Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-11-15
A Tragic Story.
Three Persons Killed in q Rock
bridge Magistrates Court
DR.. Zach ]. Walker, His Wife, and Henry
Miller Killed at BrOWlSburg
Last Friday.
DR.. Walker Kills Henry Miller, and Henry Mil
ler'S Sons Kill the Doctor and his wife.

ler'S Sons Kill the Doctor and bis Wife.
HISTORY OF THE PARTIES TO THE TRAG-
EDY-THE SCENE OF THE HOMICIDE IN
THE MAGISTRATES COURT-AWFUL
MURDER OF A WOMAN KNEELING AT
HER DYING HUSBANDS sIDE-THE
EVIDENCE OF THE WITNESSES TO THE
FIGHT-THE ROOM IN THE ACADEMY
BUILDING IN WHICH IT OCCURRED
THE FUNERALS-ONE OF THE MILLER
BOYS SERIOUSLY WOUNDED AND THE
OTHER THREE TAKEN TO JAIE AT
LYNCHBURG FOR SAFETY.
&C, &C., &C.
[Reported for the Stanton VINDICAToR.]
BROwNsBURG, Nov. Sth.
The last time [ was in this little noun
tain village, it was under circumstances so
different that the contrast is strongly re-
called. 1t was in Gen. Fitz Lees cavalry
procession canvass for Governor in 1885.
The town was full of cheering people and
the fences of the main street were filled with
HOIOCo U1Ctl W IllCIC d u1ollli-
guished company that day-Gen. Lee, Hon.
John Randolph Tucker, Hon. VIM. A. An
derson and other well known Democrats,
and their host was DR.. Zach. j. Walker. 1t
was merry dinner. The Doctor was in
high glee, for he was an intense admirer of
Fitz Lee as a cavalryman and as a Demo-
GRAFT, and his presence under his roof gave
him great pleasure. Mrs. Walker, the
doctors gray-haired and gentle wife, was
also greatly pleased and dispensed the hospi-
tality of the mansion with the generous hand
of a refined hostess. After dinner the COM
pany walked up the steep street to the
Academy where the General was to speak
From the steps, Mrs. Walker with smile
watched the jolly company as they turned
up the street. and then turned back into
the house. There were many quips and
jests as the party marched up the
steep hill as to whether it was the hill or the
Doctors wine which made the ascent so
tiresome.
To-day all is changed. To-day the streets
are again full Of people, and the fences are
lined with tied horses but there is no cheer
ing. The village is appalled, and men speak
to each other in subdued voice. The host
and hostess arestill here, but they lay side by
side i'll death, on the bed on which for thirty
years they have lain in life Again they
are dressed in their best but it is for the
grave. Again there are comments on the
steepness of the street but they are not
jests, but made in grave tone by those
bearing the dead bodies down it. And
again men are inspecting the interior of the
Academy, but this time to view the bullet
marks on it's walls and the life blood of the
gentle little hostess where it has clotted on
the floor. Two of the men who rode in
Fitz. Lees procession that day are lying
two miles from here, the father dead and
the son dying.
The story of this fearful change is the
history of one of themost terrible tragedies
that ever occurred in Virginia, ana with
the assistance of some who were present at
it shall Try and tell it to you.
The Victims.
DIR. Z. j. WALKER.
Dr. Zach. j. Walker was one of the best
known men of this section, both in his pro-
fession and in local Democratic politics. He
was born in Rockbridge on January 18th,
1884, a son of the late Jos. Walker, and was
fifty live years of age. After receiving a
classical education he studied medicine and
was graduated at the medical school of the
University of Virginia After some time
spent in the hospitals at Philadelphia he
settled in this village and has spent his life
here. When he commenced practice he
was associated with the venerable DR.. Sam l
Morrison of Rockbridge Baths, and became
at once popular in the whole country side.
He was man of high spirit and generous
impulses, a spendthrift in the matter of
kindness to the poor, a man jealous of his
honor, and of a kindly heart. When the
civil WAL came on, he was first a Lieuten-
ant in cavalry company from this county,
and afterwards surgeon in the Confeder-
ate army.
After the war ended he resumed his
practice in his old home of BroWnsburp
and has remained here to the day of his
death. He was most successful practi-
tloner and was one of those physicians of
the country who kept abreast of the pro,
gress in his profession. Winter before last
he spent in New York STUDYING throat
diseases. Last winter he spent in Florida
for his own health. He was a member of
the State Board of Medical Examiners until
few weeks ago, when he resigned the posi-
ton. Of late those who knew him and loved
him best here, saw a marked change in his
character. He became the subject of moods.
At times he would be the same genial. COM
panlonable man of other DAYS, and again he
would have seasons of depression in
which he was excessively morbid. He re-
called petty differences that had occurred
long ago and magnified and dwelt on them.
and before he died he had estranged many
Of his old friends.
He was man Of powerful frame and of
absolutely fearless courage. The use of his
left arm, however, was somewhat impaired
by cut which he received from a knife in
the hands OF negro, in ali election row
here in 1885. Of medium height, thickly
and strongly built, weighing about two
hundred pounds, with q face full of deter
and black piercing eye, he was
a man to be noticed in crowd. He was
an enthusiastic member of the Masonic
fraternity and often i'll bis later years was
heard to say that when he died he wished to
be buried by that order. He was one of the
congregation of New Providence church,
and was q distant relatiyeof Rey, Robert c.