The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-11-05
The IT cry County Fraoas,

AS the Democratic papers have indus
triausly circulated a statement to the eff
feet that Mr., G.. l.. Graveley, Chairman
of the Republican Committee for Henry
county had made a murderous assault ona
colored man, because he was a colored Dem
ocrat, and shot Col. f. d. Spencer. who
employed the colored man in his factory,
we publish below d truthful account of
what occurred, taken from the Martins
vile Herald, published at the place where
the fracas TOOK place. This statement is
fully corroborated by a gentleman who
was there about the time, and became per-
sonally acquainted With the facts. The
perverted statement Of the Bourbon pa
pers was for political effect. but the real
facts have had just the REVERSE Influence
to what they desired. The Herald of the
Both Of Oct. says:
Below we print the details of the affair
Of Saturday morning, vague reports of
which have gone abroad, and we leave the
public to pass judgment upon the case from
the premise offered
On last Friday evening, e. l.. Grayely,
while drinking. and while walking along
the Square in front of Moir, Spencer &
Browns store met and began Il talk quiet
and peaceable with Will Hairston, a col
ored man long in the service of MIR.
GrayeIy's father. The talk was on poll
tics. and i'll response to q question from
Mr.. Grayely to Hairston, Joe Banister, a
negro member Of a Democratic colored
club, impertinently and insolently inter-
rnpted Mr.. Gravely. Mr.. Gravely politely
told lianister to go away and not interrupt
him. This he perS sted in, and Mr..
Grayely firmly insisting on his going away.
Finally Mr.. Gravely with his left hand
pushed BaniSter aside. saying be must de-
sist and go away from him. Without pro-
vocation Banister then dealt Mr.. Gravely
a severe blow in the face, and had Grayely
not been caught by Hairston he would
have fallen to the ground. Recovering
himself he seized a piece of wood lying
near and asked where was BaniSter. Ban
lister then struck him another savage blow
At this juncture the parties were seized
and separated. BaniSter went hurriedly
away and was secreted by his colored
Democratic confreres. Quiet was restored
then, Tut Mr.. Grayely continued to drink
heavily during the night, and on Saturday
morning, smartiDg under the pain and the
outrage of brutal attack on him by Ban
lister, went in search of him, whom he
found at Spencer Bros. factory. The evil
dence of what took place at the factory is
conflicting. and offers q tarTier in the
search for the exact truth. This much is
know n, however. Several shots were fired
at each other by Banister and Gravely, and
Col. L. ID. Spencer was accidently shot. re-
ceiying Il painful but not serious flesh
wound in the leg. Banis.er was slightly
XVnnnhp6 NJ. hnrt on, q hood " pthQp nv
a ball from Grayelyis pistol or otherwise
is not clear. DuriDgthe exchange OF shots
Banlster was behind a door. and Grayely
was in the open area of the factory room.
Banister claims to have been struck by a
spent ball which passed through the door.
Gravely was not hit So soon as Gravely
had exhausted his chambers. a fisticaff
ensued in which Grayely was severely
beaten by Banister, who is larger and in
initely u stronger man than Grayely.
During this fight white man named
Prilliman attempted to pull Banister off,
but several negroes standing by iDterfered,
leaving Gravely at the mercy of Banister.
Gravely was arrested, locked up, and on
tuesday had a preliminary hearing, as the
result Of which he was sent on to the
grand jury, bailed, and put under peace
bonds. Banisters however, though the in
ooiVHtT dHu uupiuNuheu StSSitocVl III VIE
whole affair. remains untried, and in full
possession CT his personal and legal liberty. |
The report that Grayely's friends re-
sisted the law officers in making the sw
est of Gravely is without foundation, as
they thought he onght to be put
n safe keeping until he had recovered
rom the effects of his spree. His friends
jhoWed a regard for the law and mani
ested GOODNESS and unusual discretion
lnder the exasperating circumstances.
One curious, anomalous phase Of this
flair is presented which is worth the care