Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1871-08-26
The HiSSlcr Case.
, JUDGE DAyIs's oTINION-AND THE tbs.
TlNOSY.
TUE STATE

of 615,5s c,rpm-the pc]titionel
having been tried before a Justic,
1 Of the Peace-tound ruiIty OF man
slaughter, and committed in default
Of $4,000 bail.
The defendant is CHARGED wit!
the killing Of Hugh |. Sbi LEY. hy
setting him on fire with coal oil in
the Scrurgs House, in Corinth, on
the 7th day of July. 1871.
JrLA BUM, ebambcrmaid at ia,
Scruyrs House, te,tifes; That Sd,
was preset at the time of the oc.
currsnce. in the dining room, al
supper on July It'll WAS sittin- q.
hor supper at the head Of the table.
and shirley was sitting at the side
of the same table. Wisslcr Wa,
standing IN hv Sh'plov. talking 70
him coald not hear what they
were saying. Wissler commenced
locking round him. like he had lost
-omalhinr. lie took the coal OF.
lamp that was burning, off the IA.
be, and set, down on the floor.
Witness hu!loucd to the steward to
take the lamp up and put it on the
table. Wissler then took the lamp
from the floor, and held il IN front
# Shipley, over his knees and shook
it, turning it backwards AMI ior.
wards from side TO side. A. he
turned it;ran side 10 side, the blaze
wsuti come out Of the chimney.
and 90 back into the lamp. Il
looked yerF dangerous, The Isagr
exploded last between SAir,ey
knees, and when SAW the pieces
of glass falling, ran ont Ut the
room, Nhiriey followed us IN .
blaze of fire.
K. B. NoRyELL res;if;s: Was
steward at the Scru-gs Ucuso
Vas in the dining room when The
b]urul0. ocurrcd. Dni no. then
know c,hor OF the parties. Saw
W.sler and Ship,cy beside ea h
other At tie table. They we're
abom eight feet from ne. "isslav
got up .HHi went ont and cone
back, and took seat BY Shir,av +;
then he got up, rs il hla,ir- for
something, and took up tho !amp
and sat it on the hoor-then felt
himself about his waist. Juiia, the
chambermaid, haIlooed to me to
take that lamp up and set it gu the
table. Wissler then took mp the
lamp and held 1t over S~hipIcy's
knees, in front of him, as be sat al
the table, and waved it backwards.
and forwards, from side to side,
about four times, when the lamp
fell between Shipley's knees, and
broke, and the flames arose up all
over Shipley, The lamp appeared
to fall on the chimney end.
JASPER McRGA, colorcl servant at
the Scruggs House, testifes: Was
waiting on the table, and gavo them
their suppers. Wisslcr got up
and went out and soon returned,
and sat down again on the left
side Of ShjpIcy. lie, WiSslor then
felt around him, as if he had lost
something. lie then reached over
and got Il lamp, and took it about
thre, steps from the table and SC.
it down on the floor, then went half
bent, like he was looking for some.
thing-was feeling round with Ills
hands-then he tcol: Up &c .aml
and started back to the table GOT
up even with the table and BEGAN
looking around again he turned
the lamp about in his hands, like
he was trying to get it straight, and
irving to ret it on the table. whor
it seemed to turn over in his hands
and fell, chimney downward, in
ShipIev's lap, or between his knees
to the AoorLthcn the blaze came
up, and | never saw Wissler any
more Shiplcv ran ont of the din
inr.room haIlooinr "fre;" Wiss
Ter held the lamp with the oil par
above the table, and the foot par
under the table seemed like h,
was trying to get it on the table
the lamp seemed to tilt ovc to tn,
left and then to the right, and thel
fell out Of his hand. saw it strik,
the floor; Wissler was st,ndin,
right close up to Shiplcv tho lam
did not break until it touched tn
floor; then the flames shot IN
Wissler and Shipley did not com
in together; Wissler came first, an.
ordered his supper; he orderc.
supper for no one but himself
Shiplcy then came in bv himscl
and sat down several seats fror
Wissler. When Wissler GOT IN an
went out. on his return he went t
Shipley's place; the lamp that cS
plodcd was a good lamp, in 200
rcpair-not loose.
JENNIE ELGTN, colorcd servant a
the Scruggs House, testifcs: W.
present when the burning occurrc
and saw it all was about lively
- g - AZ WI.