Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-05-17

know whether the stones struck eitherof them.
Saw the knife. They were three or four steps
apart when they threw didn't see when
Piper got his stone; Piper threw last, Vans
vacter first, Yanyacter had stone In his
hand when he cut Piper did'n know
whether either struck when they threw; saw
the knife when Vanvacter threw the stone,
had the knife in his left hand and stone IN
his right Didn't hear Piper say any thing
after the stones were thrown. Piper stood on
the pavement and Vanvacter came towards
him they were about three feet apart when
the stones were thrown. Piper threw imme-
diately after Vanvacter did. Tanvacter got
off the pavement and got his stone. and came
on the pavement again; Dennis Morgan,
colored boy, stepped between and told them
not to throw the stones; he was not between
them when the stabbing took place. DID, MT
know who Vanvacter called for, supposed IL
was some one he wanted to help him. saw
Piper pick up the knife case; panvacter hao
gone on to Eby's store after dropping the case,
and came back for it.
Dennis Morgan (colored)-Lives at Rich
ard B. Washingtons. Saw Vanvacter with
knife out to stab Piper; said he'd cut him
Piper said 'No you wont" Fanvacter went
to pick up brick and it was fastened IN the
ground picked up another while he was
doing so, Piper picked up one from the ground;
both had gotten rocks and started to throw
witness got between them and told them not
to throw: Yauvacter said '.What?" and walked
off and called for another man thought his
name was Shirks or Shipes; did mt find him
walked past Mr.. Eby's store calling for him,
and came back, and girl told him he had
gone M street: he then turned around and
threw rock at Piper, and Piper threw at him.
Vanvacter was advancing as he threw; sup
threw; didn't think he struck Piper; both
were going together after they threw, suppose
Piper was within step or two of Vanvacter
when he threw. Was not sure. but Vanvac-
tiers rock might have struck Piper in the
shoulder. When Piper was stabbed he said
"no you didn't" jumped off the edge of the
hand, looked down on his shoulder and fell.
There were good many people around. First
saw Vanvacter on the pavement in front OF
Browns store. with knife in his hand, nobody
with him. Tunvacter started first to get rock,
couldn't get it loose but got another; he and
Piper got ono about the same time Witness
went between them and told them not to
throw when witness told Fanvacter not to
After Piper picked up the rock he was stand
ing there with it in his hand. When tho
girl told Tanvacter the man he called had
gone up street he turned and threw at Piper !;
witness lodged and could not see if it struck
Piper; there was nothing in Piper's hand
when he was holding the other he stepped
back off the pavement and fell forward on the
curb.
s. T. HamJurgcr-Had just left dinner
and stepped out on the porch. Saw Piper
with stone in his hand, saw him motion
with the stone, but whether he actually threw
or struck Vanvacter, did not know. Almost
Immediately afterwards saw knife flash !;
Piper staggered off the pavement into the
street, made an effort to get on the pavement,
fell back and staggered towards the right,
staggered forward and fell between the wheels
of the buggy standing there. Saw the blow
struck, but did not know the man then. know
him now. The parties were close to each
other when Piper threw the stone he threw
with great force; they were close together.
The stone thrown by Piper was about one
fourth the size of brick didn't know wheth-
err it struck or not There were good many
persons around, seemed to want to rush in
between and close up on them crowd mostly
colored seemed to be excited. Didn't hear
any one calling out names, except several ne.
groes said Vanracter had cut Piper. There
were twenty or thirty round about; crowd
partly joined in pursuit of Fanvacter. hallUo-
ing to catch the man who struck Piper
Didn't see many negroes over there before
dinner; saw small crowd in front of Eby's
store. some few drunken men or slightly ill.,
toxicatcd.
jasper Thompson (colored) -Lives at d.
W. Herbert's. Tanvacter came down street,
and George Stewart said to him How do you
do?" Tanvacter replied 'It's none of your
business how I do" George Stewart said to
witness "Come and take drink" witness
replied "You have got enough" Stewart
said "That's my business" .Fanvacter said
"Who says that's my business y" Stewart
replied that he was speaking to witness
Eanvacter went to Piper, who banded him
knife case, when Tnnvacter said "Why do
you look so grumF' Piper replied II am my
own man, and will look as grum as please )"
Vanvacter said "I'll cut your Id CUTS
out" Piper replied mo you won't" YAM
vacter then called for Shirks, or some such
name and started up street. turned and walk
ing by, pushed Piper after he passed by he
threw a stone, and Piper threw one; they
then came together, and Vanvacter struck
over another boy and cut Piper. Fanvacter
drew his knife from behind him, with his
right hand when he first drew it. Piper
stepped out into the street for his rock. Yam
vacter went down street with knife in his
hand, came back, threw the stone with his
right hand and stabbed with his left. Didn't
see whether Vanvacter's stone struck Piper or
not Piper's stone didn't hit Panvacter, but
struck the house. When Vanvacter drew
back to throw, Piper said "Throw on, throw
on !" Piper stood still at the time. A col
ored man came between them. Directly after
Piper threw the brick, Tanvacter stabbed
him, and he staggered out into the street and
back again, and then fell.
It was now o'clock. P. NJ. and the court