The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1869-08-26

Stanley was arrested and lodged in Jail The ev-
idence brought before the Coroners inquest held
at early hour in the morning charged John
NJ. Stanley with being the perpetrater Of the deed
| On Tuesday morning the case was brought be-
fore the court of Magistrates acting as an exam
lining court.
The Court House was crowded, and there ap-
peared to be no small amount of excitement
among the people. Justices Pierce Clinedinst
and Anderson, appeared OF the bench, the former
presiding.
James Bumgardner, Jr., acting Commonwealth
Attorney and Hugh Scheffey, Esq, appeared for
the State and J. B. Baldwin and Geo. M. Coch-
ran, Esq'rs, for the prisoner. The grand Jury
occupied their seats.
The first witness examined was DR.. D. D. Dom
agile, who testified as to the nature of the wound
he, assisted by Dr. Fauntleroy, having by request
OF the coroner, performed a post mortum exami-
nation showing that the ball had entered between
the fourth and fifth ribs shattcring the latter and
taking an upward course passing through the
lungs and heart and lodging under the arm.
James OBrian was next called to the stand
He was one of the party who entered the rear of
the house. Got over the fence and knocked at
| the door-heard ''Who's there ?" from within
Scherer pushed against the door, and it opened.
| Heard female scream-went into the room
which was quite dark Saw by the flash of
the pistol that there persons in the
room besides himself; two, he recognized as
Scherer and White he could only see the form
of the other, the person who had fred the pistol;
knew it was Stanley. Scherer was STOPPING when
the pistol was fired. AS soon as he heard the re-
port, he left the house. The man that fired the
pistol out frst with the weapon in his hand
Scherer ran, rather reeled after the assassin
and fell about ten yards from the door, The party
were all disguised, with faces BACKED. Scherer
died without uttering word. The examination
of this witness was pretty close he seemed pref
ty positive as to the identity CT Stanley.
Gross examined by Col. ]. B. Baldwin, as to his
| connection with the trespassing party. Witness
said there were ten eleven in the party, that
| himself with Scherer and White were detailed to
enter and seize the girl and, if needs be, Stanley
who they supposed was in the house.
Col. Baldwin-Who did you receive your orders
from-who was your captain.
Witness. (hesitatingly) We had held meeting,
| and by agreement each was detailed for GER
| tain duty. We only intended to harea little fun,
and drive the people out of the house. At first
| we intended to duck the girl Gnnie Sorrel and
Stanley too-but then, on reflection we thought
we'd only punish the girl alone. We had no par
| icuar leader.
| Judge Schefey-Is Stanley married man?
| Witness-I believe he is.
Judge Scheffey-Who did he marry?
| Here Col Baldwin objected to the question as
entirely foreign to the case under considerations
| and spirited debate took place between the two
eminent lawyers to the propriety of such tes-
timony. G. NJ. Cochran also took part in the
debate. The Court decided that The evidence was
not admissible, and the examination proceeded
| White then called to stand and questioned
| by the Commonwealth Attorney and cross ex-
amined by the Counsel for the prisoner. He saw
1 the woman and heard her cry 'murder." In an
swer to question of the Court, he said he did
not recognize any deadly weapon until the explo-
sion, which was close to his ear,-the pistol was
| fred by person whom he presumed to be Stan
icy. He was closely examined by Col. Bald
same as that of O'Brien.
| DR.. Fauntleroy testified as to the nature of the
wound and the direction Of the ball. which he pro
duced with piece of the shattered rib.
| ]. I. Parent, Chief of Police, testified as to
the arrest of the prisoner-the finding of four
barrelled repeater in his possession, and that
| barrel had been discharged. The ball was tried
and found to fit the discharged barrel.
Robert Campbell recognized the pistol as
belonging to him. He offered it to Stanley for
sale-who took it on trial
| James II ess identified the pistol as one that he
| had borrowed from Campbell before Stanley had
| taken it on trial.
Henry Hyer identified the pistol as the one in
the possession of Stanley-who requested him to
| show him how to load it, which he did. He also
showed the mysteries of the fatal instrument.
! An argument here arose between counsel as to
| the nature Of the evidence produced by the At
| torney for the Commonwealth Col. Baldwin con-
| tending that all the witnesses that appeared be-
fore the coroner should he produced in this Court
Mr.. Bumgardn0r, replied that ne had caused the
| girl Ginnie Sorrel to be summoned, that he did
not care to examine her, but that she was at the
service of the court, if their worships wished to
question her. The Court ordered her presence,
but, at the suggestion of the counsel for the pris
oner, she was set aside. After some discussion,
the Court concluded to adjourn until five o'clock
in the evening
| At o'clock the grand jury again assembled,
and the Court proceeded to examine Col. NJ. G.
| Hartman, who testified to the ownership of the
| house where the homicide was committed. He
stated that the premises we're rented by Stanley,
and the rent paid by bonds, with the exception OF
| a few dollars.
| Augustus White was called to the stand. He
| stated that Stanley had been warned as to the
threatened ducking, unless he abandoned his vile
| associates. His testimony had bearing on the
character of the house. The testimony, &c., was
strongly objected to the part of the prisoners
counsel, who commended that as Stanley had rent
ed the house, he was lord of the manor, and, no
matter what was the business of the occupants, it
was his castle, and he had right to repel in
truders, who, no matter what might tie the moral
ity of their trespass, were neither more nor less
than REGULATORS, who under disguise, had Ia
ken the law in their hands, and made themselves