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


he was up about O'Clock, and heard two
men, as he thought, in low CONVERSATION
he supposed they were some persons i'll
) MIR. Bickle's corn patch stealing roasting
ears Trayer said he heard call like
J whistle-that it was mighty curious way
to call dog and that he had seen blf:
Peers dog run up and jump over The fence:
John Peer lives opposite to Trayer's house.
Perkins left Mr.. Cushing's about the 25th
Of July to live with Traytr. He went to
Trayer's to keep little confectionery that
T. had started IN the alley back of Wood
wafd's Hotel, but on the 9th day after he
took possession T. broke it~~up. Perkins
then went to work with Trayer at the car;
2enter's business and continued at it until
his arrest. He worked with Trayer and
Wilson all the time. Wilson boarded and
slept at Trayef's during the same time
Perkins slept on the floor in the front room.
ahd Wilson slept in the same room in bed
with Trayer's son. On the night OF the
murder, Perkins had not taken off his clothes:
He is baker by trade, and Mrs: Trayer
persuaded him to take charge Of the con.
dictionary. When 1t was broken up, he
had no place to 60 to, and had not cent
of money, and Trayer told him to work
with him till he could get a place. His
name is Edmund. but they always called
him John: When Trayer and Wilson went
out the night of the murder, he thought
they were going on little frolic. He had
no idea they were going TO XIII man when
they told him SO, but did not think lheth
too good to steal corn. Wilson sometimes
brought in vegetables and fruit after night,
and said when he went for such things he
always liked to go alone. TTayer would
laugh and say it was very good policy
When lie saw them enter Coleman's house,
he was standing in the road, between ~
and so yards frotn them. He saw the nah
whose arm was raised, but could not tell
who 1t was-he only saw one man then;
before he saw the arm come down the CAN
die went out-he didn't hear the blow, but
saw an arm raised Sin all agony" as IT TO
strike. He had been at carpenters work
that day, to which he was not accustomed,
and felt tired and sore. The night was not
overly dark. He got acquainted with
Trayers family while he lived at Cushlhg''s
and sometimes visited The house. Pretl'
Gus to the Thursday night there had been
no conversation between TIayer and Will
SON and himself about murders and the like.
After that time he heard Trayer speak Tres
quently of murderer named I'heips-hs
had his history and it got lost. Trayer said
this man must have been great man-he
had committed so MANY murders without
being detected till his wife told on him
He WISHED he had the book that he might
read it To Perkins. This was spoken in his
family, in presence of any one there, and
would come up in talking about Colemah's
murder. He SAID Coleman's was mighty
bold murder-broad day light as 1t was
thought-but Phelps had committed boldef
murders. Neither Trayer nor Wilson spoke
to Perkins of having killed Coleman after
Thursday night, or made any allusloh 10 1t.
He SAID nothing to them about it, because
he was afraid they would kill him. When
thew returned on Thursday night and spoke
to him, he believed they thought he was a.
sleep:
Perkins first heard on Sunday morning
after breakfast that Coleman's body was
found. He and Wilson and Trayer's Old
est son walked over 10 the Factory spring
to get drink, and sat and talked while
under the shade. When they were coming
back they sat down under the willows this
side of Mr.. Ast's hohse; and Tra5er and his
next oldest SON came down and told them
that somebody had murdeted old Billy Cole
man-the boy was the first that arrived and
told them. He asked who old Billy Cole.
man was, and the boy said the old chair.
maker. By this time frAytr had got up,
and Perkins said, 81 am d. wise as was
before" Trayer repeated pretty much
what the boy had said, and pointed out the
house. Perkins then proposed to 60 and
see the body. TraSer said he had beeR
once, and It slnelt Badly, "keter inInd be-
ing in hurry, I'VE could see him any ttne.",
Wilson said So also, and didn't seem very
willing to 90. But Perkins persuaded thetii
and they all went. Trayer had some wild
cherry leaves in his hand, that Perkins had
gathered at his request, 10 take away the:
smell. Perkins tetiaihed al the house half
an hour-frayer with him all the times
Afterwards, he heard Trayer say he had
seen the hammer when he was first tberej
and thought he had borrowed it once FROM
mill about miles from here:
On the determination, Perkins stated
that he was born about 13 miles from Pc
tersbure and went there 10 live when be
was 13 years old. Before he was quite 20,
he went to Richmond, and entered Cot
ton Factory, and then served time at the
baking busingss.. He was in Richmond not
quite year. He then went to Lexington
and lived 4 or 5 months with Mr.. Portets
He came to Staurton on the 10Th of May
last. and %5iked for Mr.. Burnett on the
railroad about two weeks. MIR. S%itzef;
learning that he tas baker, got him a sit-
uation at Mr. Cushings, where he remain
ed about six weeks before going to Tray
ers. He was acquainted with Trayer longer
than with Wilson. Was frequently at T.'s
house. r. was great man for talking
Neither he nor Wilson ever said anything
to him about killing man ill the night
they walked HIM up. He saw no light
in Coleman's house till they opened the
door. The door was close shut when they
got to it. He did not hear them knock or
speak He couldn't have told who they
were If he hadn't known before-they went
in very quick. He saw no one else in the
room, and did not see the candle that gave
the light. He didn't know at that time
whether the house was dwelling OF rot.
He biirrled off because he was frightened
to see them go in as they did and the arm
raised, after what they had told him. He
didn't know but what they had killed
man, but went back to Trayer's house be-
| eansa he Lad No u here alsa 10 no ua