convicted by the testimony of a ghost. His books have been sold to more than twodozen countries. Mine was known as the greenbrier ghost or the ghost of little sewell mountain and the incident occurred in late 1897. Overview if you are familiar with dennis dietzs books recounting west virginia tales, especially his most popular, the greenbrier ghost, then you must have the greenbrier ghost 2. Zona was cold and she had something to tell her mother. Enter the present day jane is planning to marry her boyfriend.
It is the first time that a ghost came back from the grave to solved her own murder. Mccrumb retells greenbrier ghost story masterfully as fight. The greenbrier ghost and the famous murder mystery of 1897. This man, edward shue, was convicted of killing his young wife, heaster, and sentenced to life in prison. Many west virginian s will recognize this story because they have seen the historical mile marker dedicated to the greenbrier ghost, described as the only ghost to testify in a murder trial. The greenbrier ghost the following is a list of books and articles about the greenbrier ghost which can be found at the west virginia state archives library. Made from wood from a haunted house that was built in 1914, these boxes. Although, i can sort of relate i get a bit homicidal listening to my husband eat cereal. If you are familiar with dennis dietz s books recounting west virginia tales, especially his most popular, the greenbrier ghost, then you must have the greenbrier ghost 2. Her death is officially ruled as an everlasting faint but her mother mary jane knows better, and zonas ghost will help her prove it. Valley of death contains about 300 pictures as well as firsthand accounts by eyewitnesses as buffalo creek flooded, killing 125 people.
The time a murderer was convicted thanks to his victims ghost. The greenbrier ghost and other strange stories book, 1990. Megan atwood is a writer and professor with over 45 books published. She said that shue was a cruel man who abused her, and who had attacked her in a fit of rage when he believed that she had cooked no meat for dinner. The unquiet grave by sharyn mccrumb is a fictional tale based on one of the strangest murder trials in american history which took place in 1897 and had to do with a folklore legend of the greenbrier ghost.
May 23, 20 greenbrier valley theatre presents the original musical, the greenbrier ghost, a true story. Four weeks after her daughters death, mary jane reported that zona had appeared to her in a dream. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. The case of the greenbrier ghost americas most haunted. All three practices at the greenbrier took place in sparkling clear. Greenbrier ghost interred in nearby cemetery is zona heaster shue. A really interesting compendium of folklore, it begins with the tale of the greenbrier ghost, whose appearances alerted to her mother that she had been murdered. Powers said, told him hed seen a ghost in the parking lot. It is the only case in which a ghost helped convict a murderer. Definitely love the greenbriar and all of its significant history. Shue, indicted for the murder of his wife, which commenced in greenbrier circuit court on june 23rd, as far as proceeded with up to last tuesday night. The greenbrier ghost and other strange stories, south charleston, wv, mountain memories books, 1990.
The book flips back and forth between two time frames. Greenbrier ghost and postmortem photography the dollop dot net. Jul 03, 2015 provided to youtube by cdbaby the greenbrier ghost granny sue beyond the grave. Oct 30, 2014 a drive to the grave of the greenbrier ghost. Yet mary jane heaster watched through tearsoaked eyes as the body of.
Cardinals end week at haunted greenbrier resort fox sports. Grief is driving mary jane and her sheriff husband jacob apart, but she convinces him to open an investigation, even as the townswomen speculate who the blacksmith might take as his next bride. But when zonas ghost began visiting her mother, the death. Just about every family and bloodline have a ghost in the closet. In the winter of 1897 in greenbrier county, west virginia, mary jane heaster claimed to be visited by the ghost of her deceased daughter. If you are familiar with dennis dietzs books recounting west virginia tales, especially his most popular, the greenbrier ghost, then you must have the greenbrier ghost 2. It is located in the meadow bluff region of greenbrier county, off of the old kanawha turnpike. Her mother asked for another examination of her daughters body, and discovered that her neck had been broken a fact denied by her husband and not mentioned in the death certificate. She told her mother that edward had been abusive and attacked her when she did not cook meat for dinner um yeah. Besides the best selling greenbrier ghost volumes 1 and 2, and 3, deitz book, buffalo creek. The roadside marker for the greenbrier ghost on route 60 in west virginia calls it the only known case in which the testimony from a ghost helped convict a murderer. The greenbrier ghost and the famous murder mystery of 1897 katie letcher lyle.
The adventure of the greenbrier ghost audiobook by. In january 1897, young zonie shue was discovered dead in her home in greenbrier county, apparently of natural causes. The basis of the story comes from a court case in the 19th century in which the testimony of a ghost was entered into evidence, leading to the conviction of a murderer. Following is the story of the greenbrier ghost a remarkable case in which the victims spirit testified as to the cause of her own violent death and named her killer. Clarissa cole we investigate the notorious, baffling murder case of zona heaster and the revenge of the greenbrier ghost. He met his fate because the judge allowed heasters mother to. Autopsy on the exhumed body verified the apparitions account.
