The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1890-02-13
The Miller Trial,
DAVID, GEORGE, AND WILLIAM MILLER,
JOHN REESE ON TRIAL FOR THEIR LIVE

The Miller Trial
DAVID, GEORGE AND WILLIAM MILLER, AND
JOHN REESE ON TRIAL FOR THEIR LIVES.
Rockbridge News, Feb. II.
At ten O'Clock 30 day in the County Court OF
Rockbridge, Judge W. ?. Houston presiding.
was called the trial of David Miller, William
Miller, George Miller and John Reese. indicted
by the grand jury for the murder OF Dr. h. J.
Walker at Brownsburg on the afternoon of Fri
day, November Sth, 1889.
DIR. WALKERS DEATH RECALLED.
That afternoon DR. Walker was arraigued be
fore Justice f. b. BoswoTth on peace warrant
sworn out against him by Henry Miller for
threatening his life. The scene of the trial was
the Old Academy building at Frownsburg Dr.
Walker was one of the leading physicians and
most prominent citizens of the county Henry
Miller was a thrifty and prosperous farmer and
possessed large landed estate in that end Of
the county. Both We're Wen advanced in iue
| Walker being about fifty FIVE years of age, and
Miller more than fen years his senior. Both
were large and powerful men,
Henry Miller was present as witness, as was
also Mrs. Bette B. Walker Dr. Walkers wife,
Four OF Henry Mller's sons were also present.
James, David, George, and william, and the
trial had caused the gathering OF large NUM-
The prominence of the parties, and the fact that
Walkers provocation was an insult offered lis
wife by Miller had excited general interest in
the community
The trial proceeded. and at its conclusion the
Justice required of DR.. Walker bond to keep
the peace. This Walker refused to give; said he
would go to iail. A colloquy ensued Walker as
serted his determination to slap Henry Miller in
the mouth for the insult offered his wife; few
more words and he drew pistol. David Miller,
Henry Miller's son, jumped and grabbed it; the ii
followed q struggle, bloody and deadly, and in
that little room in few seconds was enacted
the most distressing tragedy that ever took
place in Rockblidge. On the one side were DR.
Walker and his friends, on the other Miller aud
his sons and an employee named John Reese.
The result was that Henry Miller and Mrs. Bet
tie b. Walker were killed outright, Dr.. Walker
receive injuries from which in a few hours he
died, and David Miller received wound from
| the serious effects of which he has as yet but
partially recovered. T. A. Beaver, spectator
was cut about the neck.
Henry Miller was killed by Walker with
bowie knife; who shot Dave Miller is not known.
| For the murder of Mrs. Walker, James Miller
is indicted and lies in Jail. For the murder of
DR.. Walker the four Miller boys, James included
and John Reese are indicted. James Miller
| elected to be tried both indictments in the
| Circuit Court. The trial of the others is pro
| ceeding.
HOW IT APPEARED TO-DAY.
/ 1t is startling comment upon the changea-
bleness of public feeling for though excitement
was aroused to the highest pitch Immediately
after the ira gedy, and to such extent that it
/ was thought best to remove the prisoners to the
Lynchburg Jail for safety, the Courthouse was
not more than one third full Of people when the
prisoners were brought in.
VIM. Miller is Young man about twenty five
years old-about five feet ten inches high and
well proportiOned weighs perhaps l61 pounds
/ He has very dark brown hair and has
| tache and side whiskers young in days-rasher a
/ good looking fellow. His brother George is
slighter in build and perhaps inch
taller; his hair and beard is the same color; he
| has a mustache and side whskers. The express
sion of his face is pleasant. He is 2s years old.
John Reese is heavy set young fellow. horid
in face, dutch-Ike both in form and features.
He is twenty years of age and will weigh per
! laps lis pounds. Neither he the two above
mentioned are married.
David Miller did not appear in Court at first.
