Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-08-27

| OF Jno. 3. Scherer, ST., had been killed by Mr.
John Stanley
Jacob Scherer was a young, unmarried man
about twenty years of age, full of fun, sociable
of an amable disposition, which caused all oul
people to esteem him highly, and it may well b'
| imagined, that the announcement that be had
been cut down, in the very vigor of life, caused
thrill of pain in the breast of every one.
Mr.. Stanley is man of middle age, with q
wife and one child, son, about Is or 16 years
old, and was regarded as steady, quiet, we'll
meaning man.
The circumstances attending the killing are as
follows:
A party of some eight OF ten young men, learn
ing that Mr.. Stanley was co-habiting with mu-
latto girl, named Ginnie Sorrel, BACKED their
faces and went to her house. on Market Street,
Saturday night last for the purpose of breaking
up the illictconnexion. Several entered the house
and Immediately pistol was fred, killing Mr..
Jacob Scherer, almost instantly.
Mr.. Stanley was identified by several of the
party present as the one who fired the shot, and
was arrested, at his house, about two hours after
and lodged in jail
The examination of tie case was entered into
before Justices Pearce, Clinedinst and Anderson,
on Tuesday morning last. We give below a syn
opsis of the testimony of the witnesses exam=
ined.
DR.. B. B. DoNAGHE.-Called to see deceased
about an hour after DEATH Found him lying in
the alley. Made no examination there, but at
his fathers. Extracted the ball. The ball entered
the left side between the 9Th and 9th ribs, and
passed through left lung, heart, and lodged in
right lung, causing death almost instantly. Made
a post norton examination about A. N. DR..
Fauntleroy assisted me. Cause of death-wound.
JAS. O Enthusiastically night went to hause
occupied by GIMME Sorrel, and waited till deceas
ed came up. Knocked at the door, which was
opened. Walked in, made some remark, not re-
membered Walked around the room to a door
on left side leading to another room. Could not
get in. Jacob Scherer pushed against the door
and it opened. Heard the voice of a woman
the flash of pistol-recogmzed
Stanley. Stepped back out of the door. Stanley
came out by me. Scherer followed him short
distance and fell. AS he was falling Stanley
pointed his pistol at him again Went to the place
where Scherer fell He was Still living, but died
in about three minutes after he-was shot.
Cross ExANINED.-Wa just inside the door,
AS soon as saw the flash Stanley stepped out of
under my observation short time. Was about
three steps from him. Saw him in the dark first.
Am certain l recognized Stanley on both occa-
sons, in the room and in the alley. White was
in the room. Stanley was to the left of me-
Saw pistol in SANKEY'S hand 1t was pointed
directly towards Scherer. Saw no other persons
in the room. Heard the woman screaming
Can't say that l saw any article of furniture. |
just stepped in the door. Stanley was almost to
my front when came in. Door is on the east
side of room. Think Scherer was STOPPING
Scherer and Stanley were not face to face. |
stepped backward out of the door after the pistol
shot. Did not see the pistol as Stanley passed
out, but did in the lot. Stanley was about Is
steps from the door whenshe pointed pistol second
time. Scherer was or steps from Stanley,
when he fell. Pistol was pointed at Scherer Wien
he fell. Stanley then ran in north-easterly direc
ton. Saw him get over the stone-wall into the
street near Mr. jos Ryan's. Have known STAN
ley since the surrender. Went with the party by
previous agreement. Jno. B. Scherer Jr. asked
me if did not want little fun. He said Mr..
Stanley was staying there and wanted to take
Stanley and the woman and duck them. Jas.
Trayer is the only one who went with me- from
Boards. Knew the others were going-some 6
or 8. Determined TO duck the woman, but not
determined as to Stanley. A plan was laid. We
went to the back door by orders. Beard laid the
plan. Scherer told me to 60 to the back door.
waited outside till saw the others. Don't know
if any were at the front door. Knocked at the
lower door--7the upper door was open. No re-
Spouse. There was nothing said. Heard moth
ing from the inside. The door was opened from
the inside believe. Heard talking at the other
door. Think by colored man. Went in that
door. Found Jacob Scherer and Trayer in the
room. Went in another room or passage alone
Could see the front door open-Could see into the
Street. there was negro woman and child in
the room I first went in-child on the floor and
the woman walking about. Don't know how
the door of other room was opened-by Scherer
or some one inside. Saw him push the door with
his hand. Don't know whether he took one
hand or both hands. Couldn't say that he broke
it open. Could not tell anything in the room but
for the flash of the pistol. Distinguished Scherer
from White during pistol fash by their form and
clothes. The man that passed me was running.
1t was Stanley. Made two or three steps when
Scherer followed. Saw no woman in the room
Saw colored man outside. There was no loud
talking. Did not say who we were or what we
wanted. Party consisted of 8 or 9 and faces
blackened Were not fully determined to do
anything with Stanley. Don't know if Stanley
could have recognized any one. Might have
recognized man coming in the door. Knew
White by light and Scherer by dark clothes
Don't think you could see man but for the flash
ofpistol. Stanley was nearer the door than Scher-
er. Scherer only two feet from the III uzzle of
the pistol. They were nearer the door than the
opposite wall. The woman to be duckeds was
GIMME Sorrel. Had not been a word spoken by
Scherer. Saw Stanley point the pistol at Scherer
in the yard and knew Scherer in the yard. His
face was blackened. -t,nE
N. S. WHITE.-Saw Scherer shot, Don't know
whose house it is, nor who lives there. Went
through the house. Scherer stepped in the door.
Heard d woman cry murder. Saw her in her
p;or c1o th Thourt,t ba for of
STOPPING when the shot was fired. Went in front
and out back door. Door was OPEN Saw Scher-
er 60 in the door next Hardy's shop and followed
close after him. Saw the woman before goti
Neither saw nor heard any thing in ROOM Was
in about one or one and half minutes when the
shot was fired and wentout Noticed nothing
but the man who shot. Stanley shot. He was
close to me, and his pistol was opposite may face
Invent out Immediately after the shot. Stanley
went out first and Scherer next. Saw both after
got out. Stanley was running. He turned
around once. There was moonshine and | am
certain it was Stanley. Twas following Scherer
when Stanley turned and l stopped. No pursuit
was made. Scherer fell before got to him. He
had black coat on Pistol was on right side of
my face Scherer stood to my right, was bend
ing and had his face turned from Stanley with
but short distance between them. No diff
fculty in Stanley's getting to the door. Scherer
did not seem in search of Stanley There was
nothing said by either. Stanley left first.
-ENAMJNATIoN.- was between II and II
O. clock. Front door was opened from inside. Saw
q woman in first room. Scherer went into the
room. I heard woman cry murder. Don't
know dimensions of room Did not recognise
any ones face but could distinguish the form of
a man. Heard no struggle. Scherer did not
hold any one. Don't know what he was doing.
Nothing said Dida't know any body but our
party in the room, until say the flash of PTS
toll. Was blackened. Saw Stanley stop iH RIM
ming with the pistol in his hand. Was with
Charles Trayer. Didn't hear any body speak
" hat we were doing. The room In which Scherer
was shot WAS very dark. Did not wish to be
known Saw no weapons in the hands of any of
our party. Don't know what went into the
room for. Went to see what Scherer was doing.