The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-02-15

CEEDlNGS.
Last Thursday the Sth, was the day set for
the commencement of the trial of Geo. Amiss
for the murder OF Jno. j. Burner At the
ringing of the bell the court room, III which
Judge Smith was holding the February term
of the Hastings court, began to fill speedily,
and in short time 1t was well crowded.
An array OF counsel was present, for besides
the attorneys engaged, the case promises to
be of such general interest, that majority OF
the members of the bar occupied seats behind
the railing. Hon. H. Fl Riddleberger. Sena-
tor-eect has been engaged by the friends OF
the late Mr. Burner to aid Commonwealth
Attorney Ecbols in the prosecution and the de-
fence is represented by Messrs. White d Cor
don, of Staunton, Messrs ]. N Liggett and
Warren S. Lurty, of Harrisonburg, and Gen.
VIM. Skeen, of Covington.
When the accused was arraigned, he plead
mot guilty" in a clear and distinct voice.
A venire OF 25 men from the city had been
summoned. AS each man answered to his
name, Judge Smith asked him if he had formed
an opinion as to the guilt or innocence OF the
prisoner at the bar. Invariably the answer
came in theaffirmatiye, and the vcnireman was
told to stand aside The court then adjourned
the case until Friday, and ordered venire Of
| fifty to be summoned.
At ten O'Clock Friday morning the case was
again called, and the fifty yeniremen were
promptly on hand. Like their predecessors OF
the day before, one after another declared that
he had made up all opinion on the case. Only
three out OF the fifty did not so declare. These
three were Messrs J. S. Gillian, II. F. Hosey,
and j. y. Bryan, each of whom were told to
take his seat. no challenge having been made
| by The counsel for the defence,
II being seemingly impossible TO procure a
jury in Stauuton, Judge Smith directed an Or
der to be entered. instructing the officers OF
the court to proceed to Richmond, Petersburg
Alexandria and Lynchburg and procure ve-
nire of twenty-five men.
Tuesday evening Capt. Waters reached home
with the following venremen, all residents OF
| Lynchburg: w II H Peck, D C Wright, w
Black, I f Hallowell, J q Filter, d En-
gledove, F.W A Sattler, } 5 Hammer, T o Car
roll. Rufus Anderson, JOS Carney, Henry Vie
land Sergeant Runnells came on the same
tram with the following Richmonders viz
r E Cox, C H Reintz w W Dunn, S Nc
Ghee, William Redm an, E ID Eacho, ] A Au-
gustine, J A Marks, William Lally, s A Sny-
der ,Abram Gunst, and c B Childrey.
Yesterday morning Deputy Sergeant Geo.
| Hutcheson arrived with the following venire-
men from Alexandria: Geo II Harlow, B w
Knalls, VIM I Vincent, K I Cook. H Beach,
r T Lucas, Magnus Scbuber, J L Dyson, I
L Monroe, c l. Adams, M r Norris.
The Court met at ten o'clock and adjourned
until eleven at which time itagain reconyened
| The yeniremen were called inside the railing,
and then the outer doors were opened. The
crowd which had lhronged around the Court
house for hours, rushed IN pell-mell, and in a
moment had jammed and crowded all of the
available space in gallery and floor, creating
such confusion that the officers were unable
to keep silence and the judge threatened to
clear the gallery. After awhile however, quiet
was restored and the business of the day COM
menced.
| On motion of Mr.. Echols, the Hon. H. H.
Riddeberger qualified 10 practice in the Hust-
lngs Court.
Another recess was then taken until one
o'clock, to enable the jurors who had just ar
rived from Alexandria, to take such refresh
ment as they required.