Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-01-05
TRAGEDY IN A BAGNIO.

! TRAGEDY IN A BAGNI0.
| A BAGGAGE MASTER KILLS A MACHINE
| AGENr-PAkT1CULAR OF. THE TRAG-
EDY-EvIDENCE AT THE INQU EST.
&C., &C.. &C.
| On the Southern ed ,e Of StauntOn, with
| in a stone throw of the gas works, stands
| venerable frame building of dingy APP
| pearance two stories in height and having
| verandah across its 'front.' Though on
Greenvile Avenue, much travelled
| thOroughfare, its being situated back OF
shady yard of good size has given it qui-
ct and retired appearance. In days past
it has been the home of some of the best
people in the town, and its green lawn and
fresh paint in the summer time made it
an envied home; but with the advances of
business in the town families ceased to
reside in that immediate vicinity and the
property within a few weeks past has been
sold. and is now used as house of prosti-
tuition. On the upper floor is room oc-
cupied by Fanny Lewis, white courtesan
and on the lower is a room occupied by
Leila Lester, another courtesan, woman
who is noted from the fact that she
was the proprietor of the bagnio in Dan
vile in which young Dejarnette shot and
killed his own sister, Mollie Dej4rnette,
who had taken up her residence there. 1t
was in the room occupied by Fannie Lew
is that on. Tuesday night last about half
past eight O'Clock, shocking tragedy oc.
CURED.
JOHN j. BURNER,
the victim. Was resident Of Woodstock,
Shenandoah, and Was the G IN raj Agent
for Virginia, of the Manufacturing Com.
pany at Waynesboro, Pa, which makes
the Frick Engine. He was man about
,hirty-fve years of age, six feet in height,
with light hair and beard, aud had
pleasant and engaging address. He was
married man, with wife and three
children, living at Woodstock, the eldest
child being about fifteen years of age, and
the youngest baby little more than a
year old. Burner was a man of much en-
terpriee in his business, and he made an
efficient agent. On the day of lis death
he had ridden near fifty miles in buggy
to make a sale.
GEO. W. AMISs
who took Burners life, is about thirty
years of age, tall, and OF good appearance.
He is native of Harrsonburg. and en-
tered the service of the B. & o. Company
as brakeman On the Valley Branch. from
which position by good conduct lie rose to
She position of baggage master. He stood
well with his employees and the travelling
public and was very obliging aud prompt.
L. liquor how eyer he was accounted
dangerous man. and it is not very long
since Mr.. Julius Scht fir came near losing
his life by a pistol in Amiss' hands, tbs
ball passing through his hat.
FANNY LEWIS,
the woman on whose account the deadly
affair occurred, is young and rather at
tractive looking white glrl not yet out of
the twentes, and from her testimony be-
fore the inquest. has had some education.
AT the il quest she appeared closely veiled,
and wrapped in a fine fur-lined cloak with
llack fur cape. She gave her testimony
like woman Of education, and signed her
name in neat hand. During her evidence
she seemed much affected.
THE STATEMENT OF THE VICTIM.
The statement of Burner, whose lips are
now closed forever. as made alter he was
wounded, to Chief of Police Waters, was
to the effect that he was sea ed IN the
room of Fannie Lewis at 80 O'Clock.
Tuesday night reading Longfellow's
poem. Amiss came In said "You-
rascal, You here az ,in?" and attacked him.
They grappled. and at one time Amiss had
his pistol at his temple. He struck it
down and it then went off and shot him
through the b dy. That he then said to
Amiss ''Stop this now you have shot me;
let me get my overcoat and will go home,'
but Amiss still persisted in an attempt to
shoot him again. That after the struggle
ended he got his overcoat and asked the
woman of the house, Leila Lester, if she
had any one to walk with hun as far as
the Virginia Hotel. She had no one and
the hotel.
The statement OF Burner was not given
as his dying statement, indeed he did not
realize that he had been MORALLY wounded
until a moment or so before his death.
Commonwealth Attorney Echols had
visited the wounded man almost hourly
to ascertain his situation and take his
dying deposition if his wound was mortal.
The wound was of such nature that it
was impossible for the attending physi-
foretell the result. Just before 8 O'Clock
Wednesday afternoon the wounded man
commenced to sink rapidly. Capt. Waters,
who was in the room. remarked that he
WAS dying. Burner said, L have no grip
in my hands," and after a brief struggle
expired. Neither the Comm onwealth's
Attorney nor the physicians could have ex
pected the sudden ending of life coming
ing as 1t did from internal hemorrhage.
The ball had perforated the Abdominal wall
and the intestines and lodged ia the back
bone.
THE ACCOUNT GIVEN BY THE WOMEN AT
TIE INQUEST.
A jury of inquest insisting of F. M.
Young, r. W. Burke, II. l.. Powell, J. A.
Templeton. w. Ii. Goode and John B.
Blackley, was impanneled Wednesday
evening.
Leila Lester good looking white girl
wearing black silk cloak, fur lined, and
| wearing an eleganG blue ostrich feather,
was sworn, and gave her testimony in,
| very fuently. She said that after finish
ing supper at Miss Ann Hawkins upper