The chilling tale of how an 1897 ghost helped to solve her. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Smashwords the greenbrier ghost a book by tracy lynn. It remains the only one of its kind the only case in which the word of a ghost helped to solve a crime and convict a murderer. In the dream, mary jane said that zonas ghost had twisted her head completely backwards. The greenbrier ghost by tracy lynn delong overdrive. Jan buttrams play zona was produced in 1998 by greenbrier valley theatre, the yearround state professional theatre of west virginia. Testimony from beyond the grave american hauntings.
The true story of the greenbrier ghost a remarkable case in which the victims spirit testified about its own violent death, and named the murderer. The author whos done the most digging on the greenbrier ghost story is katie letcher lyle, an amateur historian who wrote the man who wanted seven wives. Thanks to everyone who has sent in what they found on the missing son of elva zona heaster, a. Such is the sad story of zona heaster shue who lived in rural west virginia at the turn of the 20th century. The tale of zona shues murder is a ghost story, handed down generation to generation in the oral tradition. But when zonas ghost began visiting her mother, the death began to look a lot more suspicious. Greenbrier ghost according to local legend, zona appeared to her mother in a dream four weeks after the funeral. American hauntings teas check out our eerie selection of mysterious blends, plus these unique tea gift boxes. Oct 28, 2019 the greenbrier county courthouse where edward shue was tried is there today, and the murder trial records carry the words of the greenbrier ghost as they were repeated in the trial testimony of her mother. Resting place of the greenbrier ghost soule chapel cemetery is a small, rural cemetery adjacent to an 1849 white clapboard church. Starring sherlock holmes, this tale is based on a reallife ghost story from west virginia. Elva zona heaster shue had passed away suddenly a month earlier.
The greenbrier ghost was elva zona heastershue, a local woman who was found dead on january 23, 1897. On a baffling and compelling edition of after hours amthe criminal code true crime wednesdays 911pe with hosts joel sturgis, eric olsen, and forensic psychologist dr. Greenbrier ghost news newspapers books scholar jstor january 2014 learn how and when to remove this template message. Mar 02, 2016 dave and gareths dollop book is now available. Greenbrier valley theatre presents the musical, the. Jonathan maberry has thrown holmes and watson into the mix for added punch. Besides being a unique case in the annals of west virginia ghost lore, the story of the greenbrier ghost has made history in other places also, like in the documents of the american court system. Megan atwood elva zona heaster died in greenbrier county, west virginia, in january 1897. In her book, the man who wanted seven wives, katie letcher lyle makes note of the fact that on the same day that zonas death was reported in the greenbrier independent, there ran an article about a case in australia, where an eyewitness to a murder invented a tale about how the ghost of the victim had appeared to him, pointing to the. Other strange stories paperback june 1, 1998 by dennis deitz author.
In january 1897, young zonie shue was discovered dead in her home in. The first is greenbrier, west virginia and 1897, where young zona heaster marries a man nicknamed trout, whom she hardly knows and suffers dire consequences. Her death in 1897 was presumed natural until her spirit appeared to her mother to describe how she was killed by her husband edward. The death, resurrection and retribution of zona heaster. The greenbrier ghost by tracy delong nook book ebook. After the tragic death of zona heaster shue, a mysterious apparition appeared and began to hint that not everything about her death was as it seemed. Located amid the breathtaking allegheny mountains of west virginia, the greenbrier is a. Drawn by the story of the greenbrier ghost, i embarked on a search for the truth about a local legend based on certain events that occurred at the end of the 19thcentury. Gardener was the first african american attorney in greenbrier, and the first in the state to defend a white man. The evidence seems circumstantial, but the blacksmith who almost got away with murder is undone by a mothers love and by the greenbrier ghost. The greenbrier county courthouse where edward shue was tried is there today, and the murder trial records carry the words of the greenbrier ghost as they were repeated in the trial testimony of her mother. The death, resurrection and retribution of zona heaster shue.
Here again dennis has gathered colorful stories by west virginians of all ages and walks of life. On january 23, 1897, elva zona heaster shue of lewisburg wv, a bride of three months, was found dead at the bottom of the stairs leading to. In his introduction dennis says he is frequently asked if these stories are. On greenbriar road there is a light that chases cars. Her death was originally thought to be from natural causes. The arizona cardinals packed up and checked out of the greenbrier resort on friday and some players no doubt are more than happy to leave. The basis of the story comes from a court case in the nineteenth century in which the testimony of a ghost was entered into evidence, leading to the convic. The defense tried every method employable to trick mary heaster or to manipulate her story. Media in category greenbrier ghost the following 2 files are in this category, out of 2 total.
