Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1888-02-07
The Locke Murder Trial.

JOSIAH u w. D.. LOCKE are on
trial in the Circuit Court of Clarke
county, Va, charged with the MUIR
der of VIM. R. jenkins. "A. Moore,
Jr., is assisting the Commemorative
attorney, g. G. Gaines, in the pros
ecution, and S. j. C. Moore, Mar
shall Mccormick and Holmes Con-
rad, for the defense.
/ Mrs. jenkins testified she was
washing breakfast dishes; was at
tracted to the yard by loud talking,
and on going out heard her husband
ask Locke to pay him his money or
move him away. Lock said, with
oatls, II am not going to Pay you a
cent or move ouia step.'' Jenkins,
starting toward the house, said, "-Ill
see on Mondaysif there is not some
way to make you pay me-" Josiah
Locke then said, with an OATH, You
must get off the place at once" and
then struck Jenkins with a club and
told his son to hit him with stone,
which he did, and knocked jenkins
to the ground. They then beat and
kicked him in . horrible manner
She %interfered, and was also knocked
down by Josiah Locke.
Gertie Zumbro, a bright girl of
eleven years, daughter of Mrs. Jen-
kins by her first husband, testified
that she was dressing for Sunday
school, and was attracted to the yard
by cries of murder. Found her ia
tber lying on the ground, VIM. B..
Locke standing by with2a stone in his
hand and Josiah Locke with a club in
his hand, who told her father il he
did not get off the place he would
kill him instantly. Gertie asked him
not to kill her father. He then
raised the club and said he would
mash her head into a jelly if she did
not hush. About this time VIM. A.
McAtee, who happened to be passing
near the house and was attracted by
the cries of the girl, appeared on the
scene. Gertie did not see any blows
struck. =.
VIM. A. McAtee testified to-day
that he was passing near Locke's
house; was attracted by cries of mur-
der, and on approaching near the
house heard a voice say. Please
don't kill him." I then hurried into
the yard found Josiah Locke with q
club raised over Jenkins little girl,
and with m oath he said, I'll mash
your Internal skuII!" McAtee said
to Locke, Don't strike that child"
He also saw young Locke holding
jenkins. who was leaning against a
building, by the shoulder with his
left hand, and holding a stone in his
right hand. Josiah Lock said to Nc
Afee, 1.-The old rascal had been cut
ting up for several days" Jenkins
said, il have not been cutting up at
all. I only wanted you to pay me
what you owe me-" Locke said,
You are q liar, and must leave the
place at once, or / will kill YOU"
jenkins said, 81 am a dying man
and need q DOCTOR" Locke, raised
the club and said, I'll give you a
DOCTOR" jenkins then told his little
girl to go for a doctor. Josiah
Locke said to her with an oath, IL
dare you to leave the place. Mr..
McAtee, assisted by VIM. B. Locke,
him in leaving the yard. Josiah
Locke followed them, and kicked
Jenkins about the time he was going
from the yard. MIR McAtee then
assisted jenkins to the roadside near
by. and left him in order to summon
help.
DR.. j. j. Best, Of Brucctorn. tes-
titled that he was called to attend
Jenkins, and found him on the road
sitting on a roch and looking like the
last remnants of a ma He procured
a conveyance and took him to a house
near by. On examination of his
wounds he discovered nine cuts and
bruises about his head, six ribs brok-
en-. and his shoulder, back and arm
injured had nc hope Of his recovery
at any time.