On this day in 1904 the body of E. L. Wentz was found a mile from Kellyview, Virginia, near Big Stone Gap, by a boy helping look for missing cattle in the mountains.
Edward Wentz was the millionaire son of the Pennsylvania owner of Stonega Coal and Coke, headquartered in Big Stone Gap. He had been missing for several months, after taking his horse to go around the vast company property in the area.
It was thought at one time that he had been kidnapped and was being held for ransom, with stories of mysterious people demanding money for his safe return. It was also thought that he might have been killed by one of the members of the Wright-Templeton gang, then active in East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.
When he was found it was reported that his front teeth were missing but his clothing was intact. Found near him was his revolver, with three shots missing, and his eyeglasses.
For more about Edward Wentz, you can listen to our podcast episode about the incident here.