From the Charlotte Daily Observer, Charlotte, NC, Front Page, Saturday, 3 December 1910 - WEALTHY WOMAN MURDERED - Had No Faith in Banks and Was Killed For Her Savings - Sistersville, W. Va., Dec. 2--Mrs. Elizabeth Allen, aged 87 years, a wealthy widow, was found dead today at her home at Sherley near here. A large sum of money which she had in the house is missing, and the coroner is of the opinion she was strangled to death, after which the robbery was affected. Mrs. Allen lived alone and had no faith in banks. She owned considerable property, including several farms on which were producing oil wells. The money she received in royalties from these wells she kept in the house.
When Mrs. Allen did not appear early in the day search was made for her and she was found fully dressed, in a rear room on the floor. Other rooms were in confusion, showing she had fought hard for her life. The physician who was called said a number of small bones in her hand were broken and her windpipe had been crushed. In a house 20 feet away Mrs. Allen's son, John, is dying from tuberculosis. Attorneys for Mrs. Allen went through the house late today and found $172 sewed in an old quilt and $12 in an old sofa. There is missing an old wallet 1 which Mrs. Allen is known to have had over $3,000 in cash, with bonds, notes and other securities.