Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-09-20
Acuu;tsal Of Mr.. Gee. s Avres

| 1t Will be remembered that on the 10th oil
December last, Mr.. Geo. S. Ayres of Loudoun,
shot and killed Dr. Oliver in his bedroom in
| Charlottesville, tor the offence of seducing his
eldest daughter. The trial Of Mr. Ayres for
killing DR. Oliver was concluded in CharIottes-
vile on Saturday week. After the examina-
ton OF the witnesses, by the consent of both
| parties the case was submitted to the jury
without argument, and without charge from
the Judge. After an absence of twenty min
utes. the jury returned to the courtroom with
the verdict: "We, the jury, find the prisoner
guilty of Justyfable homicide
After discharging the prisoner, the Judge
Jno L. Cochran -made few remarks to the
jury: He said that he could not say that he
was surprised al their verdict and that al
though the law gave him no power to interfere
with it, yet that his duty to the Common
wealth required him to tell them that it was a
verdict which was not warranted by the law
and the evidence.
The following is the testimony of Miss Mel
lie Ayres, the victim of seduction:
81 first met DR.. Oliver in Alexandria, l4th
of June. 1869 / was going from Richmond
home he was also going to my fathers; two
cousins from Washington were with me He
commenced giving me medicine early in July
was not well, and he volunteered to give me
| medicine. He sometimes made mesmeric
passes over me when | had headache, and
felt relieved He did get a power over me by
Desmerism. This ascendency was the cause of
my ruin There is no doubt that he is the au-
thor of my ruin, 1t was after giving the mes
meric passes and medicine | first communi-
Gated my conditionsto DR.. Brown, and had an
interview with my father about week after
wards. Lit was IN my room; he was not HIM
self. neither was | myself He gave signs nf
inordinafe grief He walked he floor and seem
ed to be great, distressed and heard him all
through the eight groauing. His room was
below mine Next morning be came TO my
room early. and threw hi,usef on my bed and
Nept. did nor seem TO be himself then My
ruin was effected in July about ,he middle
DIR. Oliver was the first and only man who
ever carried improper advances so far ] new
er had sny improper intercourse with any nth,r
human being than DR.. Oliver There is no
possibiity OF my being mlstakeo. cammuni-
Gated to my la her the fact thar DR. Oliver had
been The cause of my downfall. ana we talked
Of il. gave birth 10 my child l6gh of Aorli
Here Miss AyreS came near fanslng, and her
nerves III -uca co,dlion thar her fur
ther examination was postponed till Saturday,
On SATURDAY The testimony of Miss Ayres
WAS clnilnued:
MISS Nellie Ayres again called to the stand
met ; r. OLIVER on the 18th of June in Al
exandrla He and his wife Went to my father
house. and remained there until some time 10
August DR. Olive, prescribed for early
in July, and at Iour different times. His mes
mesic passes sometimes relieved my headache.
| did not think | was unconscious from them
then. but think so now. DR.. Oliver made inn
proper advance, the first time in July, about
he middle of THE day, in my fathers house, IN
the paIlor vas not myself. The first time
he made any advances do not know that he
mesmerised me; the only advance made was
that be put his around my waist. Pre-
vious to thai tine had not been mesmersed.
About four weeks after that time he took 9TH
er liberties with me at my fathers. The fam
lily were 10 the house. [ did not converse with
DR.. Oliver. Think he spoke, but do not re-
member what be said. The second time he
made advances was about two weeks after, 10
the parlor-the family ali being in the house.
After DR.. divers return be still made impropr
er advances, on two occasions. DO not recoi-
lect whether was under mesneric influence,
but was not myself [ did not com municate
to the family what had happened, but told DR..
Brown in December ali about it. DR.. Oliver
attempted to console me by saying that need
not take it SO hard that | vas not the first wo-
man by hundred and would not be the last.
| was engaged to be married to gentleman
once, who | thought made improper advances,
and discarded aim on the spot. He return
ed, making every apology necessary, and at-
tempted to renew the engagement, but | re-
fused, having lost all respect for him.