The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-01-05
Fatal Result of Christmas Diff
cultv

Guilty.
DEATH OF GIRAsD s. GREGORY FROM WOUNDS
RECEIVED ON CHRISTMAS EvE-yERDIoT OF
CoRoNER's JURY
Last week we mentioned that on the eve
OF Christmas difficulty had occurred between
Girsrd Gregory and several railroad men, in
which the former had received serious wound
from blow with bottle, On Tuesday last, Mr..
Gregory died from the effects of that blow. and
was buried yesterday in Thornrose cemetery.
On the evening of his death, a jury Of in
quest was summoned, consisting Of The follow
ing gentlemen, viz: F. NJ. Young, foreman,
c. b. Somervile, J. E. Graham, J. b. Wood
ward p n Powell and J. T. Tompklus To
gether with coroner Harlan they proceeded to
the residence Of the deceased, and after view
iug the body adjourned until Yesterday morn
ing.
Upon re- assembling, Dr. W 5. McChesney
WAS called TO the stand and testified that he
hul Il. >; seen the deceased on Christmas day.
lie found three wounds upon his head-tw0
on the occiptal hone, and the other Oh the
fronisl bone just al its connection with the orbit
Of the eve The fatal wound was about p
inches long and looked as if il had been Inflicted
with "A sharp instrument. In response toa sug-
gesiion made by the coroner, DR.. McChesney
stated that in view OF the serious nature OF
the case. he regarded post mortem eXaminS-
ton important The jury concurred i'll the
IL, "A
cure an assistant and make the examination.
This WAS done. When the operation was com
pleled DIR. McChesney WAS recalled and stat
ed that the post morton had revealed That not
only the external table of the skull but the iir-
ternsl ~ well had been broken and Depressed.
After careful examination, witness was salts
fled that the fatal injury was inflicted Ivy a bot-
tie (he having heard that bottle was known
to have been used III the difficulty J DR.. Fultz
substantially corrohorated the testimony OF
DR.. NcChesDey.
After the evidence of the physicians had
been taken, number OF witnesses testified.
The facts adduced were substantially rs fol-
lows On Christmas eve. about 0 clock,
entrance of Jno Burns saloon L. L. Vas
seuer and several other railroad men were COM
ing up the street when Vusseuer pushed against
Gregory and Gregory struck him. Several
blows were passed, but nothing serious &C
Cured at the time. A few moments later,
Girard Gregory was standing near the corner,
two doors above Burns talking to Andrew
Gregory, his uncle, and Phillip Greayer.
Whilst So engaged, H, Ii. Shut, Vasseuer,
and three other railroad men came along, and
Girard Gregory stepped one side TO let them
pass. The party went on Aye or six PAGES
and halted Snuff then returned to where
Gregory vas standing and called him oh
- -. Gregory struck HIM and knocked
him down. Nasseuer then came UP aud was
also knocked downed. A general melee then
snsued, in which Gregory and several others
were Frustrated. Whilst down, four men
piled on 10 Gregory and commenced beating
him I'll Js H. Binford was striking him on
the head J. Il. Nichols about the breast an
unknown man about centre Of the body and
Vasseuer WIS pounding him On the legs.
W nliSb tuts Sah going on, th6 ciAsu Vi
heavy bottle was heard and Gregory
cried murder" In few moments the four
nen either got off or were taken from Greg
Dry, anu az they were going, Bin ford went
little distance from the PROSTATE man and then
returned, and saying, Damn him, I'll give him
another lick" proceeded to strike Gregory
with his list or kick him As he received
the lick, Gregory was heard to gr0an. The
railroad mcn :hen gathered up Shut, who had
fallen early in the action, and carried him
away, and Gregory's father came up and took
his son home. The next morning the broken
pieces offs black bottle were found where The
difficulty occurred. This is the substance otthe
testimony taken before the coroners jury, and
upon it the verdict was rendered that the deceaE-
ed came to his death from the effects Of iniut-
les inflicted by Thos. H. Binfsrd, j, IT. Nicholf
L. L. Vasseuer and party unknown to the
jury.
Messrs. Binford. Nichols, Vasseuer, Snuff
and H. w Dickerson are now in Jail. The case
will come up before the Mayor is morning
at 8 O'clock