Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-11-13
THE BROWNSBURG TRAGEDY.

DAVID MILLER FATALLY, AND TWO OTHEl
| PERSONS WOUNDED.
About o'clock in the afternoon of the Stl
instant, kilograms were received in this Cit!
from Raphine giving very brief accounts OF tn
most painful tragedy which ever took place II
this section of country. Raphine is on tn
| Valley railroad, Is miles from Staunton, ant
| the same distance from Lexington, and Tn
nearest telegraph station to Brownsburg, In
| location of the occurrence. which is in RocK
| bridge county, six miles west OF Raphlne
fourteen from Lexington, and twenty -fou
from Staunton.
In compiling this account of the deplorapl
affair, we have the statements of eye witnesses
communicated to the correspondent OF tn
Lexington Gazette, the Richmond DiiPdfch
and the Baltimore Stn-the latter spending
Sunday at the scene of horror.
THE PARTIES ENGAGED.
DIR. 2. ]. walker was born and reared or
Walkers Creek. few miles northwest from
Brownsburg. His ancestors were of the early
settlers of this section of the Valley and for
hundred years have been numerous and III
fluent1al members of the community. On his
maternal side he inherits the name o.
Zachariah Johnston. which comes down from
Colonial times associated with distinguished
service in the public councils of the Revolu-
tionary era.
He was an eminent physician and surgeon,
and served through the war in the medical
staff with distinction. To the people of this
section of the Valley, it is unnecessary to say
anything of his character or prominence as
physician and citizen. His acquaintance was
extensive. and his friends numerous. He was
about fifty-five years of age. He married,
many years ago, Miss L. j. Brooks, whose
home was near Barterbrook in Augusta
county. She was about fifty years of age. Her
parents have been dead many years. Two OF
her brothers removed from Augusta several
years ago to Missouri. Mrs. ]. Edgar Wilson
of Rockbridge, is sister, and another sister Is
the wife of Rev. DR.. futile. of Texas. Mrs.
Walkers health was delicate. They were
devoted husband and wife, and their home
the scene of refinement and culture. They
had no children, but an adopted daughter,
Miss IRVINE, niece of the late DR.. A. FL. Weir.
Henry Miller is q native of the southern part
of Augusta, and several years since purchased
- Bellevue" the home of the late Rev. DIR.
long the pastor Of New ProvIder ce
Church. In the latter years of DR.. Morrison's
life and afterwards it was the seat of a female
high school of wide reputation. He was about
8 or 70 years of age. His wife is living, and
with him on the fatal day were four sons en-
gagged in the tragedy.
HOW THE TROUBLE COMMENCED.
The Lexington Gasette makes this statement
as to the origin of the difficulty obtained from
the Sheriff and his guard after they returned
to Lexington from Brownsburg with the
and who obtained the facts from
persons presentin the Courtroom at the time,
and who were otherwise cognizant of the facts:
"a week or ten days ago. it is charged. that
Mr.. Henry Miller grossly insuted the wife of
DR. z. J. Walker, but the lady did not make
the matter known to her husband for several
DAYS thereafter, fearing that il would cause
serious trouble between her husband and
Henry Miller. Finally, the matter prey ed so
upon her mind that she told the story to her
husband. He was highly indignant, and said
charged that DR.. Walker on Monday, the 4th
INST, started out with a double barreled shot
gun with the purpose of killing Miller; but
aiing to find him returned home and went to
bed very much lndisposed. Later, 1T is said,
DR.. Walker publicly said he intended to kill
Miller the very first time he met him, but by
;ome means the two never met. had they
net, the chances are that both would have
been killed and the other fatal casualties
oeen avoided. Miller heard OF the threats on on
solicitation of his friends he finally consented
10 swear out warrant for the arrest OF
Walker; the object Of said warrant to have
Walker put under peace bonds"
The SUMS correspondent thus states 1t: -
1.-The trouble began with gross insult Of
erred this unfortunate lady in her own house
while her husband was sick. Henry Miller: 1t
]. Walkers house, in Brownsburg,
or medicine, which Mrs. Walker compounded
IN the surgery, and while doing SO Miller at
tempted to kiss her, offering other indignities,
which were repulsed. She refrained from tell
ing her husband until Friday morning last.
