The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-01-04
A Terrible Tragedy.
j. ]. BURNER SHOT AND FATALLY WOUNDED in
AR.wDy House BY GEORGE w. AMIss.

A shocking affair occurred in this city on
Tuesday night last. j. j. Burner, OF Wood
stock was shotand fatally woundedby Geo W
Amiss of IIarrsc Eburg.
The scene of the tragedy was the two story
house lust west of The Valley depot. known
as the old McMahon poperty and within lwC
squares of the centre of the city. The house
was kept by a woman of easy virtue named
! Leila Lester, and had but n short time before
been dedicated to its evil purposes. But two
rooms had been fitted up and furnished, the
one on the first floor icing occupied by Leila
! Lester and that on the second by Fanny Lewis
a sister In crime The latter is said to have
been the kept mistress of Amss AT least
Amiss so regarded hei. On Tresday night
about eight O'clock, Amiss went to the mouse
and was met at the front door by Lester. Tic
stated that he intended going up stars to his
favorite's room, and the girl, knowing tha'
another man was with Fanny lewis, pro-
tested against Amiss carrying out his inten
ton. She told him that Fanny was not al
home that she would leturn in few moments
and insisted upon his going into her elena s.
room until the alleged absentee would gel
back She also stated that Fanny had taken
the kew to her room with her. and that The
door was locked, and again begged him not to
proceed. Amss seems not to have credi'ea
her statements In response to her entreatles
he told her that he would go up and break the
door down that he intended to go into the
room and that she might rs well stand out OF
the way. She again protested, but without
avail, and Amss went up stairs. After two
vigorous blows the door gave way and he en-
tered to be confronted by Burner, and the
woman, Lewis. AS he advanced he made at
| Burner, saying, "you damn rascal" Burner
arose to his feet, hat in hand, and a scuttle en-
sued during which Burner insisted on being
let alone. saying that he didn't want to have
any difficulty in such place. In an instant
Amlss had drawn his pistol and presented ii
to Burners temple, but the latter grabbed his
assailant's arm and detected the range OF the
! weapon An explosion occurred and the ball
entered the right side of Burners stomach
and lodged in his back bone. 1t penetrated his
| hat. which must have been in his hand at the
time This did not end the difficulty, Amiss
still trying to get the better OF his adversary,
and Burner begging him to desist. From the
room they passed into the passage still scuf-
fling. Burner told Amiss that he had been
shot. that he did not want the fight continued
and that he wanted TO get out OF the place
He told him also that he (Burner) could have
killed HIM (Amss) if he had been so disposed
as he was armed. This occurred whilst the
parties were still engaged in the atfray Alter
getting into the passage there was cessation
of hostities Burner then turned to Leila
Lester and asked for his oyercoat, and that
Lelia's man who WAS supposed to be down
stairs, should assist him to the hotel. The
girl replied that no one was with her, and vol
unteered to help him herself She then went
with him TO within few steps of the Vlr'
ginia Hotel. where he was boarding.
The above facts were CLEANED from thor
oughy reliable sources, including the state
ments made by Burner himself They are cor
roborated in part by the fact that the door bore
two heavy impr inls of a foot, corresponding
to that worn by Amiss. They are also cor
roborated by the fact that the hasp on the face
of the door frame was so loose that the latch
could have passed it. 1t was in this condition
when the police saw it on Tuesday night, but
was not so on Wednesday morning. The state
ments made by Burner and Leila Lester Tues
day night, were substantially the same.
Drs. l[enkle were summoned and found that
the ball had penetrated into the bowels, and
that it would be fatal 10 follow it with probe
The wounded man seemed perfectly collected
and gave brief account of the affair. tie was
quite reticent, however, and seemed to be SUI
fering more mentally than physically. The
shame of having been in such house, was
evidently harder for him to bear than the pain
of the wound He fingered during the morn
ing and towards noon seemed to rally. lit
tie before three o'clock, he began to sink, and
died shortly after 1t was the intention OF the
Commonwealth Attorney to take his ante
norton testimony, and for that purpose Mr..
Echols visited his room nearly every hour OF
the day and night. Each time however, ii
was deemed best TO postpone, the physicians
being of opinion thst all hope was not gone
When the change took place, the patient sank
so rapidly that no opportunity was given fol-
taking the statement.
In the meantime the police were on the
track of Amiss. He made no effort to escape
Shortly after the shooting he went to Tom
Burk's bar room and sat there for a few mo-
ments. He seemed much depressed and when
spoken to made no response. In a little while
he went to his room in the Burns Building
and was there arrested by Capt. Waters, chief
: Of police When the Captain entered the
room he found his prisoner packing his valise.
The weapon with which the deed had been
done, a Wesson & Harrington, 80 calibre, pis-
toll, was lying in among his clothes. All OF
the chambers were full, but tie smell of the
burnt powder was still present. As he entered
the policeman said, swell, George you have
gotten into another difficulty" To which
Amiss replied, Yes; did you come for me ~
The policeman told him that that was bust
ness and Immediately conveyed him to the
jail, without resistance. Yesterday morning
Amiss was seen al the jail by reporter for the
VIReINIAN. He appeared perfectly calm, but
by advice of counsel would make no state
ment.
The two women were also lodged in Jail
Leila Lester is the same girl at whose house
in Danvllle, Mollie Dejarnette was killed by
her brother.
Mr.. Burner was about thirty-fve years old
and married man with three children He
was resident of Woodstock, and with his
brother was engaged in the agricultural nipple
ment business. He has been in Staunton fol
some time as the agent of the Prick Engine
Co. AT his home he enjoyed the reputation
, OF being man of fine business capacity good
moral character, ana in every way respectable
and respected. During his residence in Staun-
ton he had made many friends and was looked
upon as being most worthy and excellent
man. The deepest sympathy is felt for his
interesting family Yesterday evening his
wife, children, brother and family physician
arrived, but not until after the vital spark
had fled. The remains will be taken to w God
stock to-day. i
Geo. W. Amiss is native of Harrison
burg, young man about thirty years of age