The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-11-14
A Fearful Tragedy.


On Friday last DR.. T. J. Walker. a
prominent physician of Rockbridge CO..
and late member Of the State Board of
Medical Examiners, stabbed Henry Mil
Ter to death in Magistrate Bosworth's
Office Brownsburg. Henry Miller's four
sons, who were present. shot and killed DR.
Walker and his wife, who was also pres
ent in the Office, and Dave Miller. one of
the sons, was severely, if not fatally
shot and stabbed, while several others
We're cut and bruised.
1t seems that Henry Miller, who was a
prosperous farmer living about five
Walker resided, visited DR.. Walkers
Office week or more previous to the
tragedy, and finding no one there but
Mrs Walker, grossly msulted her. The
lady kept the fact of the insult from her
husband, until she deemed it her duty
to tell him. The doctor declared his
purpose to kill Miller on sight, and it is
said looked for him with a double-bar-
relied shotgun. Miller, hearing of the
threat, on the advice of friends, swore
out peace warrant against Walker, and
Friday was set for hearing the case. A
large number OF persons We're present,
including Miller and his four sons, DIR.
Walker and his wife, and friends on
either side. After hearing the evidence
of all the witnesses summoned, the JUS
tice determined to require a bond in the
sum of $500 from DR.. Walker to keep the
peace for twelve months. The Doctor
said he would not give the bond. The
magistrate told him then that he would
have to go to jail. While he was making
out the commitment papers he was in
terrupted by Walker with the inquiry
whether he would not be permitted to
slap Henry Miller's face. The Justice
told him he would not-that he would
allow no demonstration of the kind
Whereupon Walker jumped up and
drawing clasp knife from his pocket,
plunged it a number of times into Mil
Ter, causing instant death, the blade
having penetrated his heart, and was
broken off in 1t. Miscellaneous firing
then commenced. pistols having been
thrown into the window for the use of
the Miller boys. Walker was shot sew
eral times, and died from the effects the
same night. Mrs. Walker, who was
bending over the PROSTATE form of her
husband and trying to relieve his suffer
ok = 4
stantly killed. Dave Miller. who. it is
said, shot Mrs Walker, was himself shot
and cut, and two of his brothers and a
by-stander were more of less injured
Dave died on Saturday.
1t is said that the Millers had provided
themselves with pistols and guns pre-
vious to going to Brownsburg, and had
them deposited at convenient point. in
contemplation of a difficulty. nr. Walk
er had been searched before he went to
the magistrates office, but no weapon
was found on him. and it in supposed
that he stepped into his Office, after the
search and secured the knife with which
the bloody and fatal encounter com
menced.
DIR. Walker was well known through
out the State, as eminent in his profess
sion. He was very popular in the com
munity where he resided, although i'm
petuous and aggressive when excited
He had large practice and was in good
circumstances financially Mrs Walker
was a Miss Brooks. from the Waynes-
boro neighborhood and was a refined
and gentle lady. and quite delicate. They
had no children.
Henry Miller was prosperous farmer
and owned large estate He had four
sons and two daughters His four sons
were present at the trial and three of
them were wounded during the fray.
Great excitement prevailed in the
neighborhood, and the people were al
most frenzied with rage when they heard
that Mrs Walker had been killed. The
sheriff of the county summoned a posse
to preserve the peace until the boys
could be incarcerated in the jail at Lex
ington, whence they were taken to
Lynchburg for safety.
1t was a very lamentahle affair and
greatly to be deplored.
Since the above was in type, we find a
fuller and more accurate account of the
tragedy in the Baltimore Sun, reported
by a special correspondent sent to the
scene of the tragedy for that purpose.
We extract from it the following:
The trouble began with gross insult Offered
, this unfortunate lady Mrs Walkerl in her own