Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-02-23
ONLY FOUR YEARS In TIL
PENITENTIARY
AMISS CONVICTED OF VOLUN-
TARY MANSLAUGHTER.

Ian III a N ola In.
ACCOUNT OF BURNERS LAST MOMENTS
HIS DYING STATEMENTS ADMITTED
AS EVIDENCE-A WITNESS FOR THE
PROSECUTION TAKES TO FLIGHT-TIIE
CONVICT GOES To THE PENITENTIARY
FOUR HOURS AFTER sENTENCE-AMIss
HUNG IN EFFIGY-How THE JURY
STOOD.
&C., &C., sc.
We give below the closing evidence and
scenes in the trial before Judge Smith of
Geo. W. Amiss, for the murder in Staun-
ton of John J. Burner, of SHENANDOAH:
Friday.
THE STATEMENTS OF BURNER BEFORE
HIS DEATH.
At the opening of the court Friday
morning the question of admitting as evil
dence the dying statements of Burner to
various parties after he was shot, was ar
gued. The jury was sent out and the wit.
nesses were heard first by the court, it to
decide whether they should be afterwards
heard by the jury. The evidence heard
by the Judge was exclusively on whether
Burner believed he Was about to die.
N. G. Greg"Ty, one of these parties first
took the stand. He testified that he stad
with Burner and waited on him till he
died, being out of the room only three
times. Was sitting IN the billiard room
Of the Virginia Hotel on the night
of the shooting when Burner came in at
side door and called for Nike Croghan.
the bar tender, Croghan said he WAS busy
and could not see him. Burner started
come here for Gods sake.'' Croghan re-
piled, II am busy and cannot come. "
They thought Burner was drunk. Leila
Lester then came to the door and called
for Nike. About an hour or 80 after, wit
ness was sent by MIR. Crowle, proprietor
of the hotel, to Burners room; found
Burner there and the Drs. Henkel.-
Thought Burner was in pretty bad fix.
Between and 4 O'Clock when [ came in
the room Julius Scheffer, of the Virginia
Hotel Restaurant, was there. julius asked
Burner how he felt, and B. replied, Il feel
pretty badly" Julius told him he thought
he was badly hurt. Burner said. 81 reckon
this is another Ream case" b. was in
the double room NCs. SO and 3S in one of
which he was lying and in the other DIR.
Henkel was sleeping. There was door
between the two. at my request Julius
sent some whiskey up. II. g. Feller, the
hotel clerk, was also in the room asleep in
chair. No one was in the room when
Burner told me that
HE DID NOT THINK HE WOULD LIVE.
His face was pale, his hands and feet
cold, and his voice weak. He said he
wanted to see his brother but did not
want to see his wife. | think it was some
time after be said he would die that ask
ed him how it all happened.
The COurt-Did you hear him expr ess
any hope Of recovery?
Witness-I did not. I told Mr.. Echols
several times that did not think Burner
would live. think Burner had lost all
hope of life. He told me he thought he
was mortally wounded said he was shot
in the bowels, he had no use of his lower
limbs at all. He could use his arms in
catching hold of me to assist him in
turning over. Don't remember that Bur-
ner told me before 2 or clock A. M. that
be thought be would die. AS we'll as can
recollect. he said he couldn't live, or words
fn haf offoot nd COZ If ,inJ<
twice. Once he said he thought be might
live eight or ten days. Can't say whether
it was before or after this that he gave me
an account of how he was shot. When /
held up his hands and thought he was dy.
ing he asked me if [ was Mason.
The Court-Did you hear Burner express
any feelings of aDimoslty towards the &C
cused
Witness-No; he said he did not know
why Amiss had done this.
THE DISGRACE OF BEING KILLED IN
SUCH PLACE.
j. b. Lickliter. manager of the Virginia
Hotel, testified that he saw Burner fire.
quently after he was shot; first about 9 or
10 o'clock on that night. He seemed to
be suffering. Saw him the next morning
about O'Clock and his condition was un-
changed. There was cold sweat on his
brow. Did not feel his skin He expressed
no animosity to the prisoner. He said he
thought his wound was fatal. Don't think
be had the slightest hope of recovery. He
said the disgrace of being killed in such a
Place would fall on his family; he did not
cafe for himself. He expressed no hope @.
recovery. Did not hear him ask for min.
lister. or speak of making will, or pray.
WANTED HIS PROPERTY TO GO TO HIS
WIFE AND BABIES
Julius c. Schefer, Superintendent of the
Virginia Hotel Restaurant. Saw Burner
first, about l clock after closed my bal
room. His voice was very weak | asked
him how he was and he said he was in a
very critical way and was suffering a goot
deal. Turned over on his side and said
"Oh, Lord. In afraid it is another Rean
case.'' About ten minutes after 2 o. lnc
asked him if he didn't want to make
will. He said no: he wanted his propert
to go to his wife and babies. | told hir
his situation was critical. had know
him from a boy. He said his books woul
show everything aud he didn't want
will. [ told him l thought he would b
dead in twenty-four hours or less timt
He said, 'Oh, as soon as that! or, am
to pass away as soon as that!' Burne
and Ream were we'll acquainted and live
in Woodstock and so did I. Witness her
told about Ream's DEATH
j. II. Waters, Chief of Police, next too
the stand. saw Burner several time
and thought be was in dying condition
everything indicated it, especially h
ewes, His suffering was great and he ha
..iiaat ir,cx duixacx