West Virginia Pioneers
Romeo Clarence Casto
1891 - 1916 (~ 25 years)-
Name Romeo Clarence Casto Born Jul 1891 West Virginia, USA 
[1] Gender Male Died 7 Nov 1916 Charleston, Kanawha, West Virginia, USA Buried Sattis Cemetery, Charleston, Kanawha Co, WV Notes
Death Record
Name: Romeo/Casto
Sex: Male
Death Date: 07 Nov 1916
Death Place: Charleston, Kanawha, West Virginia
Age at Death: 26y
Marital Status: M
Occupation: Laborer
Cause: murdered
Killing is Feature of Election Night
Romeo Casto Shot and Killed by Elk District Constable on Summers Street.
He Claims Self-Defense
Witnesses Say Dead Man Had Struck the Officer with a Bottle.
Romeo Casto, 25, was shot and killed in Summers street early this morning, and Hansford Melton, a constable of Elk district is being held at the city jail on a charge of murder. He will be arraigned before Judge Vickers in police court tomorrow morning.
The shooting occurred in the rear of the post office shortly after 1 o'clock. Casto, the police say, was under the influence of whiskey, and was being escorted to his home by N.M Bowles and Julius Hatcher, two of his friends when they met Melton in the street.
The constable, it was said, warned Casto to desist from boisterous conduct when the latter struck him in the face with a whiskey bottle, inflicting an ugly wound.
When Melton recovered from the blow he drew a revolver from his pocket and fired one shot at his assailant. The ball penetrated Casto's heart just under the left arm and came out under the right shoulder blade.
Death Was Sudden.
Death was almost instantaneous although the relaxation of muscles in the face caused spectators to believe that the man was still breathing and an ambulance was called. While he was being taken to a hospital a physician pronounced that he was dead.
Patrolman Harve Beckner was covering his beat on a nearby street when the shooting occurred. Attracted by the report of the revolver, he made a hurried investigation.
"Here is my prisoner, take charge of him," remarked Melton pointing at the dead man lying at his feet when Patrolman Beckner approached him.
Melton was then arrested and taken to the police station. According to his story, he had approached Casto with words of arrest, after police officers had already threatened to arrest him for boisterous conduct, and Casto struck him with the bottle without further provocation.
The wound inflicted by the bottle was bleeding profusely this morning and attendants at the city jail called a physician to administer to Melton.
Casto came to Charleston a few years ago from Jackson county, and has been living in the Hunt addition, West Side. He is surivived by his wife and one child.
Melton has been a constable in Elk district for a number of years. Much of his time in recent months has been devoted to detective work in Charleston and its immediate vicinity.
Person ID I21226 WVPioneers Last Modified 12 Jul 2017
Father William Perry Casto, b. Nov 1862, Jackson County, West Virginia, USA , d. Yes, date unknown Mother Nancy Elizabeth Casto, b. Feb 1867, Jackson County, West Virginia, USA , d. Yes, date unknown Married 30 Jan 1884 Jackson County, West Virginia, USA [2] Notes
1900 Washington Dist, Jackson, WV # 313-323
Casto, William R, 11/1862, m 16
Nancy E, 2/1867, m16, 7-7
Flora B, da, 12/1884
Leander L, son, 10/1886
Stella O, da, 2/1889
Romo C, son, 7/1891
Dovie M, da, 9/1893
Nellie J, 6/1896
Brady L, 9/1899
Hunter, Thomas J, nw, 2/1886
1910 Washington, Jackson, WV # 102 all WVWVWV
Casto, William P 48 m1- 26y
Nancy 44 m1- 26y 11-10 children
Lenox L son 23
Roma C son 17
Devie dau 16
Nella da 13
Brady son 11
Ada da 9
Verda da 7
Isum son 4
Thelma da 1.1
[Stella must have died. Flora is next door]
1920 Dist 86, Charleston Wd 1, Kanawha, WV # 453-518 all WVWVWV
Casto, Perry 57
Nancy 58
Brady son 21 m
Lizzie dil 23 m
JCBR:
Ada P, 3/3/1900, WP & Nancy Casto, Belgrove, farmer
From: "p.scott.casto"
Yes on the 30 Jan 1884 William Perry Casto, My great Grandfather married
Nancy Elizabeth Casto who was born Feb 1867. William Perry Casto was born Nov 1862. Hope this helps P.Scott Casto
Family ID F818 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family Ida Mae Rollins, b. Sep 1894, Kanawha County, West Virginia, USA , d. Yes, date unknown Married 13 Dec 1913 Kanawha County, West Virginia, USA [3] Notes
Marriage Record
Date: 12/13/1913
Place: Kanawha
Romey Casto, 23, Jackson, Kanawha
Ida Rollins, 18, Kanawha, Kanawha
1920 Big Sandy, Kanawha, WV all WVWVWV
Young, John T 28
Ida M 25
Harold J son 5
Estle R son 1 9/12
Rollins, Agnes mil 68 wd
1930 Big Sandy, Kanawha, WV all WVWVWV
Young, John R 40 md age 27
Ida 34 md age 21
Estle Ray son 11
Hattie M da 9
Carl N son 6
Margery E da 3 11/12
Casto, Harold ss 15
Children 1. Orville Harold Casto, Sr, b. 7 Dec 1914, d. 5 Feb 1997 (Age 82 years) Family ID F12299 Group Sheet | Family Chart
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Event Map 
Buried - - Sattis Cemetery, Charleston, Kanawha Co, WV 
= Link to Google Earth
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Sources