The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-09-06
LETTER FROM HARRISONBURG.
HARR1soNBURa, VA, Sep. ., 1877

lAhHloONBUF0, VA's CcP. ., 4ot' .
Editors Virginian
The trial OF a. d. Gilmer charged with the
murder Of Reuben Bonds, at McGaheysville,
June 2Sth, was commenced last Monday in
the County Court, Hon. Chas. 7. O'Ferrall
presiding. The Commonwealth is repre-
sented by Capt. John Paul. The defense
by Jacob n. Liggett, Warren 8. Lurty and
VIM. B. Compton. The following GENTLE
John H. Rolston, W. G.. Summers, Henry
G. Berry, Marion Long, T. j. Cline, John
w. Hinton, R. L. Gowl, Peter W. Roller,
John S. Fridley, Jos. Coffman and Joseph
Splitter. About seventy witnesses have
been summoned. On Monday after the
prisoner had plead "not guilty'i to the in
dictment the Court adjourned until o'clock
yesterday morning. A very large number Of
people were present, among the number
several ladies.
The attention of the police is called to the
stone throwing INDUCED in by the boys and
youths Of the town
There Is talk Of large first class hotel
being erected in this place at an early date.
The corn crop is reported as total failure
from many parts Of the county.
A. B. Trick. Esq, is extremely i'll at the
residence Of s. r. Sterling, Esq.
Oysters in the month Of September and
in Harrisonburg.
A large number Of ministers of the NJ. E.
Church South are here to-day, attending the
District Qdt1 kence.
Gorgiahna four year old daughter Of
Geo. Filbert, Esq, fell from the banisters OF
stairway last Sunday. She fell about Is
feet striking on her head. She lay in COM
atose state for twenty hours. No bones were
broken. DR.. Williams attended the sufferer.
The congregation at the Methodist Church
last Sunday evening were considerably ex-
cited, by gentleman falling from fit.
Freight on water-melons from Baltimo re
to Harrisonburg is only 19a cents apiece,
and they are not very large melons either.
A singing match between Prof. Henry 4.
Wartman's class and the class Of Reuben
Harrison took place at the Fellowship pic
mic last Saturday. Henry 7. gained the
victory.
Augustus Rice, former resident of this
county died in Saline County Missouri, last
week. aged about 60 years.
Miss Mollie McQuaid, who has gained a
most enviable reputation as q teacher, COM
menced her select School in the basement Of
the Catholic Church last Monday with about
twenty-five pupils.
The people Of Harrisonburg fail to see the
csuil service reform, in keeping the door OF
the Post Office locked during the opening of
the mail from the North.
TUESDAYS PROCEEDINGS AT COURT
HoUsE.-At the opening Of Court the crowd
was larger than any previous day of the
term. The counsel for Mrs. Louisa Lawson
made motion for o new trial; the motion was
argued by Mr.. Berlin, for prisoner, and
Capt. Paul for Commonwealth. The Judge
took the papers, reserving his decision until
tomorrow morning. The testimony in the
case of 2. D. Gilmer, charged with the MUIR
der of Reuben Bonds, June 2sth, in MEGA !
the corpus deficit by Drs. Sturgeon and
Conn. A survey of the scene Of murder was
introduced by VIM. T. McGahey the knife
was presented and sworn to by r. E. Hop.
kins; and one Of the principal witnesses for
the State, Thomas j. Roger, gave his testi-
mony. He stated, among other things, that |
prisoner and deceased met on the bridge, |
chat Bonds said to Gilmer, ''You have abused
my wife," that Gilmer made no reply to the !
remark, but stabbed Bonds. After the stab |
bling Gilmer ran across the bridge saying,
II reckon you are done for.'' That no blows |
were struck and the parties did not clinch.
At 11:4O Court adjourned until o'clock this !
morning.
WEDNESDAY PROCEEDINGS IN COURT |
HOUsE.-Judge O'Ferrall this morning over
ruled the motion for new trial in case of
Louisa Lawson and sentenced her to be hung
October 30th, 1877. The sentence was quite |
lengthy-too long for publication this week. !
The case OF q. d. Gilmer was then resumed. |
The testimony for the State is, up to the |
close of the report, rather conflicting. How
ever, the defense may change the complex
ion OF the case very much.
A son of A. Newman Peal, ESQ.,. had his
foot and leg terribly crushed on Monday last.
He was riding home from town on his faith |
er's wagon, when his foot got caught in the |
hind wheel of the wagon whilst in motion,
drawing him to the ground. DIR. Rives Ia |
tum rendered the necessary surgical atten-
ton.
The money drawer of A. r. Wilkins, gro
Ger, was robbed of a one dollar greenback |
BY little colored boy last Monday, MIR.
wilkins was in the cellar at the time, fortu- |
natcly he had deposited in Bank consider
able sum, about an hour before the till-tap-
ping occurred.
A rumor reaches me as I close this letter |
that man, named George Hedrick, was |
dragged from his horse and severely beaten |
and robbed of over 500 on the Dayton turn
pike, about one mile from town, last Mon |
day evening. The names of the parties |
charged, have been given me, but owing to |
the hitherto respectable position they have |
occupied in society, refrain from giving |
them until hear further. The robbery part |
strikes me as improbable.
Seventeen of the VIRaINIAN's Harrison.
burg News Bureau attaches are running for |
the Legislature, the other nine have the |
measles, hence a scarcity of locals. Be pa
tient, reader, we will give you newsy letter
next week.
Yours &C., FAX.
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