Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-07-08
Investigation OF the Sunday School Homi.
eide i'm Alexandria County, Va.
(Reported for the st


The examination in the case of Manyille Ans
tin, charged with the homicide of James II
Burch, was continued yesterday before the Alex
andria County Court, sitting at Alexandria, Va
The Court met at the appointed hour, 0 O'Clock,
a. M, and the prisoner (Austin) having been
brought in, the examination of the witnesses was
resumed; Mr.. Stuart called for the prosecution
HARRISON IhompSOH.-On the Sunday morn
ing in question, went down to the church; there
was no one there; hOisted the windows and
went to the house of witnesses grandmother; soon
after, came back; Manville Austin came along
with The two HarTisOns; witness asked Austin
why he had hit him (Nvitnessj at the pic mic some
days previous; Austin said he would hit him
harder next time; witness said something more
10 Austin and Austin struck witness; they then
got In scutfe, and witness called to the bows tn
help; and James Burch got off from his horse; J
bo"lln threw stone at Austin; John Burch hit
him with his fist and took a brush stick and beat
him In the face slightly; Austin then ran, and
James Burch ran after him; Austin was feeling
Tor his pistol as he ran, and when he was near
the house; witness called to Burch to come back
that Austin was feeling for his pistol and would
shoot him; Austin got in the church first; James
Burch ran in following Austin and witness went
in; didn't see John Burch strike Austin when I'm
the house, saw Austin shoot three times; didn't
SEE James Burch have Austin by the hair; Austin
was sitting down and Burch was leaning over
him.
CrOSS-sTamiHsd-Was with the boys when
they went 10 battle the evening previous to the af-
on the next day; quarrel had occurred between
witness and Austin at 4 pic mic in which Austin
ndu Suuc witness; on the morning of the affray
inc question which witness put to Austin about
sIlklng had reference to that time at the pic MIC
witness pulled of his jacket and hat; there was
no previous understanding among the bows OF 4
combined attack ON Austin that witness heard of:
on thdi morning Austin did not try to avoid a
night he dared witness To lay his hand ON him :.
witness dld 80; and Austin took witness and
nohfu Wlmesss ears and threw him against i
tree witness and BOwlin both struck Austin. he
hghting back; when James BuTch GOT OF hi.
horse Austin run TO the church James went i'm
alter him, and witness followed James: thinks
John Donaldson came Ina next; Austin was stand
lHg against the wall; James ran towards him:
could not tell whether lac meant to strike him ar
not; Austin backed off and set down: LANES yv,s
not very near him when he set down; the first
shot hit James In the shoulder and made him lose
Tue use OF himself; never saw Austin do ANYTHING
unkind To witness little brother; thinks If the
boys had let Austin alone he would not have
qnarrtled with them; they commenced the attack
on Inn hrsl; John BurCh said ii Austin had a
hhIie he had one that would cut as deep as his
lAustln 50 nO one struck Austin I'm the churcb
that witness saw; when Massey took the DistoI
Ahsun ran and Donaldson fired twice; don't know
III ne nrcd al Austin not; the reason Austin
stiuck Witness Al the pic mic that witness
tripPed him up rs lie was walking around: lanes
BuTch was along the evening before when fife
boys went TO bdthr; don't remember that Austiu,s
name was used IN any conversation tia evening:
does not think the stick with which Bowlfn
struck Austin was larger than witness, wrist
John BOVliH, sworn.-This evidence was mich
the same as that Of previous witnesses for the
defence; the witness admitted that he threw
stone az large as his two fists at Austin; Thomp-
son asked Austin why he had struck him m the
pic nic, and Austin sad he had not struck hard
enough; he would strike harder next time
Thompson then took of his coat and hat and said
Austin must fight; Austin refused, aud warned
thompson not to lay hand on him; Veitch did