Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-10-23
hang him, but if they would Kill him he
would rather die By shooting.
az Ia

hang him, but if they would kill him he
would rather die by shooting.
THE FUNERAL OF THE SLAIN MAN.
The funeral Of ". M. Brown took place
last Friday at the Methodist church in
Fishsrsvile. Both the pastor and the
PRESBYTERIAN pastor of Thinking Spring
conducted the services, and large crowd
was present.
INTERVIEW AT TIE RICHMOND JAIL.
At the Richmond jail preventative
of the Dispatch interviewed Ccyner OIL
Saturday with this result
The prisoner is about twenty.t three years
of age, is five feet ten iEcEes Lish, has
dark complexion. dark hair, aud dark,
restless, fearful eyes He talks like lu-
natic.
Tell me why it was you shot Brown?
said the reporter.
Look here, stranger, cannot tell you
anything about it with his gnost staring
me in the face; it is long story-loug,
long story. [ did not want to kill him.
Did you ever have quarrel with him?
With tears streaming down his face, he
replied: He wronged member of my
family. 1t was two years ago.
What did you do?
Oh, it bothered me to death. L could
get no peace of mind. [ went out West.
travelling through number OF States.
Often | would Law on the banks of the
Missouri, watching its blue waters and
looking up at the shining stars above me,
aud thinking of my beautiful home in the
Valley of Virginia Ga. was tearfully
bothered right here [placing his hand to his
heart. 80 @'-
Then he remarked: Look here, strang-
or, did you ever hear mas nose crdcz!
[ can crack mine-tisten! On, what Was
I talking about? Yes, about my home.
[ could not stand it. l was 80 much both
cred I could not get any rest. [ wanted
to see my mother. could not work;
How long did you remain In the West,
and when did you return to Augusta?
Much excited, Koiner looked up at the
reporter and said, ''You are a handsome
fellow, and you are gentleman. You
have got on good clothes, aud look like
one.''
The reporter, modestly ignoring the
compliment, repeated the question.
Oh, said he, excuse me; forgot. My
head hurts me. I am not feeling we'll.
Oh! 1 was out there two years. and l
have been home four months:
Did you ever had difficulty with
Brown?
Oh, stranger, he shot at me the night
before 1 killed him.
Where were you
was in nay orchard; saw man stoop;
[ heard the report of a gun and the buck
shot ratified around my legs.
Did any of them strike you
No; but could tell they were buckshot
from the noise they made in the leaves.
Did you see Brown?
He was in the road. was in the or chard.
My farm adJoins his. Gentleman, there
was something wrong about him. His
mind was light; | knew he would kill me
If did not kill him. He would pass rne
and look at me queer, and l did not like
it.
Are you positive that Brown ever
Wronged any of you?
Stop, stranger, don't talk to me that
way; you will make me crazy. Here be
became restless and excited
Didn't tell you about it ? I wish l
had a paper that is in my trunk.
What is it abo1t :!
Oh, it is a history of my life and the
trouble that have passed through. You
people may lynch me if you want TO. do
not care; wish somebody would puG
ball Though my head placing his fore
fiBger upon his forehead right here. My
life is strange one. My sister has been
in the asylum.
Where is she now? ~~~ r.
[ do not know-crazy. and mother, too,
I reckon.
Tell me why you shot Brown
I can't; looking you right in the face
there [ can see his gnost. I gu are happy;
[ never was: you are not behind the bars;
am. Oh. what blessed thing it is to be
free; don't you ihink so. Here he broke
ont in a laugh and said Amt YOU
paper Imam 20
Reporter Yes.
| wish you bad that story of mine;
want it published.
Reporter: Take my note book and write
it out now.
1 will Takes the book. goes in the
gate. returns in minute, hands 1t back,
and throws up his hands and exclalms:
81 can't / can't! They told me not to
say anything.7l -
Where we're you when you shot Brown!
was ln>the rotunda looking at some
fruit. [ looked up. saw him. and pulled
my pistol. He jumped towards me and
tried to. ia kenny pistol; We clinched and
I shot him in the stomach.
Why did you Kill him? ffr M
knew if i did not kill him he would
kill me; felt so that [ had to do it. Some
people say that am coward, but am
not. St@Ns 30
In a reply to remark of the reporter,
his face lit up, and from his eyes shot d
peculiar expression, as he said IN low
tone: "oome people think [ am crazy;
do look so 2''
The reporter was silent, and the inter-
view ended. |
Yesterday morning Sergeant Lee asked
COyner if he wished to communicate with
any one in the city. He said ''No;'' that
he had no friends; NOBODY cared about
him; that he had been seeing trouble all
of his life.
Coyner is either insane or is tirst-class