The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-09-28
SUDDEN DEATH.
SUDDEN DEATH OF MRS. ADELE POINTS
THE JURY oFINQ UEs T-TEsTIMoNY-

SUDDEN DEATH.
SUDDEN DEATH OF MRS. ADELE POINTS
THE JURY oFINQ UEsT-TEsTIMoNY-
VERDICT.
Mrs. Adele Points, wife of VIM. J. Points,
died suddenly at the residence of her hus-
band in this city on Sunday night last about
ten O'Clock. The circumstances attending
her death were exceedingly melancholy and
caused a feeling of profound sorrow to per-
wade almost the entire city.
Mrs. Points was the daughter OF the late
James Points, who for thirty years was the
U. S. Marshall for the Western District OF
Virginia. She was about thirty-fivc years of
age, and had not been healthy Tor Il number
of years. She is said to have been Il lady of
the most generous impulses.
Her husband, WIN. J. Points, is the sou of
the most prominent and entcrprising citizens
of the city, and one whom everyone respect
ed and esteemed. At one time MIR. VIM. j.
Points was himself regarded as Il good bust
ness man, but for several years past. he has
been almost helpless by reason of the paral-
ysis of the lower portion Of the body, and by
some it is thought that the affliction has Sc
riouslv affected his mind. Tie and his wife
were first cousins.
On Tuesday morning Coroner Harlan sum.
moncd Il jnry OF inquest, consisting Of J. H.
Waters. Foreman, NJ. Z. Funkhouser, F. M.
Young, J. C. Marquis, J. S. Gillian and J.
b. Sherer, ST., before whom the following
testimony was adduced, which we lay before
our readers in full. without any comment.
THE TESTIMONY.
DIR. A. NJ. FAUNTLEROY testifiec.-Was
summoned about 81 o'clock On Sunday night
to the house of Mr.. Points; found Mrs. p. in
a Dying condition, evidently from the effects
OF some trouble about the brain which may
have arisen from natural. causes-may have
been caused by the rupture of some blood
vessel at the base of the brain. Examined
closely the head, neck and face, but could
observe no marks of violence at all.
PROF. LEoNIDAs POYNTZ, a brother Of
the deceased, testified know nothing at
all personally about the matter. Heard a
person say On yesterday afternoon that the
children affirmed that w. J. Points had
struck my sister with a cane and that she
fell to the floor as the result of the blow
Was impressed with the healthful appearance
of the corpse on Sunday night.
j. YosT testified In company with Miss
Hartman l was walking past Mr.. Points res
idcnce about nine and half o'clock Sunday
night. When we were opposite the gate
heard Mr.. Points talking in loud and angry
voice. We paused for an instant, l then
proposed going on and said sit does not con-
Germ u.s." Miss III. responded, "Oh! Mr..
Yost, you don't know everything" Just
then Mr.. Points stopped talking and heard
q thud, as if some heavy substance had fallen
on the floor. The children screamed and
very soon the cries subsidized to a sob. We
remained at the gate about two minutes and
the sobs continued to be heard. We then
proceeded to Mrs. Harman's, whose property
adjons Mr.. Points and had jus: reached the
porch when Mr.. Points two little girls rush
ed out on the porch of Mr.. P's. house in their
night clothes, and one of them screamed
ooh, Mrs. Hartman Mrs. Hartman, please
come over herc,' understood her to say
''mama is DYING They were wringing
their hands and seemed almost crazed with
terror Miss Bessie and hurried over to the
house and she told me to remain at the door
while she went into the room. On entering
the room heard Miss Bessie exclaim, ''Oh,
Mr.. Points, what in the world is the mattcr?'
He replied, II don't know" She then ask
ed s'wherc is the camphor % and Mr.. Points
responded "You will find it on the mantle
or somewhere Miss Bessie came out and
said she thought Mrs. P. was dying. Mrs.
Hartman then arrived and l went for the
doctor and Mr.. Jacob Points.
Miss BESSIE HARTMAN testified WAS
passing Mr.. Points residence about 10 O'Clock
ON Sunday night; heard angry words and as
1 thought a fall, then everything seemed
quiet until we had gotten on orr porch, when
Mrs. Points eldest daughter ran out on theii
porch and screamed for mama, saying "my
father is beating my mother.' Went over
to Mr.. Points and upon entering the room
found Mrs. P. lying on the floor and Mr.. P.
sitting on the bed with the baby in his hands.
1 said "Mr. Points what in the world is the
matter - and he replied ST don't know"
The children then commenced saying ''papa
struck mama on the back of the head with
his cane" His cane was lying OH the bed
beside him. They Qhe children) further Sta
ted that he had been Beating their mama all
evening since supper. Mrs. Points did not
seem conscious after 1 saw her. She was
lying with her feet under the bed on which
Mr.. Points was sitting and her head was near
the crib, which was situated about four and
a half feet distant. Did not examine her
closely, thought one side of her mouth SEEM
ed bruised. She was lying on her right side,
her arms being thrown out from her.
Here the coroner and jury entered the room
in which Mrs. Points fell and found the bed
on Which Mr.. Points was sitting situated in
| the south west corner of the room, and in
the south east corner was the childrens' bed.
Immediately on Il line with the foot of the
childrens' bed and about four feet distant
from the large bed was the crib. Miss Fl.
stated that the furniture was in exactly the
same position on Sunday night.]
Continuing her evidence, Miss Harman
stated The cane was lying on the foot o.
the bed did not notice the handle Mrs. P
spent Sunday afternoon at our house, and
seemed perfectly well and unusually cheer:
full. She returned to her home about five
O'Clock.
Mrs. FANNIE HARTMAN testified Il was
called at ten o'clock Sunday night to Mr.
Points house, and found Mrs. Points lying
on the floor, her feet lying partly under the
bed and her face turned towards the fire
place. She was unconscious, her tongue
protruded from the mouth ard her eyes were
open; did not examine her for marks of vic
lence. Mr.. p. was sitting on the bed. Mrs.
P. was at my house in the evening some four
or five hours before and seemed perfectly