The New York herald., 1872-09-14
KILLING FOR ISLANDER.
A Man Shot Dead for Accusing a
Lady Of Improper Conduct.
TRIAL OF THE HOMICIDE.
The Circumstances of the Case as
Related by Witnesses.
ACQU1TTAL OF THE ACCUSED.

RICHMOND, Va, Sept. 13, 1872.
most interesting and exceedingly curious
murder trial has just been concluded at Gloucester
county, the details OF which have just received.
The reputation OF leading belle OF the county had
been questionaby indicated by the shedding OF
the blood OF her alleged slanderer and the acqutaI
of the murderer sustains the nat OF that high moral
law among the chvalry when the honor OF lady
is involved. George A. Tinsley was indicted on the
lst OF August last for the murder OF Isaac Duer,
at Freeport, In Gloucester county on the same day
and at the same place. 1t appears that both
parties were sailors OF Miss Marie Ella
Spindle, daughter OF DR.. Philip Spindle,
who resides Freeport. Mrs. Robin
son, sister OF DR.. Spindle testified that
Captain Duer visited their residence for two
months at least once day, and was particularly
attentive to Miss Spindle. On the night Of the 10th
of May Captain Duer passed the house. The family
were sitting In the porch aud retired about ten
o'clock, leaving Miss Spindle in the par0r enter
tanning some visitors, including Mr.. Tnsley, who
remained until eleven O'Clock. The others having
left, Duer then went into the house and pceped In
the back parlOr window What he saw he related
to Dr. Spindle. His statement was seriously dam
aging to the character of Miss Spindle, involving
also the name OF Mr.. Tinsey the report being that
he caught the lady OF his affections
On Sunday, July 81, Captain Duer called to see
Miss Spindle who was at an upstairs window and
refused to come down. The witness, Mrs. Robin
son. related n conversation to show that, while tho
attentions OF Captain Duer were coldy received by
Miss Spindle, he was warm and persistent on his
part. Among other things he said -" Ella, you
know tnat l love you better than any one else on
earth, and yet i can't get You. Will never have
any one else" On the evening OF August Tinsley
aud Duer met at or near the store OF Marcnant &
M Tinu1n lama hnIa rAfr pfian nf xl.cf npn
had said about him. Duer refused to retract ne
affirming that his statement was true Tinsley
sat short s
came In collision, and the result was that Duer was
shot shot and an I'm mortaly wounded byhis adversary. He
The trial of Tinsey took place at Gloucester
Court House. Judge Wyndham Kemp presided.
rections and even from adjoining counties on
horseback, in vehicles OF various Sorts and many
walked, so great was the interest In the Tinsley
trial.
THE COURT ROOM WAS PACKED
and even the space appointed for the attorneys and
officers OF the Court was invaded by the eager
and not overpolte crowd. The importance OF
OF the counsel employed on either side several
q whom, It viii be seen, are before this his
ncfDsss g. pssovan nean{ a asa for
and ]. Boyd Healy There was some dinicuIty in
getting jury and 1t was not until Tuesday morn.
Ing that one was obtained; In the afternoon % OF
room. Mr. Daniel, counsel for the prosecution,
moved to commit the prisoner to jail, the case not
by Mcssrs. Wise, Donovan and Seawell, and the law
was quoted In the case. At one time the crowd in
the court room and outside seemed to have the i'm.
jail, and such expressions as 'wel tear The jail
neSa Ss1 eS y S AS a uey Sna was M nsy
bailcd in the sum OF $1,000 TO appear before the
Court next morning ON Wednesday the cXamna-
ton OF witnesses was continued.
7. M. Dawson. br0ther-in-law or Duer, testified as
follows :-nnsIey came up In front OF Duer pistol in
you've said about me presenting pistol, you
damned Yankee scOundrcl;" Duer sain nothing;
TinsIey, II am not, am as Composed as ever was
say and dog turning to Duer he continued, "You
Or win spill every drop OF blood In my body"
and cannot take back the truth; au not pre-
pared to die, nor are you;" "Prepared or not" re-
% and am determIned to 40 it I then % said to Tins
ley, "lf you kill Duer you will be sorry Tor
i, and there are other ways to settle this
ports; on replying no he took me aside and told
me that )uer had accused him publicly OF criminal
Intimacy wi n Miss Spincle Tinsey enrc.urned 10
the spot where Dner was. and Duer remarked,
"Come here, George, and We can settle this trouble
gether and took seats on the bench at the store.
John NJ Walker testified as - came to the
bench where IlnSley anu Duer were sitting Dr.Spn-
die got up and made few steps in front or Captain
Duer, and said, captain Duer blame you for the
whole Of this difficulty; thought you were one of
my best friends, but you are my worst enemy; you
have tried to rum my family forever;" Mr.. Tinsley
said also to Captain Duer, 'That Is the way with
ali; ever since you nave been here you have been
trying to inure my character and are now trying to
INJURE RESPECTABLE YOUNG LADY;
you have got to retract or I will put this whip OIL
you or you have got to whip me;'' Duer repied.
''rhat IL mighty hard thing to do, George;o
Duer then repeated the charge against Miss
John Fahrenhal testlned-I know the parties; got
to FreepOrt after one difficulty had 0ccurred att-
tude ASIDE scribed by other testimony took 11nsleY
aside and talked with him also talked with DR.. Pres
and said TO him, "You win have to retrac what you
have said;' DR.. Spindle also said, you must make
Duer take back what he has said;" Duer then got
up and repeated the offensive words, and Tinsley
struck him, with the whip; Duer seHed
around they were In the act OF falling, Duer having
hold of Finsleys that held the pistol; they
we're then parted; can hardly say who parted
them; pistol dred once while In act OF parting
them, but by whom cannot say; when Tinsley got
shoot Duer again; Duer had moved up towards the
house; Tinsey got the whip and started after
Duer: Mr.. R0ane and stopped him and carried
him In the store; he was wounded In two places
on the arm and shoulder; l then went up TO the
prisoner II Duer was shot badly; ! said he was;
II have only one thing to regret.n replied Tinsey,
'and that is that did not put all six balls In hIm.v
The case was then given to the jury. after q
weeks examination OF witnesses and the strongest
argument OF a powerful array OF counsel on both
verdict OF mot guilty,n and the accused was ac-
quilted.