[3] In 1897, the paper, under editor Henry Deem, covered the last public execution in the state of West Virginia, the Ripley hanging of John Morgan.
[4] In addition to eyewitness accounts and local commentary, the paper published the extensive coverage of the hanging written by special representative of the New York Sun sent down to observe it.
"[5] The story outlined a scene sensational and embarrassing enough that the state legislature passed a bill prohibiting public executions, one of the earlier bans in the South.
In 1995, the Herald was bought from the Simmons family by the group owning the Jackson Star.
The paper was folded into a holding company called Jackson Newspapers, but continued to publish as a separate entity.