Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-08-01
THE USE OF THE KNIFE.
EXAMINATION OF ROBERT HICKS ON THE
CHARGE OF STABBING PROF. NJ. w.
QUARLEs-LARGE CROWD PRESENT AS
SPECTATORS.


QUARLEs-LARGE CROWD PRESENT AS
SPECTATORS.
&C, &C, &C.
Reported for the Staunton VINDIcAToR.1
Not far from two hundred persons
crowded the hot Academy room at Way
nesboro, Saturday, so general was the in
terest in the approaching examination of
Robert Hicks charged with stabbing Prof.
M. W. Quarles on the 18th of July. The
fact that both parties are well known
through that section of country, added to
the interest. The defendant, Mr.. Hicks.
is and has been for sometime proprietor
of station eating house at Waynesboro
Junction on the Shenandoah Valley Rail-
road. He is stout, we'll set man of one
hundred and seventy pound weight, with
black hair and eyes and a rather good
tempered expression Of face. Mr.. Quarles
is we'll known in Augusta and especially
that portion of 1t, as an educator, and for
ten years has been Principal of the Public
High School of Waynesboro. Lately be built
hotel very near the restaurant OF Hicks
at the depot station and his manager open
| ed it July 45h. He is a slender. sickly look
ing man of light weight, and when he came
| on the stand Saturday, wore a haegard
| look that promised badly for his being
able to go through the exam nation.
Mayor W. J. Jones heard the case,
Commonwealth Attorney M. T. White
appeared for the interests of the State and
| George M. Cochran, Esq, for the accused.
| We give a summary of the evidence.
PROF. QUARLEs' STATEMENT.
Prof. Quarles being sworn, stated that
| on the 18th of July he was at the railway
station engaged in putting down plat
form to his hotel. The pay car arrived
and civil engineer BramWell, of the S. V.
| r. E who had been sent there on the
| matter of the platform stepped off it,
Hicks first met Bramwell and they walked
together on the platform. [ also walked
there. The manner of putting down the
platform, about which Hicks complained
that the one made would cut him Off from
his stables, was then settled without any
unkind words or dispute. Hicks then lnvl-
ted Bramwell to his restaurant and b..
went When they came fro m the restau-
rant they walked down the platform and
I met the two on the corner of it. Hicks
remarked to me that he int ended to re-
move pile of wood lying there. l replied
that [ thought 1t was time he had
removed it; that instead of removing 1t
down he had been moving it up. He said
he hadn't moved it up. [ said L had been
told he had said he intended to put up a
stable on that ground. He asked what
proof I had of that. [ replied that could
bring the proof and also proof that he had
been trying 10 get people away from there.
He said 1t was a damed lie. OF course L
made at him. had nothing in my hands.
He commenced to cut at me. picked
I'D small stick about eighteen inches
long and as thick as my thumb and threw
it at him. then picked up rock and
threw it at him. He got hold Of a rock
and threw it at me. I discovered about
this time that | had been cut; the exertion
OF throwing the rock making the blood
flow freely and making me feel faint. [
used no epithets to Hicks before he gave
me the id lie. He did not cut me after
[ got the stick, but before lt-when first
made at him. AS got close to strike
him [ saw he had a knife. 1 was stabbed
in the stomach and cut below the should
er blade. [ am told my clothing was cut
in four or five places [ weigh generally
1876 pound and am feet inches high.
Cross Examined By Cochran.-IIa never
| had any difficulty with Hicks before, or
unpleasant words with him. I had heard
a good deal of what Hicks had said at one
time or another. The wood that Hicks
said he was going to remove had been
there for some time; it was not on my
land but on the railroad company's. L do
not remember that Ticks backed away
from mo when I attacked him, and I am
surprised at the question whether he did.
Did not strike Hicks with the stick
in my hand, but only threw it at him.
was very much excited when he gave me
the id lie, and all the time after that.
[ threw one stone at him and he threw
two at me. When I made at him didn It
succeed in touching his person at all. L
am positive that Hicks gave ma the Id
l-e. He sWears some times, although L
can't call him q swearing man. He did
not use the words. there isn't a word
of truth in it, I don't remember his
saving, "Mr. Quarles. there is no reason
we cannot live peacefully;'' nor did he
say, sit is my own proposition to move the
wood 1t is true that 1 had never had
any unkind words with Hicks. l heard
from two parties that he intended to put
up stable near my hotel. He, himself,
told me that such was not his intention.
but did not believe him.
STATEMENT OF ROBERT HICKS.
Robert Hicks, the aceu sed, being sworn
stated that after meeting engineer Bran
well when he got off the pay car, we
walked down the platform. Quarles came
up, and thinking be did not know Bran
we'll | introduced him. Mr.. Bramwell
said to MIR. CHARLES II didn't give you
any-or YOU had no-authGrity to stop uI
the way to Mr.. Hicks restaurant
After the interview l went to my restau-
rant to prepare dinner for Mr.. Bramwell
After we had dinner, Mr.. Bran well said
sslet's walk down the platform" We
went. | said to Mr.. Bramwell: 81
intend to remove this pile of wood, [ have
given it to man." l noticed Quarles
approaching Us very hurriedly. l said to
Qaarles that l had just told Bramwell
that L intended to move the wood. guar
les said You should have moved it
long ago; instead of moving 1t down
you have moved it up.'' I saw that
his face was white and mad. replied
SCI hayn't done anything Of the kind;
| houn,t Touched It: I don'C see why WE