Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-11-23


rrprder and wanted TO talk to him. PerhlnS 'Uio
him that Tr,ver suspected blacksmith out ne
believed he could tell the men If he Vas Ut a a.,
of beinr killed. Smith didn't insist on ms 'eiluS
When ne was arrested, Perkins was 'olo '"'' I Us
nos ch,rrsd with the murder OF Coleman, nc
sa;5 no had nothing to do with 1t. oinl'h was
or.as,od ., the same time This was by oM'th
,,.,,uror,ent1 He drew his pistol and threatened
49, Mr. Churchman drew his pistol aud tolu
60 be would shoot hun ii he did ut surrehuer'
Some two or three persons then crowded o" ''i'i'
ar5 took him. He seemed to be alarmed anu "e
and Perkins were put up STAIRS toge',e' "u%
there till next morning. Next day WI; 'o''o'
came and handcuffed both OF them, ana 'ley Te''
brouph to Jail that night. Mr.. Uranah 'oiu OF
kins that Wilson said he (P) was tne man ,na'
r,;aSt cav what he chose. Then Mr.. Church
m,1 and others began to urge him to tell II he
leu anv,hinU about it. lie refused several tunes
hecauSe he preferred to tell in Staunton-ou'
6,,IIy told ali about it. He had not 'olI any
,h;nr before except what he said to omltn, l hey
,,.or,;sod m nrotect him before he told lie nearu
= Grasnville of the arrest Of TrayerSna NuiSoR'
haso,a he toIJ When Smith was arrested, ne
ocked Perkins to tell if he knew anything "oou'
!, and he said he would tell 1t all IN otauntoh'-
r,iSa ,rrest was made on Tuesday, weeks ana
J.ys after the discovery OF the body.l lrayer
ravor sroL,p tn him of having committed The muir
~ hut s,metimes talked to hima bout lt.and would
cav ssteen sharp look out and may be we m'ght
o.y.b The man n-propusing division OF the re-
,.,,d in case either of them caught him. PerRlas
can read little, and saw Trayer's newspaper 'M
which the reward was offered. He didn't Tell
becanse he was living with Trayer and was AFRAID,
and wanted TO oct the money that Irayer owed
him Re never asked him for m0aey, but said
once or twice after the murder that he wanted 10
oo home. He had formed the plan oil getting MS
money and place to stay. and then telling all Il
bout the matter to some good Respectable ulan'-
He did not see Trayer and Wilson nave any mo
new after the murder till Wilson came BACK from
over the mountain, when he had pretty smart
chance. He got drunk sometimes, ana irayeT
Sam;Iv and Smith told him he wanted to fght
Wilson on the Sunday before he went 10 ureen-
Vile He remembered nothing about 1t. MIR.
Sheets told him he had heard that Trayer carried
This hammer home from Hill'S sale-Perkins new
or saw a hammer about Trayer's house. lie had
said in reply to Trayer's appeals. that he knew
II and ali his family were innocent. lie was
afraid and didn't know what else to say.
J,Nrs III. I,ANNER, an agent on the Railroad
y, Weodyille. saw Wilson at that place. ON Sat
nrday Goth of August. Wilson had been drinking,
and said he had been driving stages to the Springs
fur MIR. Harman Did not see hun again I'LL ORD
September. when he and Smith were III company
coming over the mountain
N,Tu,Y G. HouCHISS-I.ives at Mediums
River in Albemarle Knows Wilson. One Sat
urday in August (20th) Wilson stopped at his
house. and after some abrupt conversation, told a
bout the murder of Coleman. OF which witness
had not heard, giving the current rumorS ana
s,;J afterwards that he would not have mentioned
il if he had known that the witness had not heard
about it. Wilson said he had been driving stages,
and on Thursday night he and another driver
walking about the streets stopped opposite Coie-
mans house and stood there IN the street about
half an hour talking, but heard no noise. Said
they talked of taking hun up, but 1t they attempt
ed It, they would have to make box Tor someoo-
DIV. He said it was allowed that Coleman had
.bont 1880 When he started away, he said to
witness ssyou amt going to follow me and beat me
are YOU ?'j lie appeared somewhat uneasy, the
witness thought Thinks he had been drinking.
hui did not stagger. lie had a pretty large ivy
stick in his hand.
s G.. MoRRis.-LiyeS at the Little Tunnel.
Wilson came TO the house that he was working
in. on the 10Th August He had an ivy stick,
and after some disorderly conduct, asked permits
sion 10 trim il Sc Said he wanted II 50 that he
could handle it quick and after it was cut to suit
him said he VAST afraid ofany bOdy-that Hemp
Trayer was called the Bully, and he was the We
~ blood of him. On going of, he said to witness,
nv name is WillSun-if anybody comes here en-
ouirino for me YOU must not tell them that You
saw me here. Witness thought he was little
intoxicated.
EDWARD SMIrH-Lives at Charlottesville
Saw Wilson there the LIST September. tle was
IN in
ont something about the murder, if possible. AT
forwards saw him at John Mayc's. on Saturday
Ard. Wilson would not agree to help him to
break his mules. and insisted that he must come
over the mountain Smith started with him, and
alluded to Colsman's murder-said he understood
some Irishmen were suspected. Wilson said
several persons had been taken upbut they had mt
pot hold of the right one yet. They got In the
cars at Woodvile Smith looking for his Negroes
professedlvl Smith asked him if he knew who
committed the murder, and he said he and Hemp
were in so feet of the house the night they said
it was done. When they reached Mediums
River, Smith met some acquaintance, and tolC
Wilson they had suggested that his negroes NIGH
have rone in the direction OF the Furnace, up TIT
road Smith and Wilson came on in the stage
the latter conSenting to go with Smith In Searcf
of the negroes. This side ofFishersville, seyera
y
aint coinu to take me. He had been drinking a
every stopping place smith did not see Wilson
after reaching Stauuton, till an hour or so after
wards, when he met him at Woodward's. Per
kris was there and insisted on his going down t
see Hemp. There was gentleman there treating
Wilson. 1t was Dyer. He aud Smith were &C
ouainted, but neither of them let on, and Wilso
did not know it. Smith spent good part of tn
next day Sunday at Trayer's house. Ho re
lates infinitely all that occurred there. After
ouarrel between Wilson and Perkins, Willso
said To Smith in low tone, al reckon he'll sa
next that killed old Billy Coleman" Traye
had Quoted Perkins by threatening to whale hin
Wilson seemed very much excited after dinner
He several times insisted on going out to ''hav
il over" Smith didn't know what he meant
Trayer asked Smith to go out on Betsy Bell an
ret cranes, and Wilson insisted on his going dow
The railroad with him--he declined both invitations
There was much drinking during the day. Traye
and Wilson went out and Smith left.
Wilson had promised to 90 with Smith to tn
Furnace, and he engaged seats in the stage, br
the next morning when the stage was ready vii
son refused to 90 Smith, of course, dld not @
lie saw Trayer several times during the day, an
he promised to help him to look tor the negroes
After supper, he met Wilson and Dyer at WOOD
wards Bar-room, on the platform Trayer cam
up and Wilson gave treat to all but Dyer, VIII
did not 90 in. Dyer and Wilson then got o
from them, aud Trayer became very uneasy an
excited. He sent Smith and Perkins to look f
Wilson at the Hotels and at Mr.. Crawtord'S store
The only explanation he gave of his uneasneS
was that Dyer was going to steal Wilson's NOR
ev. Subsequently as Smith was taking Perli1
home he encountered Trayer and Wilson
u,,ovar ,b,eod Wilson for roinG with Over