The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-01-08
Outraged and Murdered.
ADAsTARDLY CRIlIE.-JoHN JORDAN, THE
ALLEGED CRIMINAL, ARRESTED -EA-
crTEMENr AMONG THE oLoRED PEOPLE.

A DASTARDLY CRIME.-JOdN 0Oltbn4N, AAis
ALLEGED CRIMINAL, ARRESTED. Eek
crTEsIENT AMONG THE CoLORED PEOPLE.
On the mountain west of Waynesboro,
near where the lines of Augusta, Nelson,
and Albemarle counties corner, das-
tardly crime was committed on MONDAY
evening, of last week, Deer. 18TH. Inc
victim was Jane Harris, a respectable COL
ored woman, married, and about ~ years
of age The alleged criminal IS colofed
man named Jno. Jordan, who was a1ofiher
resident of Nelson, but lately has been
employed as d section hand on the Z. " y.
r. r.. and who bears a not envlable repu-
tation among those who know him. The
particulars of the crime, as adduced at
the preliminary trial before Justice holner
at " aynesbcro. on Monday last, are about
AS fellows:
On theevening in question. Jane Harris,
who lives just inside of the Nelson county
line. paid social visit to a neighborlng
colored man7s home, Horace Minor by
name. About shutdown she prepared to
leave, saying that she was coming east of
| the mountain to the home of another col
ored man named Gates. Minor wishing
| to send lamp to Gates, asked the woman
to carry It with her, which she consented
| TODD. Before she left Minors house J0iln
Jordan came along and spoke to her, then
went little farther down the road and
stopped The woman just about that time
| started down tile same road to Gates and
some three hundred yards east of Minors
| the two We're seen together. YNUpersoifs
were also seen subsequently within twenty
yards of the spot where the woman was
afterwards found. One OF them was recog-
nized at the time as Jane Harris, and the
other identified as John Jordan, by de-
scription, the witness not being acquainted
| with the man. They seemed tobe engaged
in an excited conversation when last seen
| together. Early next morning Tuesday
Gates sent to know why Minor had not
sent the lamp as promised, and was told
| that Jane Jordan had taken it the evening
before. Shortly after this message was de-
| ivered and before sunrise. Minor started
for his work. and in going down a noun
tain path which cut off curve in the road,
thus shortening the distance, heard Il deep,
ghaStly, cultural sound which at first
! frightened him badly. Snmmonlng courage.
| however, he went in the direction of the
sound, and just on the side of the path
l Il To Tor q
dition. Her throat was badly swollen,
bearing evidence of desperate choking,
her clothes were deranged, the skirts
muddy. and adeep bruise was on the inside
of her left leg. Aid was at oEce sum-
moned and the woman carried to house
near by, where she fingered until the next
day and died. During all OF this time she
: remained speeches.. and was thus unable
| to give any information as to the perpe-
TRAITOR of the outrage. The Nelson author
tiles held an inquest over the body and
after hearing the evidence of the physician
and others, the jury rendered verdict OF
death from apopleXy superindueed by
strangulation, and whilst the criminal
evidence, to be John Jordan.
III the meantime the news of the out
wage had reached Waynesboro, and town.
sergeant Ferguson started in pursuit of
Jordan. He was found at his work on the
railroad and when arrested, without being
told for what offense, declared that he
knew nothing of the assault on Jane Har
ris, AND that he had spent the evening at
the house of a cOlored man on the east
side of the mountain. On the trial this
was proven to be untrue, testimony to the
opposite effect being adduced, it being
shown that Jordan was seen on the west
side of the mountain after dark on the
evening of the occurrence, and that he
| had not been at the house on the east side
at ALL At the place where the woman was
found there were indications of struggle,
the ground being torn up and bushes up
rooted. There were also marks in the mud
of roupd-headed shoe nails, such as COM
monty used in the manufacture of coarse
shoes. When this evidence was brought
out ON the trial before Justice Koiner,
} Jordan held up his foot in mute denial and
displayed a new pair Of boots. An old
negro in the crowd who watched the pan
tomime, blurted out, Eyes. but you didn't
have on them boots yesterday. You had
on a coarse par o. Shoes"
Commonwealth Attorney White con-
Quoted the case before the magistrate.
said at the conclusion of the trial turned
the accused over to the authorities of Mel
soN county, they having taken the first
steps in the investigation and having con-
current jurisdiction. The prisoner was
conveyed to Nelson Court House Tuesday.
The eoored people were very much ex-
cited and strong threats of lynching were
made. 1t was apprehended that there
would be difficulty in transporting the
prisoner across the mountain, but up to
this time we have heard nothing as result
of the threats.