The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-04-11
THE VERDICT RENDERED.:
William Lanier and Six Accom-
pliees Held for Murder.

The coroner's jury in the Nat Newson
murder case settled down to work yes
terday morning at 10 o'clock. The
mayor was holding court in police head
quarters, and the jury was given per-
mission to hold its sessions in the hall
of the Junior Hose Company.
| The crowd on the streets was not so
large as on the previous two days, and
not so much excitement prevailed. 1t
was foregone conclusion that William
Lanier had been marked by the jury as
responsible for the murder of Newson.
Tho first witness examined was Will
liam Lester. BEING recalled for the
purpose Of giving him chance to cor
rect his previous statements, he was
closely questioned, but still held out
that he knew nothing of the subject.
Robert Younger was recalled and
stuck to his previous statement that he
was in the house when the assault was
made.
Emma Burnet was placed on the
stand for the third time. She is the
woman whom Nat took to the party and
who William Lester brought back. She
previously denied hearing anything
about the fight at the dance. Yesterday
morning she admitted that some one said
Nat had been killed out of doors, also
that William Lester came in and said
some one had killed him. She said
that while Lester was coming home
with her she asked him if Nat was
really dead. Lester said he did not
know. She denied that Nat had been
engaged to her and said she knew
nothing of his being married. She
further admitted that Lester went out
of doors with her to look for Nat. He
struck match, but Nat was not there.
Officer Schultz was put on the stand
and told how he Swallowed Lanier's
house, of the conversation he heard.
John Lanier was talking to Williams
wife. John remarked that when Nat
was struck by William his head fell
against the other house. Williams
wife cautioned John to say nothing
whatever about the affair. John then
said that he intended to know nothing
except that Nat Newson fired a pistol
in tho house, and that William broke
up the dance.
John Lanier was next put on the
stand, but denied that he went out of
doors after the pistol was fired He ad-
mitted that Nat was taken out of The
back door. He also stated that his
brother William, Bob Younger, Tom
Waugh, Sherman Clark and Bob JEFF
freys went out after Nat.
Sherman Clark was recalled and de-
MED that he went out after Nat. One
or two other witnesses were examined
and the evidence was closed.
After a short deliberatlon the jury
A. fN11
IAN inquisition taken in the city of
of April, 1891, before S. w. Howerton,
acting coroner for said city, upon view
of the body of Nat Newson, then lying
dead
1.-THE jury sworn to inquire when,
how and by what means the said Nat
Newson came to his death, upon their
oaths do say, that on the night of the
7th OF April, 1891, in the said city, be-
tween the hours of 10 and IL O'Clock,
Nat Newman was killed and murdered
with bed Stat or some other fat stick
in the hands of William Lanier, and
that Thomas Waugh, Henry Pankey,
John Lanier, Robert Jeffreys, William
Lester and William Young were Access
series before or after the murder"
IS. w. HOwERToN, Coroner.
80. w. CAMPER, Foreman.
"PIIIT.. TRENwITH,
sc. II. LLOYD,
"E. a. McGEnEE,
&C. w. SIsLER,
ga. O'CoNNER.
The jurors spoke very strongly of hav-
ing several witnesses indicted for per-
jury, but five who had been locked up
were dismissed.
Lanier and all his accessories are in
jail, except Robert Jcffreys, who is out
on bail.
The preliminary examination of La
nier and his alleged accomplices will be
held this afternoon at 2 o'clock at the
mayors Office.
Much of the same testimony as has
already been heard by the coroner will
have to be gone over again.
Lanier has secured Judge Williams
as counsel. Nearly all of those who
have been accused have either secured
counsel or will make such arrange ments