Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-05-05
DEATH AT THE COOP.

DEATH AT THE COOP.
A COLORED CHICKEN-THIEF KILLED BY
| A sPRING-GUN-HE LIES ALL NIGHT IN
| AGoNY-FALsEHooD AT THE MOUTH OF
THE GRAVE,
| &C., &C., &c.
| A fatal occurrence, which, in view OF
the almost epidemic robbery of hen-houses
all over the county, has created great
deal of interest, took place on the farm of
Mr.. Lewis Deffenbaugh, about two miles
from the city, on Friday night last. The
victim was Bill Houston, a colored man Of
middle age, with good face, but who has
( been an incorrigible thief. A short time
| since he was arrested for the burglary of
Michael Carmody's store, near where he
| lives. in the vicinity of the National Gene
terry, but was discharged by the magistrate,
| there being but little evidence to detain
| him. Strange to say, with other false
! statements made in his dying moments,
he denied knowing Mr.. Carmody, or know
! ing where he lived, though he rented
! house owned by that gentleman. A few
| days ago he did some work for MI. S. A.
Hoshour, collected the pay from the over
| seer at the farm and came straight to town
and collected it over again. On Friday,
| the day of the night in which he perpe-
trated his last robbery, he started from
home, leaving his wife and four children,
+oJJ ba iO 10Th
| He went as far as Churchville and got
| something to eat at Mr.. Wash Dudley's.
| It is supposed he afterwards met the gang
| OF thieves by appointment, and returned
! to MI. Huffman's, where they stole
twenty-eight chickens, and then went to
MIR. Deffenbaugh's, in entering whose coop
| he met his death. He was put i'll q wagon
| and brought to the city about 8 O'Clock,
| Saturday morning, and placed in Jail,
| where he lived in great agony till about 2
| O'Clock, when he died.
THE INQUEST.
Coroner e. NJ. Gushing held an inquest
| on the remains with the following gentle
men acting as jurors: D. R. Blackburn,
Jno. A. Fauber, J. W. Cease, A. II.
| Price, Geo. Peace, and Jos. B. Woodward.
| The witnesses examined were DR.. W. S.
McChesney and Messrs. Lewis, Henry, and
| B. A. Deffenbaugh, who gave the follow
| ing evidence:
Lewis Deffenbaugh said: recognize the
| man as the one who was found shot near
my chicken-coop. Some two months ago
some one entered my chicken-coop and
stole great many chickens, and I didn't
know any way to protect my property but
| by sitting a gun in the coop. The man was
shot by q gun in my coop about II OF
O'Clock Friday night. There was a gun
| stiled in the coop, and when the man OPEN
| ed the door it pulled the trigger and the
gun went off. My boys heard the report
and went for some Of the neighbors, ana
when I went out about an hour after
wards, found seven dead chickens near
the coop, the property of MI. Huffman, a
neighbor, and then saw the man lying
about ten feet Off I went up to him and
asked him who he was, and he told me.
and 1 asked him why he went into the
coop. and he said he was persuaded by
some others with him to do so. [ then
asked him who they were, and he said he
didn't know but one of them. / came with
him when he was brought to Jail.
Henry Deffenbaugh said: [ recognize the
man as the same one found shot at my
fathers chicken-coop. [ stiled the gun
last night, and am satisfied the man was
shot by opening the door of the coop. I
| pCt hao of h11t
kened by my father, and went out and
waited till my brother came with some
neighbors, and then went to the coop,
about 60 yards from the house, and saw
seven chickens at the corner Of the coop,
and q short distance off the colored man
lying. Heard the conversation of my
father with the man, and confederate his
statement The chickens at the corner of
the coop were dead, and were recognized
by Mr.. David Huffman as his property.
B. A. Deffenbaugh said: l heard the re-
port of the gun, and went to the window
and heard low talking at thecoop. Walked
up the members of the family, and sup
posing there were several at the coop,
started to get some neighbors before going
to the coop. Heard the man halloing af-
ter the others. I recognize the man as the
one shot at the coop on my fathers place.
When we returned and went up to him he
said he was persuaded by others to go into
the coop and steal chickens, and gave~his
name as VIM. Stuart; said he was born and
raised in Highland, but lived near the
National Cemetery, and that he had gone
out by Mr.. Deffenbaugh's with some High
land wagons.
DR.. W. S. McChesney said the cause of
his death was shot received il the stom-
ach. was called by the Coroner about 10
O'Clock this morning to see him, and found
him lying Frustrated from the effect of the
wound, which [ considered mortal. No
reaction took place, and as he was suffer
| ing gave him some morphine to alleviate
his pain. AS came out I met Rev. DR..
Martin and told him of the mans condi-
ton. He went into the cell and prayed
with and impressed upon him the necessity
of telling the truth about this matter and
making a confession. I called again to see
him, and having heard he was implicated
in other thefts, thought 7 would ask him
about them. Asked him if he thought he
was going to get we'll. HI replied that he
didn't know. Told him I thought he was
bound to die, and not to tell any false
hoods, and if he could not tell the truth not
to answer any questions at all. asked,
"who was with you when you were trying to
steal those chickens last night?" He said,
doctor, that is a hard question: I asked,
didn't you know the names Of any Of
| them2 He anSWared that he didn't know