Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1870-05-21
Killing Of Ryan Piper.


sx,r,e,, from tho testimony. given on Inc
examining trial Of Owen V'n'ac'sr '0'
killing Ryan Piper.n Chsr'''to"o' on
the 9th instant -
.Amos Shepperd-si,.lng on mrs.
Raum's porch about one CLOCK fsa'sc
Ter wen, down stree, pretty much 10 iq.
uor, laundering and staggering, shovel
colored boy of the pavement, co'oreo
boy stepped behind carriage which vas
standing 10 from, Of Brovn's siore anu
picked up rock. Vaavsc,er attempted 10
Dull a brick on, Of the pavement but
could no, 70, il loose. and stepped oil the
curb and picked up piece Of brick from
the root OF Q Tree, walled down towards
Eby's store and came back. 10 if looking
for some ono, passed close 10 the negro.
who stepped back and shook his head
Vanvac,er threw, or attempted TO ibfow'
negro threw. Didn', notice the knife
then, but saw it when he made The blow.
had The piece Of brick 10 his right hand
end knife in the left /; boy staggered and
fell with his breast on the pavement. was
satisfied he died from that blow. PiPer
must have picked up slone 6rs'. or did
no, think Vsnvsc,er would have picked
up one, hardly slough. Vanvac,ef struck
him. Vsnv,cler in coming down street
showed negro OF The pavement, negro
picked up stone and piece Of brick from
behind . carriage, VsnvseIer picked up
one neither threw then. when Vsnvacter
walked by. the negro mu'tered. he came
back as if hunting somebody. when he
threw the stone il was down towards he
negro's legs. negro threw twice don't
know whether he struck or not, threw
with all the force he had. Vshvscter slep-
ped back and turned drew the knife when
he came 10 The edge Of The pavement, 10
the left hand. just IS the two came soge'h'
er, Vanvscter was alone, had no comps
nv. and had been saying nothing 10 any
one % he knew Of. there we're good
many persons on The street. mostly boys
saw Vsnvscler abouta half or three quar-
iers Of an hour before with his brother,
Vsnvscier was staggering before he go.
TO Piper who was on the edge OF lhe curb
and easily showed of, Piper made
threatening nod and muttered when show
ed of. Vsnvscler attempted 10 pull up
brick in The psvemen, but could not gel
it. and stepped Of the curb and got
piece OF brick from the root Of Tree.
when no came up from Eby's store lie
passed by Piper. was leaving when Pr
per threw the stone and brick with luil
force, Vsnvscier then turned; Piper step.
ped of pavement. then both came 'Oee'h-
er, The stone ,hs, Piper threw, must have
been larger than goose egg. he threw
wickediy. Vsnvsctar retrsaled. past Eby's
STORE after he Gu, The negro. mssn'i run
ming when he "a , hin. didn't see him
when lie turned The corner. Thought
Vanvac,er wa, very much intoxicated.
John j. Harris (colorrd)-LiTe al
Harper's Ferry. with Or. Msrmion. lie
and Piper were walking along together
Vanvsc.er was walking along ahead OF
them and dropped knife case; he turned
end said "Who's 90. my knife case =
Piper replied 81 have" Vanvscler ssid
"You look pretty savage" Piper repli,
ed. 81 generally look so sometimes"
V.nvacter said Il believe I've gosa no.
ton to kill a negro to-day and ran out
into the street and picked up a piece Of
brick: as lie wslkhd up on the curb stone
he pushed Piper of, and as he pushed
him off he reached over witness shoulder
and col bin; knock witness ha, of in do.
ing so. Witness and Piper had walked
together locked arms. Vsnvseier passed
them and asked for his knife case. walked
up 10 from, Of them; didr'i call any names.
V,nv.c.er said Have you GO, my knife
ca,e I" Piper 70 Piled Eyes have
tsnvscier jeIked i. GU, Of his hand.
Were meeting each other. Vsnvaeler
dropped The case and sent on; witness
and Piper were behind. he came back
and they met The case had no strap to
il. Saw the knife in Vsn'scters hand.
had IL in hi. hand when he picked up the
piece Of brick, Piper had 3 stone in his
pocket, witnes. had been with him since
he came from H,rper's Ferry. didn'l
know when he picked up the stone. he
pulled it on, OF hIs pocket. Piper did
not get chance 10 throw his slone al all.
When Vspvsc,er first spoke 10 PIp'r he
said "You look savsge." P'per' ns'u-
raj look was savage. Vsnvscier didn't
cay anything after he Gu. Piper. All
witness heard Vsnvacier say WIS that he
would kill a aegro, and lha. Piper looked
savage. Saw ME stone in PiPer's coat
pocket when going up Stree. together,
didn', know him to be in the habit Of
carrying stones in his Goa, pocket. Van.
vsctsr was going towards Leisenrins's
old store when he dropped his knife case
Piper saw him drop the case. bnI didn'i
say anything to him. Vsnvsc,er came
ho.L ard fcun,l n in piner's hands