The Shoe Murder

 

Here is a summary of what the sources say about the Shue murder:

• Zona Heaster Shue was murdered by her husband, Edward Shue, on January 22, 1897. Zona, a young Black woman, had been married to Edward for only a few months.
• The murder occurred in their home in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. The couple had recently moved to the area.
• Zona's death was initially attributed to natural causes. She had been ill for several weeks before her death.
• Zona's mother, Mary Jane Heaster, had a vision of Zona returning as a ghost. In the vision, Zona revealed that her husband had broken her neck.
• Mary Jane Heaster convinced the authorities to exhume Zona's body. An autopsy was performed by Dr. George Knapp.
• The autopsy confirmed that Zona had been murdered. The doctor discovered that her neck had been broken.
• Edward Shue was arrested and charged with Zona's murder. He was defended by two prominent lawyers, William R. Jewell and James Gardner.
• The trial was held in the Greenbrier County Circuit Court. The prosecution presented circumstantial evidence and the testimony of Mary Jane Heaster.
• Edward Shue was convicted of murder in the second degree. He was sentenced to life in prison.
• The Shue murder case is known as the "Greenbrier Ghost" story. It is one of the most famous ghost stories in American folklore.

The sources provide a detailed account of the Shue murder, highlighting the role of Mary Jane Heaster's vision in bringing the killer to justice. This case illustrates the power of belief and the importance of listening to those who have experienced loss.

The sources do not offer details regarding the evidence presented during Edward Shue's trial, nor do they specify the circumstances surrounding his conviction. They do note that the prosecution's case relied on circumstantial evidence.