Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-02-12
Trial of the Nillers.
nocknB1paE COUNTY COURT.

months after the dreadful tragedy at
Bro~nsburg, in Rockbridge, when Henry
Miller was killed by DR.. 2. J. Walker, and
the latter and his wife, Mrs. Bette B.
Walker, were killed by the sons of Henry
Miller, and when David Miller, one of the
Sous, was severely, and other persons
slightly wounded. till all the preliminary
investigations we're made and the parties
under Indictment brought to trial. David
Miller's wounds were almost of fatal
character, and be is still unable to stand or
walk, and when arraigned at the bar ap-
peared on couch, upon which he is car
ried. The parties under Indictment for
the death of DR.. Walker are David, Will
liam, George and James Miller, and John
Reese; and for the death of Mrs. Walker,
James Miller. James Miller elected to be
tried in the Circuit Court, and the other
four in the County Court now in session.
Tho next term of the Circuit Court will
comm noe LIST of March.
The Rockbridge Ne,ss furnishes the fol
|
tried and members of the family who are
present -
s'Wm Miller is a young man about
twenty five years old-about five feet ten
inches high and we'll proportioned, weighs
perhaps 165 pounds. He has very dark
brown hair and has mustache and side
| wh'skers young in days-rather good
looking fellow. His brother George is
slighter in build and perhaps over an inch
taller, his hair and beard are the same color,
he has mustache and side whiskers. - The
expression of his face is pleasant. He is %
years old.
John Reese is heavy set young fellow,
d Grid in face, dutch like both in form and
features. He is twenty years of age and
will weigh perhaps ITS pounds. Neither
he nor the two above mentioned are mar
ried.
David Miller did not appear In court at
first. Since November 9Th be has been
helpless from the wound he received and is
now unable to walk. He was brought up
on the B. & o. train; Thursday morning
and is stopping at the Burke House. He
was brought into court at 1870 o'clock
carried upon..a lounge. He shows the of.
feet of his wounds and long confinement in
his appearance. He is widower with
four children, ia about 80 years of age, is
strikingly like bis brothers, a we'll pro.
portioned and rather handsome man, about
five feet ten inches high with light hair
and mustache. His wife was Alice Craig,
daughter of Robert Craig, of near New
port, in Augusta Co. With him entered
his aged mother, his sister, Miss Sue Mil
Ter, and two of his children-little girls.
neither aged over eight years. 1t was bis
firet appearance in court He was ar
raigned, but was unable to stand up. He
pleaded not guilty, and elected to be tried
in the County Court.
All the prisoners and the Miller family
looked very serious as though they ap
preciated the gravity of the situation.
The Miller brothers have high foreheads,
sharp-cut faces. rather contracted, and the
nose prominent"
The Commonwealth is represented by
David E. Moore, Commonwealth At
torney, assisted by Mr.. W. A. Glasgow,
Jr., of Botetourt county. who appears at
the desire of Miss Hope Erv,ne, the adopted
daughter of DR.. and Mrs. Walker, and heir
to the Walker estate. The defense is rep.
resented by Thomas N. Williams, of
|
and Frank T. Glasgow, Esq, OF Lexington;
all of whom are able lawyers. Mr.. Moore
has been the Commonwealth Attorney
for Rock bridge for more than twenty
years. The Gasgows are brothers. Hon.
William P. Houston is the judge of Rock
bridge county, and jurist of learning,
and one that has reflected the highest
honor on the Bench.
Thursday, the 9th instant, was deemed
as early day as the condition of David
Miller would admit of his being brought
from his home-ffteen miles distant from
Lexington. All the Millers (three IN num-
ber) and Reese appeared in court that day,
and the proceedings commenced. The
Commonwealth elected to try William
Miller first, to which the defence objected,
and subsequently proposed to try all four
at once. The prosecution insisted on its
rights to elect in that matter, and stated
that the trials would commence with Will
liam Miller, and the Court sustained that
motion.
The 9th was disagreeable day, and
some of the witnesses were not present.
There are from 80 to 40 on each side, but
in answer to rulings all were present the
next day. The yeDire OF forty eight was
called and the examination as to qualiflca-
tions of jurymen commenced, when, with
the examination of the 32nd man, it was
ascertained that panel of 16 had been
secured, and this was accomplished in less
than one hour The twelve jurymen then
remaining, after striking off four of the
panel, are as follows:-
8. K. Wilson, Horace Reese, John A.
McCorkle, Robt. L. Morrison, John D.
Crlst, 8. II. Nuckols, ]. K. Turner, J. F.
Tompkins, +. Deacon, j. E. Potter,
Geo. Swisher, J. Robert Montgomery.
William Miller was then made to stand
up and the indictment read to him.
The clerk then swore the witnesses on
both sides.
The court directed that all witnesses
retire, and not come into court until called
under penalty of a hne.
The first witness placed on the stand was
the Justice of the Peace, Mr.. E. B. Bos-
| worth, who had tried the case of DR..
Walkers arrest upon the complaint of
Henry Miller, and had ordered that Walker
sh ,uld be placed under bonds to keep the
peace. He was on the stand over three
hours. His testimony showed that Walker
started the fight and killed Henry Miller,
and that Walker was shot by David Miller
and was afterwards shot by either VIM. or
George Miller while Walker was down on
the floor. The knife with which Walker
killed Miller was shown in court. 1t is a
nine-inch blade Bowie, with hook point,
Western nattern and ia hrokor in tuo