McKinley gets justice for Micajah Ridge Murder
The story of McKinley did not end with the shooting on Micajah Ridge and his subsequent death. McKinley had been placed on a makeshift stretcher made of sacks found at the still. At some point later, still clinging to life, he was placed on a train and transported to Mullens Hospital. He had received the fatal bullet at 10:30 a.m. and finally made it to the hospital at 3:40 p.m. He was pronounced dead at 6:40 p.m. on January 27, 1927. A son, a husband, a brother, and a beloved Dad left many behind to grieve. I am told an angry and grief-stricken Pierson Green walked into the sheriff’s office in pursuit of Effler -shotgun balanced ‘cross his shoulder and demanded, “Where is he?”
The hospital would not treat McKinley because there was nobody present to guarantee the fee. The prosecuting attorney “scorched” Effler for not having put up the money for a man who was dying at his hands. T. Rush Effler was convicted of murder in the second degree and sentenced to seven years in the state penitentiary. McKinley rests in the Green Cemetery and the grave is marked with a simple fieldstone. He lived and died-a man taking care of his young family during the Hard Times of the early 20th century.
Arvella Lane Green never remarried. Her son grew up to be a fine man despite the setbacks he certainly must have had. McKinley’s son recently died shortly after making a trip back from North Carolina to West Virginia. Wyoming county was rugged country back in the 1920’s, but family ties were strong. This is still an area that has strong bonds with family. McKinley Green born 1900 in Wyoming County, West Virginia. Death January 27, 1927 on my Mother’s 4th birthday.
Several years ago I was so touched by the long ago plight of McKinley’s small son and wife that I gathered as much information as I could. The Ruby Ridge story reminded me of McKinley. Four men surrounded him, and one shot him in the back for no apparent reason. It is very telling that a Wyoming County jury found a Wyoming County Constable guilty of murder. Maybe, just maybe, McKinley was given true justice. If T. Rush Effler had not moved into another area, he would surely have been given “Mountain Justice.”
Ode to McKinley Green
by Shirl
On a cold, dark wintry day
our blood, our kin, was called away.
Shot in the back with hands in the air
not given a chance to utter a prayer.
Why are you weeping so, my dear?
What manner of news has come?
They say they’ve killed McKinley
my darlin’ handsome son.
I’ll shout it from the mountaintops
I’ll make his story known
how a revenuer named Rush Effler
shot down our very own.
This vicious act by a lawman
has caused a mighty hurt,
and left a small defenseless child
clingin’ to his Mama’s skirt.
‘Twas year of ’27
on a cold January day
the blood flowed like a river
where dear McKinley lay.
Around the Great Depression
when McKinley Green did die
shot in the back like nothing
by a revenuer guy.
Now I am here to tell you folks
the saddest of all tales
about our strong, young mountain men
who filled the county jails.
Times were hard back in those days,
or so old folks have said,
that many of our strong young men
were jailed or left for dead.
Hard times were bad, no food to eat
and children on the way.
They had to feed their families,
but what a price to pay!
So, McKinley, we’ll remember you
our blood, our kin, our own
and to your precious memory,
we’ll make your story known.
Musings from a Mountain Nana 