Since November Sth he has been helpless from
! the wound he received and is now unable to
walk. He was brought up on the Baltimore ami
Ohio train Thursday morning and is stopping at
the Burke House. He was brought into Court at
/ 1890 O'Clock, carried upon lounge He shows
/ the effects OF his wounds and long confinement
! in his appearance He is widower with four
/ children; is about 81 years of age; is strikingly
/ like his brothers, wen proportioned and rather
handsome man, about five feet ten inches high
4 with light hair and mustache. His wife was Al
ice Craig a daughter of Robert Craig, of near
! Newport in Augusta county. With him entered
his aged mother, his sister, Miss Sue Miller, and
4 two OF his chidren-lltte girls, neither aged
! over eight years. II waa his first appearance in
| Court. He arraigned, but 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 though they appreciated the
gravity OF the situation.
The Miller brothers have high fMeheads, sharp
! cut faces rather contracted, and the nose prom
/ inent.
At the bar the Commonwealth represent
ed by d. E. Moore, Comnonweath's Attorney,
and w. A. Glasgow, Jr., of the Eotetonrt bar.
The defense by Thomas N. Williams, of Lynch
burg, Va, Edmuad Pendleton, E. NJ. Pendleton,
and f. #. GLASGOW, of Lexington.
VIA. A. Glasgow, ,Jr., was retained to assist
the Commonwealth by Miss Hope ErYine, who
is DR. Walkers heir and occupied the place of q
dau:s hter in his household.
After the arraignment of David Miller, Nj.
Williaa,s arose and stated that they desired to
20 first into the trial OF David Miller and Will
liam Miller. Mr.. Moore for the Commonwealth
claimed the right to decide who should be tried
first, and said they elected to try VIM. Miller.
The Court sustained him. Mr.. Moore requested
the Clerk to call the names of the witnesses for
the Commonwealth, SO that it could be detern-
ined if they were ready to proceed. 1t was then
discovered that only a part Of the witnesses for
either the Commonwealth the defense had
| i1voI to l,o tl,a
among those summoned that their attendance
would not be necessary until Il jury was secured.
and besides, the morning was very inclement.
Some came in later, and rules were issued for
the ahsentees, retufnahle at half past nine
O'Clock tomorrow. AT q few minutes past
twelve the pI isoners were renianded to Jail and
the venire dismissed until ten O'Clock to-
morrow and the proceedings in the trial were
closed for to-day, though recess was only
taken until half past two O'Clock. From We
nire summoned in misdemeanor the
nre for this trial has been increased to 81. Out
of these panel of Is has TO be secured, of which
four will be thrown of by the defense. Tie
niremen intelligent from Natural
Bridge, Buffalo and kerr's Greek districts. AS
to whether they can secure a jury from them is
a matter of conjecture. 1t is possible they can.
Justice E. B. Bosworth, of Brownsburg, one of
the leading witnesses and relied upon by both
sides was too sick to be present this morning.
Should he fail to be able to come, it is probable
the trial will be continued.
LEXINGTON, VA, Feb. TN binding snow
and sleet storm the witnesses and venire for the
Miller trial, against whom the court issued rules,
arrived in court early this morning and the
was promptly resumed. The defense, through
Mr. Williams, presented a proposition to the
prosecution to try David, William and George
Miller and John Reese. as they stand indicted
Jointly. The Commonwealth's attorney object
ed, the court sustaining the point that the at
torney for the Commonwealth had the right to
decide who shonld be tried and how quoting
Grattan. To this the defense, through Mr.. Pen
dleton, entered and filed an objection, which
was noted and the wishes OF the Common
wealth's attorney to begin the trial of VIM. Mil
Ter were put in force and the case regularly
called. The witnesses were sworn and the We
nire called. Here big surprise met ALL In less
bhan hour, after 81 OF the venire had been
callel and examined, it was found that a pane
of 18 had been secured. four OF which were
drop ped, leaving the jury composed of S. X.
wilson, Horace Reese John A. McCorkle. RObt
NJ. Montgomery, John ID. Crist S. II. Nicholas. J.
K. Turner, j. +. Tonpkins T. j. Deaton, John
E. Potter, George S. Wsher and J. Robert Mont
gomery. The jury was sworn in E. B. Bos-
worth. for the prosecution, was called. The