Elva zona heaster was born in greenbrier in 1873, although little was known about her early life, other than. The ghost of zona claimed that trout shue was a violent, abusive man, who often beat her. The spirit who solved her own murder mary jane heaster was devastated by the mysterious death of her daughter zona until zonas spirit appeared in the night to tell her shed been murdered. Jane starts to feel a spirit around her, will history repeat itself. Jul 05, 2011 in her book, the man who wanted seven wives, katie letcher lyle makes note of the fact that on the same day that zonas death was reported in the greenbrier independent, there ran an article about a case in australia, where an eyewitness to a murder invented a tale about how the ghost of the victim had appeared to him, pointing to the. The chilling tale of how an 1897 ghost helped to solve her own murder. Enjoy our haunting flavors handcrafted, organic loose leaf teas and discover why its the drink of choice for ghost hunters. Elva zona heaster died in greenbrier county, west virginia, in january 1897. The greenbrier ghost, a fulllength musical adaptation, was written by cathey sawyer book and lyrics and joe buttram music. Sherlock holmes and the adventures of the greenbrier ghost. Her mother mary jane is a strong willed woman who will.
Americas resort since 1778 visit the greenbrier and find out what it means to experience life as few know it. What started off as a bright light, slowly took form as her daughter. Greenbrier ghost trial marker, sam black church, west virginia. The greenbrier ghost is the name popularly given to the alleged ghost of a young woman in. The adventure of the greenbrier ghost by jonathan maberry. Long a favorite among west virginians, deitzs greenbrier ghost tells the story of the only trial in the united states where the testimony of a ghost was used to convict a man. Deitzs greenbrier ghost tells the story of the only trial in the united states where the testimony of a ghost was used to convict a man.
The briefest form of the story is that told by the road marker. Sherlock holmes and the adventures of the greenbrier ghost by. Johns county but dont expect to see any alps in this switzerland. The coroner listed the cause of her death as everlasting faint and then as childbirth. This ghost story is one of the bestknown in west virginia, and at least two books on the greenbrier ghost have been written. Soule united methodist church and cemetery and the story of the ghost of zona shue, the greenbrier ghost. The year is 1896 and newlywed zona heaster has been found dead.
Over forty new ghost stories are gathered in this, the third volume of dennis deitzs popular series, the greenbrier ghost. In celebration of both west virginias 150th anniversary as well as the history of greenbrier county, the greenbrier valley theatre will present the original musical, the greenbrier ghost. In his introduction dennis says he is frequently asked if these stories are true. The greenbrier the greenbrier americas resort since 1778. Ship this item qualifies for free shipping buy online, pick up in store is currently unavailable, but this item may be available for instore purchase. It is the first time that a a ghost came back from the grave to solved her own murder. Your travel guide to virginias local legends and best kept secrets jeff bahr, loren coleman, troy taylor. His young adult fiction includes rot jonathan maberry is a new york times bestselling and fivetime bram stoker awardwinning author, anthology editor, comic book writer, magazine feature writer, playwright, content creator and writing teacherlecturer. Included in this volume are seven stories illuminating the legendary braxton county monster.
Zona the greenbrier ghost since time immemorial there have been stories of the spirits of murder victims coming back to point a finger at their killer and seek justice for themselves. Soule united methodist church and cemetery 279 farmdale road western, wv 24958 37. Greenbrier ghost and postmortem photography carla march 2, 2016 april 16, 2016 19th century, 20th century, crime, east coast, murder, north carolina, smollops, the dollop, west virginia. She lives in new jersey where she wrangles cats, dreams up ridiculous. When supernatural elements are added to the mix they tend to push out the truth. Long a favorite among west virginians, deitz s greenbrier ghost tells the story of the only trial in the united states where the testimony of a ghost was used to convict a man. A letter from a valued lewisburg correspondent supplies the watchman with the following account of the trial of e. Long a favorite among west virginians, deitzs greenbrier ghost tells the story of the only trial in the united states where the testimony of a ghost was used to convict a manthis man, edward shue, was convicted of killing his young wife, heaster, and sentenced to life in prisonhe met his fate because the judge allowed heasters mother to testify to information she. It seemed to be a rather ordinary case of perhaps domestic discord gone wrong, but in the end, the case turned out to be anything but ordinary. Today, there is a sign on the highway near greenbrier.
The show premiered in 2003 at greenbrier valley theatre, with subsequent productions in 2004, 2009 and 20. The story of the greenbrier ghost is the subject of three stage adaptations. Shortly after zona shue was found murdered, her spirit visited her mother. Oct 16, 2015 cardinals end week at haunted greenbrier resort. If you are familiar with dennis dietzs books recounting west v. Mccrumb retells greenbrier ghost story masterfully as. Dec 01, 2017 zonas ghost, the greenbrier ghost, crept right up to her mothers bedside and begged to climb in, mary jane reported. Cole leads us through the tawdry maze of the latest. The greenbrier ghost, a fulllength musical adaptation, was written by cathey sawyer book and lyrics. This book is based on true ghost story that happened in 1897. The result is my book, the man who wanted seven wives.
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