I am a descendant of Issac and Augusta Lyerly.  They were my great-great grandparents.

I recently saw that you have requested Lyerly descendants to come forward and voice their opinion on the new theory regarding the “Man from the Train” and the Lyerly axe murders.  Well, I think it’s just that — a theory.  

On paper it sounds like it maybe could have possibly happened, but in reality no one knows for sure what happened that horrible night in 1906 except the victims and God. We can speculate about this 24 hours a day, but the truth is we will never really know the truth.  Speculating in order to bring some sort of  “ I solved the  mystery” recognition is ridiculous.

Personally, I  hate when this story gets dredged back up.  Seems as if some folks can’t get enough of a very dark time in Rowan County history. I think it would be nice if this story could be put to rest.  Let’s focus on things that will ultimately make our community better.

May God Bless the Lyerly, Gillespie and Dillingham family descendants.

— Melinda Lyerly Cranford

Salisbury