Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-10-16
s Il 0 I D B A D f!
WHILE HIS WIFE WAS HANGING
ON HIS ARM!

A PITEOUS DEATH SCENE IN THE RO-
TUNDA OF THE FAIR GROUNDs-MOf9-
TFZUAA BROWN KILLED BY STUART
KOINER-KOINER LODGED IN JAIL
EXCITEMENT AMONG THE PEOPLE
THE JAIL GUARDED.
AC., &C. sc.
The Rotunda at the Fair Grounds Is a
circle forty feet in diameter. Around it
are Strung exhibits of fruit, and house
hold work, and embroidery; near the door
is line of c"ffins. In the centre ls
marble bust and around it are musical
Instruments whose gay notes Gil the room
through the day. Yesterday, between
and 2 O'Clock. William MonteZuma
Brown, a young farmer, about So years OF
age, who lives near Fishersville, was
walking in the Rotunda with his wife and
little child. He was in cheerful humor,
having just learned that he had taken i've
or six premiums. In the Rotunda, at the
same time, was Stuart Koiner, tall and
rather handsome young man, son of the
late J. Harvey Koiner, and who owns and
lives on fine farm adjoining that OF
young Brown. He is apparently about
twenty-three years Of age. He walked up
to Brown and drawing a pistol. without
a word, shot him through the left
breast. Brown seized the pistol and his
wife, at the same moment, seized young
Koiner. No word had been spoken by
anybody. Capt. J. T. Long, who was in
uniform, was standing near and hearing
the shot, rushed up. He wrested the
pistol from Koiner, who clung to it until
blow from Capt. Long made him loose
his hold. All this passed in a few seconds
of time. In moment, all was excitement
and confusion in the great crowd of peo-
pie on the Fair Grounds.
Brown fell to the floor and was evident
ly fast dying. His wife was sobbng pit
eouslv and with endearing terms was try
was mortally wounded and asked him
with touching tenderness, "Oh, Zune are
you afraid to die?" But he was fast pass
ing out of hearing of her words.
Commonwealth 8 Attorney Echols who
was near, went up and kneeling by the
dying man asked who shot your" The
eyes opened and Brown replied "Stuart
Koner shot me.'' "What for?" was
asked. Nothing" was the reply. 'Had
you done anything to him?' Nothing y
was the last reply. In few moments his
spirit had passed away. The body was
taken to Blckle & Hamrick's and there
cofiiaed and thence taken to the court
house, where it lay last night. Stuart
kolner was arrested and taken to Jail.
THE INQUEST.
Yesterday evening Justice and Acting
Coroner. W. LII. FIX, held an inquest in
Mr.. Echols' office, with the following
jurymen, J. S. McCorkle. Jos. Houseman,
Jno. s. Lightner. Samuel Hayes. VIM.
Smith and DR.. Jas. F. Tate. The follow
ing was elected
Z. s. BroW1s aged 40, sworn.-I was at
the grounds and saw VIM. M. Brown; had
a conversation with Brown in the rotunda
and as I turned my back on him heard
a pistol shot; IN turning around saw
Stuart Coynar and Brown who appeared
to be ia scuff19 ,, and soon as | recognized
the parties I seized KoIner and showed
him back some distance; when [ got to
Brown he had sunk to the floor and men
were carrying him cut.
@. Please state if you saw pistol, and
in whose hands ?
Saw pistol but didn't know in whose
hands it was. Heard the report but did not
know who fired the shot; the smoke pre-
vented my seeing who had the weapon;
was talking to Brown at the time and he
was telling me what articles be had got
ten premiums on; Koiner said to me that
Brown was damn scoundrel, he tried to
shoot me (koiner) in my own orchard last
night; as soon as 1 saw Brown l thought
him dead man; think Brown said to
me as soon as the smoke cleared away, II
am shot. Browns wife when [ turned
was pulling him (Koiner): she aimed to
grab him by the beard and then grabbe
his hair and held him fast, and said to HIM
Ego away" 1t was after the shot that Mrs
Brown grabbed Kolner; when I turned
the two men we're scuffling and witness
had hard work in locslng KolDer's grip.
The shooting as near as could guess was
between one and two O'Clock. am 20
relative of the deceased.
J. T. Hanger, sworn. testi6ed.-I am %
years old and reside 81 miles west of the
city. I was at the Fair Grounds to-day
and saw the two men, who are known per-
sonally to me; [ know that VIM. M.
Brown Is now dead, and at whose bands
be came to his death. [ went In the Ro-
looking on the gallery and passed around
to the opposite side near the door; saw
Brown standing near post, spoke to him
and then looked back to the gallery;
heard click two timts and looking down
saw the fash of a pistol at my side. Brown
then seized the pistol by the barrel, the
pistol was in Aoiner's hand; seized
Koiner and Brown s wife did so at the same
time. Then he staggered back. l asked
Brown, s'Are you hurt 2" He said, ''Y es;
My God!'' and staggered back falling to
the floor. Then turning to look after
Koiner, he (Koiner) said, 1.-THE damn
scoundrel tried to kill me in my own
orchard last nlght,' l think 1t was be-
tween ! and O'Clock In the day. AS
Kolner shot, he threw his hand down as il
to cock it tie second time. By this time,
Brown pulled him up to him and tried to
jerk the pistol away from him, and
Browns wife grabbed him around the
chin. She then took him on the top of the
head and hit hiM on the head with the
other fist. At that time left him. That
was IN the Rotunda, right against the
right hand post as you 90 in the upper