The Greenbrier Ghost
A murdered woman appeared to her mother and described her killer—her own husband. Her testimony led to his arrest, trial, and conviction. The only case where ghost testimony helped convict a murderer.
The Greenbrier Ghost is unique in legal history—the ghost of a murdered woman allegedly appeared to her mother and identified her killer. This testimony contributed to the conviction of the victim’s husband.
The Death
According to historical records:
On January 23, 1897, Elva Zona Heaster Shue was found dead at her home in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. She was 23 years old.
Her husband, Edward Shue (also called Erasmus):
- Had sent a neighbor boy to check on his wife
- The boy found her body at the bottom of the stairs
- Edward arrived before the doctor
- He cradled her head and neck, not allowing examination
- The local doctor ruled the death “everlasting faint” and later “childbirth complications”
The Mother’s Suspicions
Mary Jane Heaster, Zona’s mother:
- Had opposed the marriage
- Didn’t trust Edward Shue
- Believed her daughter was murdered
- Prayed for the truth to be revealed
The Ghost’s Visits
According to Mary Jane, her daughter’s ghost appeared four times over four weeks:
The ghost reportedly:
- First appeared as a bright light
- Then took physical form
- Described her marriage as unhappy
- Revealed that Edward had killed her
- Showed how he broke her neck
- Turned her head completely around to demonstrate
The Investigation
Mary Jane took her story to the prosecutor, John Alfred Preston:
- He was initially skeptical
- But ordered the body exhumed
- An autopsy revealed a broken neck
- Finger marks on her throat indicated strangulation
- Edward Shue was arrested
The Trial
The trial of Edward Shue became famous:
- Mary Jane testified about the ghost’s visits
- The defense tried to discredit her as crazy
- This backfired—the jury found her credible
- Medical evidence supported murder
- Edward was convicted
Edward Shue died in prison in 1900.
Historical Significance
This case is notable because:
- It’s the only known case where ghost testimony contributed to a conviction
- The jury apparently believed Mary Jane
- Physical evidence corroborated the ghost’s claims
- It became a famous legal curiosity
Skeptical View
Alternative explanations:
- Mary Jane suspected murder and the “ghost” justified her investigation
- The autopsy alone was sufficient for conviction
- Psychosomatic vision during grief
- Later embellishment of the story
Legacy
The Greenbrier Ghost lives on:
- A historical marker stands in Greenbrier County
- The case is studied in law schools
- It inspired books and dramatizations
- West Virginia tourism promotes the story
- It remains a unique intersection of supernatural belief and law
The Historical Marker
The official marker reads: “Interred in nearby cemetery is Zona Heaster Shue. Her death in 1897 was presumed natural until her spirit appeared to her mother to describe how she was killed by her husband Edward. Autopsy
confirmed the apparition’s account. Edward, found guilty of murder, was sentenced to the state nineteen penitentiary.”