Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-04-30
THE ANDERSON TRIAL.

This mysterious and deeply interesting trial for
murder was commenced at the term Of our SUPERB
or Court on "Wednesday the 10Th inst, in which
Jas. Anderson and his wife were arrlgned for The
murder of the Pettigrew family on the night OF The
10Th December, 1916. The trial was closed on
Tuesday, the 22dinst., & the verdict Of the jury
rendered, that JAS Anderson was guilty Of murder
in the first degree and his wife acquitted thereof
new trial was applied for On behalf of the prison
er and granted by The Judge, and the venue chang
ed 10 the county Of Bath.
The testimony proved that the house in which
the deceased resided was seen standing Nednes
day evening, The 18th Of December, 1916, about
dark-lhat large light was percaptIble or The
same night, IN The direction of the house, between
the hours OF seven and eight o'clock-Ihat the reXl
morning the chimney of the house was alone dis
covered remaining, by witness some distance
off.
That 1t commenced showing on the evening OF
the 10th December, 1876, at sundOwn, and conn-
ued until about 10 O'Clock the next day, that the
snowwas about three inches deep between the hours
OF SIX and eight O'Clock that night, and sixteen
inches deep when it ceased the next day.
That the dead bodies of the deceased, SIN IN
number, were found in frgd state on the morn
ing of the ensuing Sabbath. That the ground was
entirely clear Of snow for twenty five feet beyond
The house In the direction Of the dead bodies, and
that the location of the bodies was about fifteen
feet from the foundation Of the house, and about
len feet from the edge ofihe towards The house,
But The bodies were not burned. Nor were any
tracks to be found either in the snow or where the
ground was clear of snow around the burnt house.
the burning of which qay have made the ground
soft by the melting oflhe snow. No snow was
found upon the bodies or upon any of The articles
carried out Of the house. Wearing apparel and
bed clothes were found there, bat the bodies We're
only partially dressed and entirely unprotected by
the oed clothing. Some Of Them were in recon-
bent position and others PROSTATE The foot Of one
oflhem was sunk in the ground and frozen tight
No marks Of violence were found upon any of them
except the mother who had wound upon her
temple and impressions upon the neck similar 10
those made by pressure from the hand.
The eyes of the oldest child, a daughter about
l6, We're stretched open and cast iflcoking back.
The counenances Of the rest indicated no apparent
marks of dsfgura!ioa. The testimony tended to
show that the night was not remarkably cold, par
ticuary in the early part, and that the houses of
several neghbors were accessible, sumo Of them
within a half mile and some three quarters Of a
mile off.
We make the above narration of mysterious cir
cumstances merely in reference othe corpus delic
ii, and with an impartial barring as to the ny
poihess of The guilt or Innocence Of the prisoner
We have heretofore announced our intention Of
publishing the proceedings Of the trial in full, but
inasmuch as the prisoner is TO have new hearing
we are constrained from sense Of justice 10 refrain
from such publication now.
certain Anonymous correspondent, however, of
the Rockingham Register, has furnished that pa
Dper with garbled report ofthe testimony purpor!
ing to be from the records OF the examining court,
which is going the rounds our exchange papers,
and which was brought 10 The notice of the Court
publicly, and such an exposition made of it as 10
leave the Author in most unenyiabc pvsllion.-
Lea. Ga=.