Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1889-09-21
Commonwealth va. Joseph Taylor.

pafkS, ull tne CllarHe vi SilutlHS WV"
intent 10 MAIN, disligure, disable and
kill Robert Ewell at Guilford, August
osth, on application for bail heard be-
fore judge n. $. Neale at Accnmac e..
H.. last Wetlnc s,lay WAS released under
bond of $500 for his appearance at next
grand jury term of county court.
Tie Commonwealth was represented
10y Mr.. Jas. II. Fletcher, and the de-
fense Ivy Hon. John w. G. Blackstone.
Of the firm of Guntcr & Blackstone.
Evidence WIS submitted to court
substantially as follows:
Mr. r. p. Meais testified that he was
at Short & Bloxom' X strrc, Gujlford. on
18Th day of August, ard that Joseph
TAYLOR WAS there on that day engaged
in game of dominnts. when Robert
Ewrli arrived and advancing toward
Taylor toll him to yet himself ready as
he WAS going to Int him. lie stated
further. that TIA, Tor moving away from
EwelI WAS foil WED by him. with Ewell's
brother hptw them, and that he saw
Ewell strike Mt Taylor two or three
lines, but does not think he hit him.
TayItr lien lift st,le with Ewrll fol
lowing Linn. lie saw Tayor pass WIN
dow where he was sitting and thought
Irlll GONG home. until he heard apis
tel fired one or two minutes thereafter
Samuel Justice. another witness, was
at said store when Ewtll came in, heard
him ask Taylor if lie Was ready To take
back What he hid said about him and
said he was going to give him Il chance
tn do ST.. Witness saw Ewcll strike at
raylor. did moi know whether he hit him
or not. Ills brother, Alfred Ewel had
hold If him when he struck at Taylor
aid Robert Ewell following Taylor ont
cr store WAS pushed lack Ivy him. He
stated further. that Ewrll WAS shot bv
Taylor Some Two or three minutes after
Ew-ll first struck 1T him-Ewtll was
staining still at time and WAS telling
TAYLOR to shoot. In Hnswe. IL question
uf attorney for defendant. said he did
know whether Robert Ewtll WAS able
To whip Joseph Taylor or not lat Ne
was :. bigger man. hut so far is he
knew his reputation was that Of a
peaceful man-had known of Ewell
having fight with another man AMI
had heard him threaten Taylor.
Alfred Ewell, BROTHER of Robert
Ewel, was witrcss 10 the difficulty
between him and Taylor and tried tn
prevent II Ivy getting between them.
He heard his brother tell TaYlnr lie had
TO take back what lie said. hut didn'i
bear Taylnr'S reply. His brother struck
at him tint don't think he hit him and
lie was cl, ST. enough TO SEE him if he
had. He stated further that Ills brrtlI.
or OH going out Ii.to porch waS pushed
lack in store l'y him and that TAYLOR
went around house and that his BROTHER
gong out into porch again was shot
while standing still ty Taylor. In
answer to questions by defendant, said
he thought Taylor tried TO get away
flom his brother wien he first tried TO
hit him. He had heard of previous
between them.
Arthur Vessels. another witness.
heard Ewpll It'll Taylor that he had TO
take back what he had said. Taylor
told linn he bad said nothing and tn
keep away from him. He saw Ewell
strike Taylor once, and that Taylor
went ont store first followed by Ewrll,
who was pushed back hy his brother.
Ewel was shot ny Taylor when in
about 4 yards of him ard while standing
still. In answer 10 qn~ tions hy tlip de-
fenec. said he had heard there had been
trouble between them. but didn't know
cause. He thought Ewcll WIS able 10
whip Taylor. Ewel had h:d several
fights with other parties.
DR.. J. w. I'nwdoin. physician called
TO attend Ewell on day lie was shot.tes
titled that he found Fin with wound 4
ar 3 inches below navel. and did not
think when lie first saw him that hp
could live until morning. Had not
uruhpd for ball and had never been able
to locate IT. A swelling from place
where hall entered left lip Indicated
that hall, contrary tnlisopm,onladgon
in that direction. lie could rot say.
however, where it was. exec It that it
had entered the abdominal wall. and
willie no serions results might follow
from il he would not lie surprised to
hear at any time that lie was dead. In
answer to questions by defense. he said
there were no symptoms at present of
fatal result, hut as they might occur at
any time had enjoined complete rest for
his patient. At this time, he stated
further. that Ewell was doing remark
ably well aid apparently had grown
better ever since lie was shot. He Could
not, however, pronounce him out Of
danger.
Joseph Taylor. who shot EwelI. being
examined. testified that Ewell met him
one night on road and 5pat him. met
him another day OH road and threatened
to beat him. and also afterwards threat
ened to whip him and carried cluil for
that purpose. In regard to the difficult
ty at store OH day of shooting lie said,
that Ewell asked him if he was ready TO