The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1890-03-20
The Brownsburg Tragedy-Acquit-
tai of Jas. F. Miller.

The trial of James F. Miller, charged
with killing Mrs. Y. J. Walker, in the
Brownsburg tragedy, which occurred in
November last, occupied the time OF the
Circuit Court of Rockbridge last week,
Judge Mclaughlin presiding. After the
evidence was taken and the case al
gued by counsel, it was submitted to the
jury. They retired, and in a few min
utes returned with verdict of mot
guilty" The verdict was received with
manifestations of approval by the audi
ence present. A aaolle proseqmi was en-
tered in all the other cases. The only
new evidence introduced of interest was
the following letter written by Mrs. u. J.
Walker to DIR. Walkers sister, Mrs. w.
A. Sitlington, near Goshen:
BROwNsBURG, Nov. T, 1889.
Dear Jennie: hope you are all well, and that
the Col. got home safely. feel sure You were
uneasy about aim, but still conld not help ask
ing him to stay. 1t was a great comfort to have
him here with us, altho there not much ac-
cOmplished, and has not been. Tell the Col. the
trouble remains about where he left it. DR.. W.
has not succeeded i'll getting an interview, the
one thing he has been conGending for. Tuesday
evening several men came in to see the Dr., and
he thought the arrangements We're completed
and that they would bring Miller sometime be-
tween O'Clock and daylight: We of course
were sitting up all night Dr. Walker was ex,
cited of course and very miserable; but pleased
and happy at the prospect of bringing this great
trouble to end and making his arrangements
to this effect. You may know that Hope and !
were miserable and excited too, for it seemed
such a dreadful thing. Four O'Clock came and
no people, then DR.. had VIM. to saddle Pat and
Zach and they started to Mr.. Millers to see what
was the reason nobody came, and when he
found that nobody had been out that night, and
sent VIM. on for Mr.. LOwman to come and he
came on home. Mr.. l.. came and he, Mr.. Terrell
and Billy Buchanan went to see Miller, after
which DR.. and Wm started and DR.. went to
Miller's stile and called for him. The woman
came down to the stile and talked with. him
told their father was i'll the HEIDI wanted to
know what he was carrying arms for, and he
told them to shoot the guard that was protect
ing Miller. Then he started for the field through
the front yard MIR. Il. saw him coming and sent
MI LOwman at full speed to meet him and tell
him to go back to B-g and that Miller was
that promise, waited about two hours and
then said Miller would make his escape and
not come. So he would not wait longer and
was starting again when Mr.. Terrell arrived
and said they would not let him come. And told
DR.. how wrong it would be for him to go there,
that they would certainly kill him before he
could kill Miller; for they We're well armed with
double barrel shot guns, had them with them
in the field and run for him as soon as they saw
him coming. They fortunately prevailed on
him not to go, and to give it up for the present,
that he could not accomplish anything but his
own death if he persisted.
He promised and hope he will live up to it.
He was completely exhausted yesterday even
ing, and after good foot bath, and feeling that
he had nothing now to do he went to sleep and
slept till morning. when he had to get up be-
cause of blue pill which he had took. Then
day, and says when he gets well enough he will
go to New York.
Our love to all
Yours sincerely, b. b. WALKER.