when he was well.
ha inf made
very angry, and he started out with a colored
man servant and shotgun to kill. letting it
be generally known that he intended to shoot
Dn sight Towards noon Henry Miller heard
IF the matter and procured a warrant from
Justice E B. Bosworth, and it was in the hear
ing of this peace case before the magistrate
hat the tragedy took place."
THE TRIAL AND THE CONFLICT
The SUMS account of the trial and the results
following are thus sketched, the
Information obtained from eye-witnesses:-
The hearing was held in a building known
IS the Academy. large structure on COM
handing eminence, not five hundred yards
rom the residence of DR.. Walker. Justice Bos-
worth sat in a room where the friends OF tenn
oerance and other societies held their meet
ngs. The room was fitted up with stands for
The officers of secret societies. and on the table
Of the presiding officer still rests a large gilt
edged Bible and q hymnal for religious meet |
ngs. The room is also provided with benches |
for congregations which assemble there from |
time 10 Time IOr puDllC Worship. me klZo OF
the hall, as it may be called, is about 35 fest !
square, and it was full OF men when the hear
Ing began. Mrs, Walker sat on q bench In the
furthest corner. Her husband sat on chair, !
and Henry Miller. who had sworn out the war
rant, was near by. The justice sat in a chair
near an old-fashioned stove.
The magistrate. who is experienced offici- |
al and man of high personal worth, heard
both sides of the peace case, and Mrs. Walker
band had threatened the life of the complain
ant. The justice said he would require DR..
Walker to give ball in $500 to keep the peace
On refusal to do this the justice said there
was no alternative but to send him to jail,
much as he disliked personally to do SO. DR..
do, but / would like to get my dinner before
going" This was agreed to. and DR.. Walker
said: There is one, other request wish to
make. and that is to be allowed to slap Henry
in the face.'' Ofcourse the justice told him
that could not be done there. but DR.. Walker
persisted that he would do SO. and. rising, he
put his hand to his hip pocket and drew re-
volver.
A DESPERATE BATTLE.
This weapon he seemed to be trying to cock
when David Miller, son of the complainant,
wTenched the pistol from him. Instantly there
was shuttle of feet on the floor and rush of
parties tosether and great excitement. and
then pistol shot was fired in the room. MIR
A. Gold, who was an eye witness and the first
to advance to the aid of DR.. Walker, says David
Miller fred this shot and that the bullet struck
DIR. Walker in the back. There is good reason
to suppose that DR. Walker was wounded with
his own pistol. Justice Bosworth, who took
the weapon from David Miller after the ARRAY
says that every chamber OF the revolver was
empty.
Justice BosN orth says the scene in the room
was indescri bable. Every one seemed to be
more or less INVOLVED IN it either as peacemak
er or antagonist. Pistol shots were rapidly
fired, men were striking or menacing each
other with uplifted chairs, and when the firing
got hot not n few ran out OF the room. Mr.
Gold says when DR. Walker was first fired upon
he ran forward with a chair to strike down
David Miller, but was quickly surrounded and
defeated in the perpose. Justice Bosworth
says the first thing he saw was DIR. Walker
sta bling 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 55 years of age
and Miller about 60 or 20. The blows which the
Doctor gave caused Miller to turn pale. to reel
and fall back wards. DR.. Walker then crossed
the room to a bench resting against the side of
the wall, on which he laid down.
MRS. WALKER KILLED,
Mrs. Walker, who had been in the extreme
corner opposite, went to her husbands side,
ard taking bottle ofsel volatile from hand
bag she carried, bent over her husband and
administered the restorative. While she was
doing this wifely and womanly act she received
fatal pistol-shot, and slipping down beside