Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-02-19
TRIAL OF THE MILLERs.


the Millers and John Reese was reached Sat
urday morning, the 18th instant, when the
jury declared William Miller not guilty. The
Lexington correspondent of the Richmond
Dispatch" thus sums up the scene. adding in.
cidents connected with the acquittal of Miller.
LEXINGTON, VA, February l5.-Ten days
and the trial of william Miller, one of the par
Elephants In the Walker Miller homicide at
Brownsburg. November Sth, 1889. in which DR..
and Mrs. q. ]. Walker and the father of the
prisoner on trial lost their lives. has ended
with the acquittal of the prisoner at the bar.
When the argument closed about dark Friday
evening the case was put into the hands of the
Jury, and at 80 this morning they came into
court. The courtroom was damned with an
audience eager to hear the verdict announced.
The general opinion prevailing was that it
would be an acquittal but when the jury ask
ed for instructions the case looked hopeless
aud the prisoner and his counsel showed
visible signs of apprehension.
QUESTION OF INSTRUCTION.
The Court submitted set of instructions
drawn up somewhat in the way the instruc
tions were given to the jury in the famous
CluverIus case. But upon consultation. 1t was
simply to give the jury the code of the statute
laws with the sections marked bearing on the
case. The jury went out and it was an hour
and half before they returned. During this
long and painful wait the prisoner and his rel
atives were the picture of despair. When the
jury came in all was still as death.
THE VERDICT.
The Clerk went through the prescribed rou.
tine and then real the verdict: I'VE, the jury.
find the prisoner. William Miller. not guilty
as charged in the Indictment" Every coun.
tenance in court showed signs of relief and
approval. The prisoner. his aged mother,
brothers, sisters, nieces and other relatives
broke down. The reaction set in, and they
found expression of their feelings in copious
tears. Then the manly form of the young prfs-
oner arose, warmly grasping the hands of his
counsel, and then boldly entering the jury
box. al most blinded with tears, he offered his
hand in humble, heartfelt thanks, to the men
who had heard and decided his case. Each ju-
ror arose in his seat and met the young man
with a cord1ality and appreciation of his
thoughtfulness. 1t was a tender, pathetic
scene, the equal of which was never witnessed
here and it had its effect on the spectators.
SATISFACTION.
The verdict gives the most uni versal salts
faction, and 1t is met with approval on every
hand.
When the case had been disposed of the
Commonwealth moved to take up the other
cases, and the Court decided to set them for
the April term.
The counsel for the defense asked for bail in
the cases of George and David Miller and John
Reese. The Attorney for the Commonwealth
raising no objection these prisoners were bail
ed ia the sum of 81 500 each to appear at the
April term. and they were set free under
bonds.
Joint Committees On Public Insfitu
lions.
The joint committees of the Senate and
House of Delegates on the State Institutions.
about twenty five in member, now making an
inspection of the same, arrived here from the
University during the early morning of the l4th
inst. in special car. They were received and
escorted to the Institution for the Deaf and
Dumb and the Blind by the officers of thai
Institution and resident members of the BOARD
of Directors, where they partook of break fast
and the Inequalities of the Institution. DR..
Black ford, Superintendent and DIR. Moffett,
President of the Board of Directors of the
Western Lunatic Asylum, were also of tn.
company present.
A careful examin alton was made of the af
fairs of the Institution, and the committees
W sre entertained by the pupils Of the Institu
ton by an exhibit of their proficiency in the
several departments The members of the
committees expressed themselves much pleas.
ed with the management of the institution
and the proficiency to which the pupils had
attained In the various branches of knowledge
taught.
The committees then proceeded to the West
ern Lunatic Asylum. accompanied by Captain
Doyle, Principal; M nor Funston. Seward;
F. While, Esq, President of the Board of Di
rectors and other offices of the Insti tuition for
the education of the Dsaf & Dumb and thu
Blind, when the usual examination was made
of all the premises. The wards were also in
spected, and the medical and accounting de-
partments looked Into. The committees wers
pleased with all they observed, and expressel
much qualification with the management
we'll for the care which had been exercised in
providing full supply f water from the city
reservoir in case of.fre. DIR. Mof1eft, the Pres
ident of the Board of Directors. addressed the
committees upon the absolute necessity
making provision by law for the pressing
needs of the insans-.h acute cases which
could not receive the treatment they should
have and to take from the jsils of the Common
wealth those who are there because no better
accommodations can be secured for them. The
committees With the other guests dined at the
Asylum and were en- tertained with generous
hospitality; and Their, in the afternoon pro
ceeded to the Virginia Military Institute
which came under their inspection the follow
ing day. From Lexington they returned to
Richmond.