The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-05-04

GEO. W. SMILEY.-The case of Smiley is sad
one. He had been confined in the county Jail, at
this place, from October last, until last week.
lie was tried at the April term of the Hastings
court of Stauntcn upon the charge Of numbering
Joseph W. Black. We knew nothing of the facts
of the case, for we were not living in the county
at the time of Blacks death, and therefore had o
preconceived impressions about it. We listened
carefully to the evidence given, and, in fact,
made copious notes, with view to their publ
cation. The jury failed to agree on a verdict
To our mind, there was no evidence to convict, but
ample to acquit. The testimony Of Miss Cary,
the main witness for the Commonwealth, estab
lished clear case of selfdefence. If her testi-
mony was not to be believed, there was no evil
dence to fix the killing on Smiley. He was re-
manded to Jail. a few nights sitter undergoing
the trying ordeal of being tried for his life the
door of his cell violently broken open, and
man named Hodges taken therefrom by unknown
parties, and hung in this vicinity. The shock to
Smiley was terrible. The next morning, the au-
thorities required that he should be present at
the coroner's inquest over the body of Hodges to
! give in his testimoney. He was taken to the
! scene of the tragedy. The sight was shocking to
the senses of calm men-to Smiley it was simply
awful. He there saw suspended from tree the
CHASTITY figure of Hodges, pinioned hand and foot.
1t was a fate meted unto him without the forms
of law 1t was penalty sought to be offered to
him under the forms of law That ghastly face !
that dangling form that spiritless body 1t sunk
| like flaming steel into the very soul and mind Of
Smiley. s'Gorgons Dire peopled his brain, rea-
son gave way, and Smiley is pronounced an al
most hopeless maniac. He is admitted to bail,
and permitted to return to his home and family
in Rockingham. But there was no rest for his
| stperturbed spirit'-no soothing balm in the car
resses and gentle words of wife and children for
the tempest raging in his mind. He is again
brought to Stauntcn, and application made to
have him admitted to the Lunatc Asylum. But
that Institution is filled to its utmost capacity
with at least fifty previous applicants lingering
| in county jails, for want Of accommodations
Smiley is once more locked up in the cells Of the
Jail, and there he is to-day, mind tempest-tossed
soul-sick, bodily wearing away, wreck Of his
former self.
We have 10 idea that Smiley will ever again be
brought to trial. We do not believe he will ever
regain his proper reason, and be regarded as an
entirely man. His agony of soul has been
too crushing for his mental balance, and it is
rarely that one so afflicted is permitted to resume
| the exercise Of his normal mental faculties.
Let any sensitive creature contemplate the aw-
full ordeal through which he has passed-frst,
his suspicious of the conduct Of Black and his
Sister, then the deflement of her person
der his own eye-the intense excitement, and the
raging passion that must have filed his nature to
drive him into the fatal conflict with Black-the
trial for his life-the hung jury-the scene at the
jail, in his own cell, whence Hodges was taken
and the yet more awful sight of the suspended
body of Hodges-and say whether it was not
enough to drive reason forever from its throne.
It Is sad, sad tragedy in life's experience. 1t
is a dark picture in the rugged and thorny path
man has sometimes to tread, and yet '''tis so and
pity lis, it's So"