The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-12-28
AN OLD MURDER REVIVED.
BEFORE THE JUSTICES
oY,,u.rAr M, r1rr pp1coNEp

Lear and Ill. Il, Seig, man named James
Spencer was arraigned for the murder OF
Christopher Slower, which occurred at his
home, near Barterbrook, in this county, on
| the 10th of March, 1865. The prisoner was
about co years of age, and had the appear
ance of being man OF once vigorous frame
He was dressed in homcspun, his hair and
beard uncarctl fer, and az air OF general
carelessness, not to say recklessness pervaded
his person. On the night of the murder
little company was gathered at Mr. Stover's
enjoying an entertainment, when three
masked men entered the room, presented
pistols and ordered all to keep thei: seats
land they should not be hurt. Mr.. Slower
seized an axe which was laying near ard
one Of the young men at the house, named
| Robt. McCrary, who has since died, tried to
escape from the house and give the alarm,
but was shot down, the ball passing through
his lungs. He afterwards recovered. By
| this time Mr.. Stover had gotten to the yard
| and was standing beside his daughter, when
| the smallest of the three masked men fired
WAN ChAoue,i IAN hS.AI' ~ "ss's So
orally supposed that the murderers were al
ter money, and that they had made mis-
take in the house, as Mr.. Jacob Slower had
| just returned from Staunton that day with
| large sum Of money which he had on his
person. Two men were arrested and tried
! for the murder, but were acquitted.
\ And so for nine years the case sumbercd
and was fast passing out Of memory, when a
few days ago it was revived by casual re-
mark alleged to have been made by Spencer.
Whilst working with Francis Campbell, a
grand son of the murdered man, in Nelson
county, on the Sth OF this month, Campbell
alleged that Spencer was dragging power
full" and declared that if he just had Jake
wonders - as he wasn't afraid of the d-n
little mountain lawyers"-he had ''killed
one d-n hog, and if he could just kill Bob.
Craig, he would be willing to die." Camp
bell asked who was the 'hog" he had killed,
and he replied ''old Stover.''
Francis Campbell and his wife both testi-
fled that they heard woman with whom
Spencer was living, say to him that she had
never murdered anyone as he had.' This
was said when the woman was angry and
when she and Spencer would be quarrelling.
The case was continued until yesterday,
when before the same justices, number of
witnesses were introduced to prove the char
acter of Spencer. They all testified that he
was generally regarded as 4 peaceable man,
his greatest fault being passion for women,
of whom he always had two or three around
him.
Witnesses were also introduced to prove
the character of Francis Campbell, the only
important witness for the Commonwealth,
and twas shown pretty clearly that his rep
utation was avery bad one-his own father
in-law declaring that he could not be believ-
ed on oath.
Capt. Bumgardner. the attorney for the
Commonwealth, at the conclusion of the tes-
timony, made few remarks in which he
said there was not evidence enough to sus-
tain the charge or warrant an Indictment.
Justice Seig interrupted him by saying that
both his colleague, Justice Van Lear and
himself, were satisfied chat the evidence was
not strong enough to send the prisoner on,
and therefore dismissed the case.
REPORT OF U. STATES CoIMIssroNER's
CLAIMS. MADE TO CONGRESS, Dec. 4TII,
1s76.-The following is q compiled list OF
claimants of Augusta and adjacent counties:
AUGUSTA COUNTY.
Claims AUoWed.-A. J. Accord, $3.50; Ell
len c. Cox, $3.50; Noah Early, 1914; Lydia
Fishburn, $714; Samuel Landes, $500
Claims Rejected-J. II. Fix, W. A. Landes,
Isaac Ware, Samuel Driver, Ella A. CARRIER,
W. r. Foster.
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY.
CLAIMS AUoaced.-H. Burkhoder, $247;
John Brunk, 1914; Daniel J. Good, s213;
Daniel Flory, s257; Geo. Kline, 800. Tazwe
Mowbry, 1925; David B. Rhodes, sl20; John
Rhodes estates, $4s4; Henry J.. Rhodes,
1925; Emile Waterman, sG4G. Claims Re
.jected-J.-.B. Eastman, Daniel P. Good, A.
Heatwole, G. D. Heatwole, J. Z. Keagy
Leo. Lewis, W. McInturf, W. D. Maiden,
oOiii -hilHiCN CSGdtC3 ~. MtllCI. n. Olittuk
j. Shank's estate, A. Showalter, w. C. SIM
mers. W. Thompson.
PAGE COUNTY.
CLAIMS Rejected A. Brubacker.
SHENANDOAH COUNTY.
Claims AzloWed.-J. Bauserman, 1907 IS;
Susan BLY,, 1921 so; S. G. Cambell, $3.50; A.
Glen, 500; Mary J. Glen, 500; Louis Funk
houser, 1922; Eliza Gochenour. s5l2 50; Dam
iel Keller, $l00S o.; Geo. E. Miller, $4l7 Is;
VIM. Peters, 500 so; VIM. c. Thompson,
s240. Claims Rejected-Jno II. Estep, D.
D. Evans, Elizabeth Hahn, Geo. F.. Hupp,
Trustee, john Maphis. Peter Myers, lanes
Rqdy, Elizabeth Smooth, j. E. Stump.
HIGHLAND COUNTY.
Claims ANolDed-James Wade, 500, Ely
abeth Wade, sl25. Claims Rejected-W, c,
Bird, A. S. Gum, Isaac Gum
BATH COUNTY.
Claims Rejected.-Richard Ratlill.