The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1889-11-20
A STORY OF HORROR.
A BLOODY BATTLE IN A COURT
ROOM.

The killing of Henry Miller, Dr. Wal
ker and his Wife-The Unfortunate
Lady Shot Dead by Her Husbands
Side.
Special Dispatch to the Baltimore sun.
STAUNToN, Va, Nov. 10.-No tragedy
has ever occurred in Virginia having
more sensational elements about it than
the Walker Miller affair Friday, at
Browrsburg, in Brockbridge county, %
miles from Staunton Il vas a sudden
and bloody happening, which took place
in the midst of judicial proceeding in
stituted for the preservation of peace
and good order in an emiuently law-abid
ing community. but in the very presence
of the justice who heard the peace case,
two persons were butchered, another was
SO badly wounded that he died in ten
hours after the affray, third was NOR
tally wounded, and two others were
hurt. The distressing feature OF the
whole is that modest and innocent
woman was cruelty done to death beside
her husband, who had been rendered
helpless in the fight. Bad as the other
features of the slaughter were. her MUIR
der, in cold blood, is the one episode of
the tragedy which naturally excites the
greatest indignation and resentment in
the community.
HOW. THE TROUBLE BEGAN.
The trouble began with gross insult
offered this unfortunate lady in her own
house while her husband was sick. aenry
Miller, it is stated, went on Wednesday
last to DR.. Zachariah J. Walkers house,
in Brownsburg, for medicine, which Mrs.
Walker com pounded in the surgery, and
while doing so Miller attempted to kiss
her, Offering other lndignities. which
were repulsed. She refraiped from tell
ing her husband until Friday morning
last, when he was well.
The information made DR.. Walker very
angry, and be started out with colored
man servant and Shotgun. to kill, let
tug it be generally known that he in
tended to shoot on sight. Towards noon
Henry Miller heard Of the matter, and
procured warrant from Justice E. b.
Bosworth. ard it was in the hearing of
this peace case before the magistrate that
the tragedy took place.
THE HEARING BEFORE THE JUSTICE.
The hearing was held in a building
known as the Academy, large struct-
ure on commanding eminence, not five
hundred yards from the residence of DR..
Walker. Justice Bosworth sat IN room
where the Friends of Temperance and
other societies held their meetings. The
room was fitted up with stands for the
officers of secret societies, and on the
table of the presiding officer still rests
large git-edged Bible and hymDal for
religious meetings. The size of the hall,
as it may be called, is about So feet
square, and it was full of men when the
hearing began. Mrs. Walker sat on
bench in the furthest corner. Her hus-
band sat on chair, and Henry Miller,
who had sworn out the warrant, was
near by.
The magistrate, who is az experienced
official and a man Of high worth, heard
both sides Of the peace case, and Mrs.
Walker had to corroborate the statement
that her husband had threatened the life
of the complainant. The justice said be
would require DR.. Walker to give bail
in $500 to keep the peace for twelve
months.
On refusal to do this, the justice said
there was no alternative but to send him
to iail, much as he disliked persouallyto do
so. DR.. Walker replied, That's what l
want you to do, bat I would like to get
nv dinner before going" This was
agreed TO, aud DR.. Walker said, There
is one other request wish to make, and
that is to be allowed to slap Henry in the
face"
OF course the justice told him that
could not be done there, but DR.. Walker
persisted that he would do so, and, ris-
Ing. he put his hand to his hip pocket
and drew revolver.
A DESPERATE BATTLE.
This weapon be seemed to be trying to
cock, when David Miller, son of the
complainant, wrenched the pistol from
him. Instantly there was a shuttle of
feet on the floor and rush of parties to-
gether and great excitement, and then a.
pistol shot was fred in the room. Mr..
A. Gould, who was an eye witness and
the first to advance to the aid of DR..
Walker, says David Miller fired this shot,
and that the bullet struck DR.. Walker iu
the back. There is good reason 20 sup
pose that Dr. Walker was wounded with
his own pistol. Justice Bosworth, who
took the weapon from David Miller after
the afray, says that every chamber OF
the revolver was empty.
Justice Bosworth says the scene IN the
room was indescribable. Every one
seemed to be more or less involved in it,
either as peacemaker or antagonist. Pts
tol shots we're rapidly fred, men were
striking or menaciDg each other with
uplifted chairs, and when the firing got
hot not few ran out of the room. Mr..
Gould says when DR.. Walker was first
fired upon he ran forward with chair to
strike down David Miller, but was quick
ly surrounded and defeated in his pur-
pose. Justice Boswoyth says the first
thing he saw was Dr. Walker stabblng |
Henry Miller with large dirk knife, |
dealing deadly blows with unstinted
vigor.
DR.. Walker held his enemy in his
arms part of the time while he stabbed
and stabbed. They were both powerful
men and remarkably strong, the Doctor
being about SIS years of age, and Miller
about 60 or TO- The blows which the
Doctor gave caused Miller to turn pale,
to reel and fall backwards. DR.. Walker
then crossed the room to bench resting
oro;net tho side oF the wall. on which |